Viliam Mauritz is a Swiss artist, sculptor and author of the Giant Steps project.He received his Bachelor's degree in Painting and Sculpture at Ecole des Beaux-Arts (Lausanne, Switzerland) in 1975 and his Master of Arts degree in Sculpture at California State University (Long Beach, USA) in 1978. He has been working as an independent painter and sculptor in Switzerland since 1978, exhibiting his works all over the world. His artworks are owned by several private collections and museums.

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Email: mavi.3722@gmail.com

Loretta Henry is an Australian actor, creative director and poet. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts — Drama from the Australian Catholic University in 2014. She operates, produces & presents small-scale local, national & international touring theatre productions. She has been a creative director of Elysium Theatre in Brisbane, Australia, since 1999. Loretta Henry was the manager of the very first Giant Step in Australia and continues to support the project.

Email: lorettaehenry@gmail.com

Tibor Szombathelyi was a Hungarian rural lifestyle guru. He had a big online following and was giving lifestyle lectures all over Hungary. Tibor founded the Élét Iskola (School of Life) where he preached the harmony of the coexistence of humans, animals and plants. Tibor Szombathelyi was the manager of the third Giant Steps project that took place in Kaposmérő, Hungary.

Tibor tragically passed away in an accident on January 13, 2019.

Jaider Esbell was an indigenous Brazilian writer, artist, art educator, curator, and indigenous rights activist. He was one of the most renowned Macuxi artists in Brazil, his works were displayed at the 2021 São Paulo Biennial and 2022 Venice Biennale. Jaider Esbell was the ambassador and manager of the Giant Steps project in Brazil.

Unfortunately, Jaider passed away on November 2, 2021.

Elena Burdina is a Russian language philologist. She graduated from the Bryansk State University in 1995 and received her Master’s degrees in Russian Linguistics and in Law in 1999 and 2015 respectively. Her articles and research paper on Russian linguistics have been published in major publications all over Russia. She currently works as a Russian language professor at the Russian State University of Justice. Elena Burdina managed the fourth Giant Steps project that took place in Ovstug, Russia, and continues to be the manager of the project in Russia.

Email: burdinaele@yandex.ru

Alvaro Severo is a Brazilian photojournalist. He has been working as a photographer since 1988, his works were published in major Brazilian publications. Many of his works depict isolated rural communities of Brazil, cultural events, and local nature. Alvaro initiated and managed the implementation of the Giant Step project in Caatinga.

Email: alvarosevero@hotmail.com

Eldar Basmanov is a Russian-born filmmaker. He graduated Baltic Film and Media School of Tallinn University. He participated in various pitching forums and film labs presenting his projects to such acclaimed names as BBC, Al Jazeera, VICE, The Guardian, The New York Times and CBC. Eldar’s films took part in major film festivals all over the world.

Email: eldar.basmanov@gmail.com

The idea of the Giant Steps project would not have been possible without the financial support of the sponsors who believed in our mission and made it a reality. We sincerely thank everyone who has contributed financially to our project.

Our project also would not be able to live and walk around the world without the help of hundreds of volunteers — people who helped and continue to help in the implementation of the «Giant Steps» in all corners of the planet. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their dedication to the project.