Matt Kostakis

McGill University, BA, International Development/Latin American Studies; American University in Cairo, MA, International Human Rights Law

After few years working as a Spanish teacher at a private school in New York, Matt cashed in his life in the US for a journey spanning three years, five continents, and over 40 countries. Inspired by the kindness, spirit, and humor of people living on the margins of society, Matt spent time living and working with refugees in Thailand, enjoyed weeks sleeping in hammocks among indigenous communities in the Amazon, braved monsoon rains with Tamil fishermen off the coast of Sri Lanka, and made wine while living on a farm in Southern Turkey. Matt is is passionate about language, storytelling, and art as a means of bridging cultural divides and exploring the richness of human cultural diversity. He speaks Greek and Spanish fluently and is proficient in six other languages.

From 2010-2014 Matt was based in Cairo, completing a master’s degree in human rights law while studying Arabic. During days of revolutionary change Matt kept busy doing volunteer work with refugees, and teaching English and business skills as part of a youth empowerment program for unemployed Egyptian university graduates.