Odysseus 14 Hellos

By Thaisa van Speybroek | November 1, 2018

New team, new winds! A big welcome to the Odysseus 14 team. We would like for you to get the chance to get to know us a little better.

Thaïsa Van Speybroek (Chair) – Belgium

Hello! I’m Thaïsa (aka Seal) and I’m very happy to be a second-rounder at the Odysseus team. For people who don’t know me yet: I’ve been a member, leader, rowing and sailing trainer, board member and chair of Sea Scouting in Belgium (FOS Open Scouting). I’ve also been an International Commissioner for a while, but my heart has always been with Sea Scouting. That’s why I now fully commit my Scouting time to the Odysseus team and I won’t have many other Scouting commitments aside from giving a workshop here and there in the next two years. I’m hoping we can deliver a great Eurosea edition in Greece and connect and inspire as many Sea Scouts as possible in the mean time!

Jan Mrkos (Anchorman) – Czech Republic

Jan is a leader of a growing pack of cub scouts in Prague. He likes to go white water rafting with the scouts from his group. One day, he wants to go sailing for more than one day. Outside of scouting, Jan is a student working on his Ph.D. that has to do with electric vehicles. In the two years to come, he is very much looking forward to working with the other members of the Odysseus group

Asta Kederytė – Lithuania

Asta is head chief of Sea scouts in Lithuanian Scouting organization. Working with a team of wonderful sea scouts to create an adventurous and interesting sea scouting experience for our members, also to make sure that we prosper and grow.

Furthermore, Asta is a member of Ethics Committee in Lithuanian Scouting organization to keep an eye on those scouts who do not behave in accordance with our ethics, values and morals.

David Wraight – United Kingdom

Hello my name is David Wraight and I’m pleased to be joining the Odysseus Group to deliver Eurosea 15 and further develop Sea Scouting in Europe. I’ve been an adult in Scouting for 45 years with roles with different age groups, and roles with local and wider responsibilities in the United Kingdom.

Currently I run an Explorer Sea Scout Unit (14-18 years age range), am an international commissioner and have other roles around mountains, water activities, leader training, international camps and international expeditions.

I am enthusiastic about Scouts having great international experiences and look forward to working with the Odysseus Group in developing more opportunities for sea Scouts across Europe to share experiences and learning.

Elina Sirkiä – Finland

I’m a Finnish Sea Scout living in England. I grew up sailing in the unique archipelago of Turku and around the Baltic Sea where I still skipper yachts and train scouts. Shuttling between two countries has made me see the potential we have in Sea Scouts internationally. In the Odysseus group I want to do my best to build connections to facilitate the sharing of ideas and practice between Sea Scounts across Europe. In two years time I hope we have more collaboration between countries, new international Sea Scout projects and more great experiences in doing things together!

Elecrtra Foteinopoulou – Greece

I am in the scout movement since 1995. I was a Scout leader for 5 years, a Venture leader for 2, and now I am a Rover leader. I am also a skipper and skipper instructor. At the moment I am organizing the Greek Contingent Team for the 24^th World Scout Jamboree as an assistant leader. I have also participated in two world scout Jamborees and several other international Scouting events.