About us

• SONATI staff
• SONATI volunteers
• What others say about SONATI

SONATI staff

The SONATI staff is composed of energetic and idealistic people, all sharing a love for the natural world and a passion to protect the environment.

Arnon Dattner (Nony): founder and director of SONATI. As a child and teenager I was a student and afterwards a guide in the Israeli environmental-education system: The society for the protection of nature in Israel; where I experienced the power of environmental-education in increasing the love toward nature among children. Before SONATI I established another environmental-education organization in northern Peru, named CANATURA. After experiencing the difficulties in relying on donations to finance free environmental-education activities for a long period, I decided to fund SONATI at its actual sustainable structure. I studied Geography and Biology for my B.A. and Zoology for my M.Sc. In my free time i enjoy mainly outdoor adventures at remote wilderness, bird-watching and nature photographing.

Claudia García: hostel manager. I became involved in environmental activities at school. I was a board member and active member of the "environmentalist youngsters" of Leon and was part of the environmental committee of Leon; at these organizations i participated and managed different environmental activities and campaigns. I arrived to SONATI as a volunteer to participate in the nature guiding course and to carry out environmental activities; once in SONATI I accepted Nony's request to manage SONATI's hostel. I am satisfied knowing that SONATI couldn't carry out its environmental activities without the money raised through the hostel. I studied agrarian ecology engineering and I am an active member of the Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai International.

Carlos Iván Sequeira Almendárez: trekking &tours manager. I arrived to SONATI thanks to 2 friends and a flyer at the university with the following text: "hostel manager is wanted, must speak English and love nature"; it seems to be the perfect job for me. The next day I met with Nony who explained me about the idea of SONATI and few days later I resigned from my former job and started to work as the manager of SONATI hostel. However, since I was a child my heart was at the mountains, so after a year I changed position and became responsible over the treks and tours in SONATI. Although I am usually not directly involved in the environmental work, I feel pleased knowing that the environmental work can be carried out thanks to the treks and tours that I managing and guiding and I feel part of the environmental change that SONATI is doing. I studied agribusiness and business management. In my free time I practice sports.

Karin Mayorga: environmental education coordinator. I am involved in environmental and social activities since I was a child. I was a guide at the scouts of Leon, during the university I participated in environmental conferences in Iceland (Ice Climate Education program) and in Germany. I arrived to SONATI to participate in the nature guiding course and worked as a volunteer in the environmental programs, until becoming a SONATI staff member. I studied Tourism; in my free time I enjoy being in the outdoors with my friends.

Cristhiam Osmar Berríos Montes: guide. I arrived to SONATI to participate in the nature guiding course and worked as a volunteer in the environmental programs, until becoming a SONATI staff member. I am involved in all SONATI environmental activities. I studied Biology and enjoy bird-watching and singing.

Octavio Berríos Montes: guide. I first arrived to SONATI during my high school studies to participate in the adventure-in-nature course, and I fell in love in the activities. I joined SONATI as a volunteer, to help with the environmental activities, and eventually became a staff member. I am involved in all SONATI environmental activities. I enjoys being in the outdoors and playing music.

Flor de María Pantoja: hostel cleaning. I am a very social person and love to help others. I also love to meet and chat with our guests and learn about other cultures. I like to join SONATI activities in the outdoors, when they are not too difficult. I am 39 years old and have 3 children.

SONATI volunteers

National and international volunteers are involved in SONATI and make an indispensable contribution to our activities.

Alexander Morales, Leon, Nicaragua: I am involved in SONATI environmental activities since 2009, I feel happy to help these activities knowing that I help to promote respect and love toward the nature. Beside SONATI I was also involved in other environmental groups in Leon: ASIJUL and Ara-Macao. I studied economics.

Bismarck Soto, Leon, Nicaragua: My love to nature attracted me to SONATI, where I work in different environmental activities as volunteer. Currently I study tourism at the university at Leon; in my free time I like to hear music and be outside at nature.

Carolin Kern, Germany: I am in charge over the "environmental murals" project and involved in recycling projects with schools. In Germany I was involved in Greenpeace, after high school I decided to volunteer 1 year in SONATI through the German organization GIZ.

Jonas Freist-Held, Germany: I am in charge over the "recycling park" project and involved in recycling projects with schools. After finishing high school in Germany I decided to volunteer 1 year in SONATI through the German organization GIZ. In Germany I worked five years for the local theatre in Oldenburg, led some different youth groups and founded a youth magazine. I like to work together with young ambitious people, to laugh and to realize interesting projects. In my free time I like to play soccer, the guitar and I love to listen to music.

Lea Frauke, Germany: I carry out indoor and outdoors environmental activities for school children. After finishing high school in Germany I decided to volunteer 1 year in SONATI through the German organization GIZ. After the year with SONATI i would like to study biology and math and to be a teacher.

Lisa Batuski, USA: I am a Peace Corps Volunteer, living here in Leon (for 2 years), working primarily, as an English teacher at a local public high school. In addition, I volunteer on a bi-weekly basis at SONATI as the English Teacher for the two Environment Leadership Programs and I also teach a weekly Tourism-English class for all of the SONATI Staff. I love languages and I especially love teaching kids.I love to meet new people, talk, laugh (a lot!), cook, learn, and I love fruits and sweets (especially chocolate!).

What others say about SONATI

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