About us

Jos Hermans
Founder

Chair - External Relations | The Netherlands

I believe in a world with more solidarity. In communities where nobody is left behind there is less discrimination, less inequality and a safer future for all. And it has been proven that people who feel safe show more hospitality towards others who need our help. I founded COMMEET to encourage people to determine for themselves how they want to organise their community in this vision: collectively, safe and open. And I am more than happy with the support of so many dear friends and colleagues.

Sigfried Janzing

Mediation as Country expert Bangladesh | Director at Streekarchief Midden-Holland | the Netherlands

COMMEET enables me to develop my skills and knowledge while helping communities in developing countries toward empowerment and learning. COMMEET helps me to make the invisible visible.

Ros Wade

Chair of RCE London | Professor of Sustainability London Southbank University | UK

I share with COMMEET the drive to support migrants and refugees in developing their entrepreneurial skills, to better enable them to contribute to their communities and to improve integration.

Maarten Schrevel

Secretary | The Netherlands

Maarten joined COMMEET shortly before his retirement from Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in Maastricht, The Netherlands, where he worked as a lecturer of English a coordinator of internationalisation, among other tasks. He was keen to devote some of his time and energy to voluntary work after retiring, the call from COMMEET coming at just the right moment. Maarten firmly believes communities should help themselves to move forward towards a better future for all; the COMMEET approach of preparing them for this self-empowerment fits him like a glove.

Rob Braeken

Financial Management | The Netherlands

Traditional aid for regions has often consisted of a set of rules and regulations which aid providers gave to the receivers and which the receivers were supposed to carry out without asking too many questions. Aid providers largely ignored the fact that regions often know very well what is wrong, but have difficulties arriving at decent solutions for their problems. I am convinced that COMMEET can play an excellent role here, with its international network of experts in very diverse fields, who are committed to helping regions towards empowering themselves to take their future into their own hands.

Ronald Kefa

Development professional in the developing world, working with communities, government, and development partners to improve access to water, sanitation, and health. Also working on projects to combat avoidable blindness and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). | Kenya

Alleviation of poverty and its attendant socio-economic and gender inequities is a complex problem that requires an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach. My work is greatly enabled by international development cooperation and, even more, by local people’s participation in identifying their problems, determining their solutions, and taking part in the resolution. Naturally, COMMEET’s vision to accelerate regional sustainable development through empowering local communities is appealing to me, and I look forward to many years of collaboration to empower communities to achieve their full potential.

Joe Culhane

Steering Committee of Networking with Plants in the Anthropocene | MA in Engaged Ecology from Schumacher College in Bristol, UK | Los Angeles, California, USA

I contributed to the latest COMMEET Community Group Climate Action toolkit. I love telling and creating better stories for a more peaceful, sustainable and socially just future.

Clarissa Bigasz Mascarenhas

Maastricht University Graduate in MSc European Studies | Brazil

I am thrilled to join COMMEET as a fellow in its Marketing and Communication team. With a strong academic background in European Studies and International Relations and over two years of experience managing social networks, I am passionate about the power of effective communication to drive meaningful change. Joining COMMEET aligns with my core values of collaboration, community engagement, and social impact. I am excited about the opportunity to help expand COMMEET's horizons and contribute to its mission of fostering global understanding and cooperation. This fellowship represents a significant step for me to apply my skills and experiences to support COMMEET's goals and to continue growing in the fields of communication and marketing.

Glenn Strachan

Dr Glenn Strachan combines consultancy work in education for sustainable development with a part time role in higher education at London South Bank University, where he teaches on the Education for Sustainability MSc and is part of the Sustainability Research Group. His research and writings cover a wide range including rural well-being, systems thinking, sustainable entrepreneurship and pedagogical approaches to learning for sustainability. He is currently Chair of the Shared Earth Trust charity, which aims to promote biodiversity in rural land management and provides courses in ecology and sustainable living at the Denmark Farm Conservation Centre in West Wales, UK, near to where Glenn lives. | UK

Through his practical experience in both formal and informal education Glenn hopes to contribute to COMMEET’s work of empowering communities in a way that can drive changes towards a sustainable future.

Chloe Haywood

Geography and Global Development Graduate pursuing a career in research. International Development Research Masters student in the Netherlands. | UK and the Netherlands

Particular interest in gender and environment, community development and climate change. Research to date has focused on survival and environmental management within indigenous communities (Northern Thailand), gender inequalities and the role of NGOs (Nakuru, Kenya) and community empowerment initiatives. As I continue to explore new challenges and contexts my passion and excitement for development studies continue to expand. Engaging with COMMEET on the current Climate Toolkit has been a great opportunity to align my own values on community empowerment and sustainable development with the vision of COMMEET. I look forward to future engagement beyond the toolkit as I travel out to the Netherlands.

