Meet Luca Manissero, International Volunteer
Luca Manissero has lived and worked in 8 countries, washing pots, chopping vegetables, preparing meals and mixing cocktails and more recently has enjoyed serving chicken or beef at 33 thousand feet! He can speak Italian, French, Spanish, English and Portuguese fluently and has been actively involved in volunteering and fundraising for causes that he loves.
Luca will be joining our team in Haiti in early March as an international volunteer. He will be taking on the role of hospitality consultant and manager at the guest house linked to the new Bishop Joseph Sullivan Center for Health – officially opening in March. Luca is looking forward to the challenges ahead, knowing that his previous experience in low-resource areas will help him overcome the obstacles and enjoy the experiences that come with starting something from scratch.
Luca recently answered a series of questions to help us get to know him better. Find out which actor he would most like to play him in a movie – it’s not who you’re thinking!
Where’s home? I’m Italian but now call London, UK my home
What did you study: Master in Intercultural Communication from Surrey University and a BA in Hotel Management.
CMMB location and role: Hospitality consultant for Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Center for Health in Côtes-de-Fer, Haiti
Interesting fact about you: I can eat 5 meals a day and still be hungry
What are you most proud of? The fact that I don’t have to wear a tie to go to work
Imagine you are stuck in an elevator. Who would you want to be stuck with? Somebody who could sing for me
Sum yourself up in two words: Lucky Italian
You are featured in the NY Times or your national newspaper. What’s the headline? hmm…I hope it is not my obituary….
What would be your theme song? Bare necessities from the Jungle book
Imagine you were an animal. Which would you be and why? A chicken, they eat constantly!
What is your hope for your experience volunteering at CMMB? To share and learn with people who haven’t had the same opportunities I’ve had
Favorite quote: “Here and now.”
What book should everyone read? Why? Small is Beautiful by E.C. Schumacher. A different perspective on economics as if people mattered.
Which actor would you most like to play you in the movie of your life? Meryl Streep
What is your hope for the future? To be true to myself.
What would you love people to know about you? That they can ask me anything if they need to know anything about me.
Favorite speech: Pepe Mujica at the United Nations 2013
If you could solve one world problem what would it be? Access to free education and healthcare to everybody
What are three things you’re most grateful for? Waking up in the morning, having a roof over my head and food on my table