Merel Meessen

I am a 26-year-old MSc student of International Relations at the University of Amsterdam and the coming half year I will be conducting a research project inquiring into the relationship between the ecovillage movement (and related movements) and the state as actor (e.g. governments). Part of this research entails field work which I will conduct as an intern for the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) International. As I will not receive remuneration for the internship, it is the field work bit of the research that I am asking for funding for.

This is a chronological overview of some of the things I have been doing over the last few years:

 

2007 Exchange program at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. 

2008 Internship at the South African Press Association (SAPA), Johannesburg, South-Africa. 

2008 Two week rapportage project, Ghana. 

2008 Finalization BSc Journalism 

2009 Travelling & Spanish course, Central-America. 

2009 preMaster International Relations 

2009 Introduced into the world of local activism by joining the Amsterdam squatting movement (I remained active in the movement for three years). 

2010 Introduced into theatre on stilts (see: Samshine.nl / Teatropavana.com) 

2011/2012 Work, travels & WWOOF'ing - Spain, Morocco, Canaries. 

2012 Master International Relations 

2013 Field research project into the Ecovillage Movement and related groups.
 

If you are interested in my academic skills, you can have a look at the two papers I have written about the ecovillage movement - they are attached with the project description.