Xinwei Tang

Master Degree in Design Products at Royal College of Art in the UK | Focus on Social Inclusivity and Collaborative Progress in SDGs | The Netherlands | comes from China

I’m passionate about being a fellow at COMMEET, specializing in fundraising and communication, because it allows me to implement the skills in research, design, and storytelling that I gained from my academic experiences. As a recent graduate, I have the opportunity to engage with my expertise to facilitate global sustainable development. In addition to practical experience, COMMEET’s adoption of the philosophy of Ubuntu aligns with my pursuit of gathering diverse people and resources to develop innovative solutions. Being a fellow at COMMEET, I feel supported and empowered in realizing my goals in the world and fostering a growth in my life.

Nilar Win

Nilar Win @ Fahmida is a lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM). She is also a project leader of Real World Lab in the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Greater Gombak @ IIUM, Malaysia. | Malaysia

“COMMEET never fails to surprise me with its tremendous achievement in leading the way towards sustainable development goals (SDG). Concise and comprehensive ten-points plans in toolkits of technical and vocational education training (TVET) toolkit and migrants and displaced persons exemplify excellent team work in building an easy way to accommodate community development.”

Vasiliki Kioupi

PhD student in the field of Sustainability at the Centre for Environmental Policy of Imperial College London | United Kingdom

I am happy to support COMMEET’s commitment to promoting Sustainable Development through empowering local communities and bringing bottom-up change.

Adel F. Hakim

Design and Social Media | the Netherlands

As a Syrian, I know war and conflict; I also know that even the smallest gesture can be life changing. This is why I believe in COMMEET's approach. In Syria I was an active member of organisations such as 'Coastal Environment Protection', 'The Islamic Orphan's Shelter', 'Orphans Scouts', and others. This helped me become the man I am today; with COMMEET, I hope to carve that man even more!

Edith Okupa

Edith Okupa is the Founder/Executive Director of Restoration Project International, located in Denver, Colorado, USA. She has degrees in Criminal Justice, and Public Administration (Domestic Violence, Project Management, and Policy Administration). She did various independent studies on Family Courts’ Responses in Child Custody Disputes, a wide variety of topics on Domestic Violence and Abuse, Sexual Crimes, Human Trafficking, Female Genital Mutilation, Race, Culture and Crime, and Victimology. | USA

As an advocate for Survivors' Empowerment, she engages stakeholder communities in the social, educational, and economic empowerment of survivors. Her programs provide tools and skills that build survivors' resilience and gauge their interests to make educated choices that positively impact their lives! She provides a platform for engaging stakeholder communities to exchange information and receive tools and skills on creative ways to fight violence against women and vulnerable girls. Constantly challenging herself in the quest to achieve excellence in her chosen profession, Edith considers restoring hope to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual crimes, and exploitation, of utmost importance in the fight to eliminate violence against women; thus, she embraces education.

Mohd Said Nurumal

Dr Mohd Said Nurumal is an Associate Professor at Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and formerly held the post of Dean and Deputy Chairman for Nursing Council of Public Higher Learning Institutions of Malaysia. | Malaysia

Empowering the community to improve their quality of life and quality of well-being via education and training is my passion. COMMEET's ideals really caught my eye. Thanks to the COMMEET Fellowship for giving me access to their platform. My motivation is endless when seeing someone who will benefit from our program; that knowledge is sustainable among communities across the globe.

Dr Alex Mifsud

| Malta

Dr Alex Mifsud is a founding member of the Centre for Environmental Education and Research, University of Malta. She lectures Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Malta and the UK, with a focus on employee engagement and training. Dr Mifsud develops ESD courses and training programmes to a wide range of audiences. She is working on climate action and migration through her work in Carbon Literacy Training.

Ahmet Sayer

Ahmet Sayer is a founder and president of European Migrant Platform. Over the last few years, he has worked as project researcher/coordinator and community builder in numerous projects co-financed by EU funds. He also has over ten years of experience as a senior auditor in the public sector with working experience in the fields of financial, compliance and performance audits. Besides, he holds a Master degree in International Political Economy with EU External Relations at Brussels School of International Studies. | Belgium

Discovering his fascination for people and communities, he joined the COMMEET Fellowship to use his skills, knowledge and experience for unlocking the potentials among immigrants both for adding value to the society and integration into the host country.

