7. International Küçük Eller / Small Hands and Ütopya Schools High Quality Education Congress

Dr. Martti Hellström

Doctor of Education, Helsinki Üniversity, Finland

Dr. Martii Hellström graduated in 1974 from the Gymnasium of Helsingin II lyseo. He gained a PHD in 2004 from the University of Helsinki in which he wrote his dissertation on ” The way of change, and the implementation and success of pedagogical development projects at the experimental schools of the Aquarium-project 1995 – 1998” He became a Class teacher from 1977 at the University of Helsinki. He is 64 years old with a doctor of Education (PhD 2004), and a lecturer in the University of Helsinki and ex-principal of Aurora Elementary School in Espoo.He has worked as a trainer of newclassroom teachers since 1982 andtrainer of new principals since 1991. 

He has written several schoolbooksfor Finnish elementary schoolteachers. Currently he is a facilitatorof the curriculum reform (2016) anda facilitator in Finland for aninternational reform project called ‘New Pedagogics for Deep Learning’led by Dr. Michael Fullan.

Kari Uusikyla

Professor Emeritus of Education, University of Helsinki, Finland

Kari Uusikyla graduated from the University of Helsinki, in 1977 with a PHD. Her research interests primarily are on teaching and teacher education, gifted education and creativity Kari has worked as an elementary teacher from 1967 -1973, from 1973 – 1977 she became a lecturer for the department of teacher education in the university of Helsinki.  From here she continued her career onto becoming a professor In the same department of education and later moved onto the university of Joensuu during the years 1986 – 1988.
She was the Professor of Teacher Education, University of Tampere from 1988 - 1997. She has been a professor at many universities across Finland and spent time abroad in the USA at the university of Georgia as a visiting scholar. She is a member of The Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. She has won Prizes for her work In The State of Finland 2006, and The Finnish Cultural Foundation 2008. She has won awards for her published books on the fields of education, teaching, giftedness and creativity.
She has helped with developing and defending Finnish comprehensive-school (PISA)

Edward Said

Mayor of Nadur, Malta

Edward was born on the 29th of October 1987. He worked as an analyst with the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) - banking regulation sector. Edward studied in Gozo up to post-secondary level after which he went on to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Malta (First Class Honours). He started his career with Banif Bank (Malta) plc as a Relationship Officer, and then as a Lecturer in Financial Services for three years at the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST).
Throughout this time, he also continued studying and obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Vocational Education and Training (PGC-VET) as well as successfully completing a Masters degree in Finance from the University of London. Edward has held several organisational posts including, President of the Malta National Youth Council, aswell as in political and sports associations, and is a member of different organisations.
He takes an active part in the social life and activities held in Nadur and also volunteers as a certified coach within the Nadur Youngsters football nursery, bringing together his love for football and voluntary work.

Edward was elected as Mayor of the locality of Nadur on his first candidature back in 2015, and again in 2019. He is married to Claire Said, and they have a daughter named Kate.

Annabel Said

Facilitator, Consultant

Annabel Said was born in November 1983. After finishing off compulsory schooling, she attended the University of Malta where she read a course in 'Facilitating Inclusive Education' and obtained her Diploma in 2005.  Ever since she has been working as a 'Learning Support Educator' (Facilitator) in various mainstream primary and secondary schools across the Maltese islands. 

At present, she works in a state primary school, where aside from supporting students in managing their learning and behaviour, she seeks to promote and enhance the students' literacy skills and wellbeing, through the various school committees that she forms part of.  Annabel is currently reading a Masters Degree in Education (MEd) in the field of Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD) at the University of Birmingham. She is married to Peter Said and they have two children.

Joergen Olesen

Educator

Joergen was born in Denmark in 1971. He grew up in the country side and learned all the virtues required to cope with everyday life. In this way, he also learned how “what you learned in school, can be used in everyday life.” He got the opportunity to teach through his job as an IT consultant. Here he could combine what he learned and experienced with teaching in a rewarding way. He has taught children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia etc.
In his spare time he trained youngsters at Handball, where the combination of theory and practice is an important factor
In 2016, he met his future wife from Turkey. In 2018 they married and decided to start their Journey in Turkey. After getting experience in the Turkish education system, the destiny led him to Utopya, where he contributes with his ideas about combined thoughts with action, theory to practice and showing different methods to reach the target – happy and well educated youngsters.

Peter Buttigieg

Educator, Consultant

Peter started his career in education by gaining his B.A in Maltese classical culture and civilisation in 1977. From here he went onto obtaining his post graduate in 1978 in teaching. He completed his diploma in school counselling from the University of Malta and went onto placement within the department of psychology. He then completed on project management within the European union during 2006. He has worked as a facilitator helping schools in Malta and abroad to form a fully inclusive education system where no one is discriminated against and opportunities are available for all children regardless of their culture, background and ability to learn. In 2003, he worked on the Leonardo project on The European dimension of guidance and counselling.

This isn’t his first time joining us at congress, In 2004 Peter delivered his paper on ‘The teacher as a facilitator’ to educators from all over Europe. He has worked on various educational projects throughout the European union. He is a keen Football fan and has been on the board of Gozo football association as a council member and later President of the Nadur youngster’s team. He has published many papers on Maltese culture and lives in Nadur, Malta with his wife Ines, who is also an educator. 

Kiyoe Kurokawa

Early Childhood, Soroban and Japanese as a foreign Language Teacher.

Kiyoe Kurokawa has been living in Turkey since 1995 after she had worked many years at Kurokawa Kindergarten and Soroban School which belongs to her family. Her husband is Turkish. She has a son. When she arrived Turkey, she joined Küçük Eller/ Small Hands 24 years ago. And she started working at Utopya which is the same establishment of Small Hands. So, she has been making a big difference in Small Hands” and Utopya students.

At Utopya she has been helping children Soroban which is Japanese Math System, Abaküs, Origami and Rthymic lessons. She also introduces Japanese culture to children. She takes Utopya children and teenagers to Japan to support them life skills, learning, and looking at life from different perspectives.