Behind every Van For Life mission is a close-knit team of women and men who have chosen to commit themselves.
The Committee oversees operations, as well as logistical, financial, and communication coordination, while on the ground, logisticians, drivers, and coordinators ensure the direct distribution of aid.
Comittee
Dimitri Montanini
Founder
Founder and administrator of two companies active in Geneva, he holds a university degree in sociology and anthropology and speaks five languages. The combination of these skills gives him recognized abilities in organizational management and networking, under all conditions and with all types of people.
Also passionate about traveling, he has been discovering other cultures since his teenage years by all means—air, land, sea—believing that what truly matters is reaching out to others and establishing direct contact.
The recurring migration crises in Europe over many years resonate deeply with him and remind him of the journey of his own parents, who left Italy and Slovenia in the late 1960s for various European countries before ultimately settling and starting a family in Switzerland. He is fully aware of the privilege of being born there and finds constant inspiration in Switzerland’s long tradition of humanitarian aid.
Guilherme Cintra Januario
Treasurer
Based in Geneva, Guilherme works in health promotion and represents the pharmaceutical industry before international organizations. Educated in Geneva in international relations and economic history, after initial studies in Brazil, he also has a strong entrepreneurial background. These experiences have strengthened his financial management skills and fostered an exemplary standard of budgetary discipline.
Alma Montanini
Secretary
Head of operations at the IUF trade union, where she has worked for the rights of food industry workers since 2008, Alma contributes her recognized expertise in project management and administrative organization to the association. Having herself experienced forced exile from Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Balkan war, she is deeply committed to defending human rights and refugees.
Board
Dimitri Montanini
Head of Operations
Alex Montanini
Global Project Coordinator & Emergency Actions
Eliane Ceccato
Fundraising & Administration
Tandra Gunawan
IT & Communications
Nadia Radwan
Editing & Translation
Julien Pesse
Project Coordination for Switzerland
José Muro
Travel Coordination
On the Ground
In Ukraine, three partner coordinators are responsible for coordination, logistics, and distribution. Their names are not disclosed for security reasons.
Alongside them, more than 70 volunteers have already contributed their energy, time, and skills. Their collective commitment is our greatest strength, as we could not deliver this aid without their support.
Whether driving a van, loading supplies, organizing convoys, or managing communications, everyone plays a part in ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most. At its heart, Van For Life is a human-centered mission, driven by tangible solidarity.