Sara Bartoli

Maastricht University MA Graduate European Studies: Global Policy & Governance Challenges | Italy

I firmly believe that a person's future should not be determined by their place of birth. My calling is to make a meaningful impact in changing this reality to the best of my ability. My expertise includes Migration, EU Enlargement, Conflict Resolution, and MENA Countries. My volunteering has deepened my interest in international migration and the global south. Through COMMEET, I believe I can work towards my goal, fully supporting their bottom-up approach.

Jim Taylor

University of KwaZulu-Natal, ESD Expert-Net and UN Regional Centres of Expertise | South Africa

Jim’s key interest areas are Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Indigenous Knowledge Practices. Social Change and Sustainability, Learning and Transformation. He is a former President of EEASA. He was a founder member and project lead of the SADC Regional Environmental Education Programme, which supported ESD in 15 countries. He is an honorary life member of WESSA. Jim is active in ESD with UNESCO where he is an advisor to ASPNet. His research interests include co-engaged research related to sustainability, citizen science tools and action learning.

Eva Janssen

Eva has a degree in Business Administration and works as a project team member for the Maastricht University Medical Centre+; she also chairs the Young People Advisory Council in West Limburg | The Netherlands

Ever since I was young, I have wanted to contribute as much as possible to society, in many different ways, dedicating myself to the young and old, my municipality, animals and climate issues. At COMMEET I have the opportunity to combine and implement many of these aspects, for instance in the project that supports civil participation in two municipalities. I think it is important that everyone has the opportunity to join an accessible organization like COMMEET, which enables you to develop yourself in many different ways. Together we can actually make the future better and more beautiful, only together and with a worldwide network can we achieve this!

Mauk Wilbers

Mediation | Senior lecturer International Business, Hogeschool Zuyd | the Netherlands

COMMEET’s ideals appeal to me because they focus on sharing know how on the essential capacity building elements of education and entrepreneurship.

John Baines

My degree is in geography; I taught in East Africa and the UK, and moved on to become editor and education officer at the Commonwealth Institute in London and then Director of the UK Council for Environmental Education. Since 1989 I have been a free-lance consultant in environment, sustainability, education and training, working nationally and internationally for businesses, governments, NGOs and international bodies. I was also a tutor on the distance learning programme MSc Education for Sustainability at London South Bank University. In 1989 Queen Elizabeth II honoured me with an MBE for my services to environmental education. I am Senior Vice President of the Institution of Environmental Sciences. | UK

Throughout my career promoting sustainable development and sustainability, I have used a set of guiding principles, including: • Promoting systems thinking • Listening to and using the knowledge and experience of participants • Developing critical thinking skills • Challenging existing paradigms • Ensuring interaction between participants • Identifying priority issues, finding appropriate resolutions and sharing results • Setting a good example john.baines4@btopenworld.com

M Rabiul

Founder and Chairman Oasis for Posterity NGO, Balagram, district of Nilphamari, Bangladesh | Pioneer in the development of innovative Primary Education for cluster village ultra poor children and TVET in the community of Balagram. Establishment of the Oasis for Posterity Institute for Science and Technology (OIST) | Bangladesh

Being a versatile development catalyst, I share COMMEET's understanding for a common vision for togetherness in local development by strengthening hands and heads through technical vocational education and training and beyond.

Philip Gain

Philip graduated in Mass Communication and Journalism from Dhaka university in 1987. He founded the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) in 1993 and has been working full-time with the organization to date. He worked for a USA newspaper for six months in 1993 and was elected the first world fellow from Bangladesh at Yale University, USA. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) in Dhaka where he teaches environmental communication, development communication and advanced reporting. He is working to establish a resource center for the excluded communities of Bangladesh. He has been working with the forest villagers in the Modhupur sal forest for 35 years now. | Bangladesh

My understanding of the COMMEET Fellowship is that it will help promote our work and ideas and strengthen our engagement with forest villagers in Modhupur sal forest. It will also strengthen our connections with the international communities, which will, inter alia, advance the struggle of the communities in Modhupur forest villagers in resolving land disputes and contribute to their overall progress.

Bárbara Moreira

Five years ago, Bárbara Moreira took the first steps in her long-awaited journey to help develop the rural and scarcely populated areas of Portugal. She has a degree in Marketing Management, a post-graduation degree in Security, Defense, and Conflict Resolution, and is concluding her master thesis in Integration Policies for Refugees and Migrants. | Portugal

Bárbara founded AIIR, an NGOD, in 2018. AIIR is developing LAR - Love And Respect - a pilot project that aims to create intercultural and intergenerational communities in Ima, Guarda. It fosters the sustainable integration of immigrant families in rural territories of Portugal, while simultaneously supporting the elderly and local community.

