Welcoming Two New Team Members to the CCI Family
Childhood Cancer International is growing. We are delighted to introduce Maria, our Administrative Assistant, and Erzsébet, our new Communication and Brand Manager — two passionate professionals joining us to strengthen our mission toward equal access to care.
At CCI, our work is powered by people who believe in the cause and bring both heart and expertise to their roles. We are excited to welcome two new team members who will help us continue advancing our global efforts for children and adolescents with cancer.
Please join us in warmly welcoming Maria and Erzsébet to the CCI community as we continue working together.
Meet Maria Passinhas– Our Administrative Assistant
The person helping keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes!
Read our Rapid-fire Q&A with her below, and don’t forget to wish her good luck in the comments!
Tell us about your role and what you are working on at CCI!
I work in administration, supporting the day-to-day operations of the organization. I am involved in financial and general administration, membership administration, and HR, helping to coordinate tasks and processes so that everything runs smoothly. My goal is to support the team and ensure all departments can focus on what they do best.
What excites or inspires you most about being part of the childhood cancer community?
I am excited about the opportunity to work for a cause, not just a typical 9-to-5 job. I have always dreamed of doing work that is meaningful and fulfilling, where my daily efforts contribute to something bigger than myself. Being able to support a community and help continue a mission that truly makes a difference is deeply motivating to me.
What is a small thing that always brightens your day?
Knowing that I was able to make even a small difference in someone’s life — even if it is only 1% better — and that something I did helped make their day a little easier or brighter, truly lights up my day.
Do you have a favourite quote or personal motto you live by?
I believe in living outside the box, being true to myself, and doing what I genuinely enjoy rather than what others expect of me. Authenticity defines me and guides the way I live and work.
Meet our brand-new Communication and Brand Manager: Erzsébet Szécsényi!
We are also proud to welcome Erzsébet. Read our Rapid-fire Q&A with her below, and don’t forget to wish her good luck!
What impact do you hope to make through your work at CCI?
Phew… as a childhood cancer survivor and someone who has worked with different NGOs supporting children and families affected by the illness, I thought I knew the cause inside out. I am only now learning how the challenges, needs, and problems differ across regions. For this reason, my hope is to work toward equal care. I am also committed to bringing attention to survivors’ voices. Not only are they some of the coolest and most compassionate people I know, but their experiences need to be heard — the disease leaves life-long marks on both body and soul, and society must acknowledge this to provide better support.
What motivates or inspires you in your daily life?
I’m discovering that working for a cause puts me in a creative flow. I don’t want to say I only work here to do something meaningful — of course, I do want that — but on a more personal and selfish note, I also enjoy the creative energy that working for an NGO brings out in me. I get most of my inspiration from people and nature; I can easily get mesmerized by what both are capable of.
A favourite quote or life motto?
"We can't choose to vanish the dark, but we can choose to kindle the light." — Edith Eva Eger, The Choice