Jacob Niyoyita Mahina, PhD

Former Dean of Faculty in the Rwanda Tourist University College in Kigali. Chair and founder of the professional training institute M Services Ltd in Rwanda. | Rwanda

I am happy and committed to work with COMMEET to promote Sustainable Development through empowering local communities to improve their entrepreneurial skills. COMMEET will enable me to help develop the skills and knowledge of the communities in developing countries toward empowerment, learning, development of business ideas and connecting them to the market.

Sumaiyah Jamaludin

Sumaiyah is a lecturer in the Department of Critical Care Nursing, Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia. She is also a project member of Real World Lab in the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Greater Gombak @ IIUM, Malaysia. | Malaysia

I’m very happy and feel proud to be part of the COMMEET team. My research interests include both nursing education and clinical practice, mainly in cardiovascular diseases, self-care and chronic diseases, and community empowerment and community wellbeing. THANDAR SOE @ SUMAIYAH JAMALUDIN www.researchgate.net/profile/ Thandar_Soe_Sumaiyah_Jamaludin

Dr Ibrahim E. Sancak

| Germany

I support all positive initiatives toward a better world. In this regard, I am happy to be a part of COMMEET, where we can serve communities and contribute to the SDGs together. As an academic and CEO of Ecolithic Sustainability Solutions GmbH, operating internationally, I will support COMMEET with sustainability solutions where feasible.

Dr Roger A Petry

Dr. Roger Petry is a Professor of Philosophy at Luther College at the University of Regina teaching in the areas of ethics, sustainable development, philosophy of religion, and critical thinking. His research explores innovation for sustainability and strategic dimensions in moving to sustainable production and consumption systems. This includes examining historic transitions to new production systems and the role played by universities and disruptive technologies. He coordinates the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) Program at the University of Regina and Co-coordinates its Certificate in Sustainability. Dr. Petry is Co-coordinator of the Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Saskatchewan (RCE Saskatchewan (Canada)) acknowledged by the United Nations University in 2007 and was appointed the UN University’s Regional Advisor to RCEs in the Americas in 2020. He co-leads the International Association of Universities’ (IAU) Higher Education Cluster on Responsible Consumption and Production in support of UN Sustainable Development Goal #12. | Canada

Roger Petry teaches courses in critical thinking and believes that communities can be best empowered by coming together to critically reflect on their local issues using well-prepared educational resources combined with their own knowledge and expertise. His past educational work has included a focus on the study circle/talking circle model and its use by community groups and organizations.

Kim Lara Beerthuis

Maastricht University Graduate International Business Organisation: Management, Change & Consultancy | Germany

What happens next is up to us. Together with COMMEET, I want to make an impact. I truly believe in COMMEET's bottom-up approach. We can empower the local communities toward regional sustainable development to create a better future: for them, for their stakeholders, for us.

Chipo Mukoki

Chipo is passionate about social work as a tool for realising human rights and advancing sustainable development to give children the best start in life and a successful transition to adulthood. She currently leads NdiriANI, an emerging social work and child rights advocacy consulting company based in the Netherlands and Zimbabwe. She is also a candidate on the Professional Doctorate (Advanced practice and research social work and social care) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, UK. | The Netherlands - Zimbabwe

Chipo sees the COMMEET Fellowship as an excellent opportunity to empower children, their families, communities, stakeholders and governments to identify issues affecting children and to be the drivers of their own solutions. She brings to the COMMEET Fellowship 20 years of international social work and leadership experience in humanitarian contexts, specialist children services and child rights advocacy. She is specialised in the inception, management and quality assurance of social services delivering early childhood development support, safeguarding, child protection and alternative care for children and young adults. As a social work practice teacher, Chipo has invaluable experience in developing policy and practice guides and facilitating training for social service workforce development.

Luca Riccioli

Bachelor’s degree in International relations at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” | Italy

After researching COMMEET's mission and actions, I was impressed by how the initiative supports communities in addressing social and political issues through toolkits and a bottom-up approach. I am more than proud to contribute to this mission. My passion for global affairs and international relations sparked my interest in the program, as it aligns with my activism in social issues and climate change. My fierce spirit pushed me to get involved in our society where I have roughly managed to create a path, which I hope to expand to face our multilateral community. I have been a volunteer in tons of fields where I have represented a sector of society that is the root of our future, youth. I am eager to be involved in COMMEET since joining the fellowship will enhance my ambitions, strengthening a system that should be evolved rather than left on its own. The work is much but my passion is bigger.

Romy van den Akker

Project leader and policy advisor at Zuyderland Care, located in Sittard, the Netherlands. MSc in Global Health from Maastricht University and coordinator of a successful refugee and migrant project in the healthcare sector ‘Into Care – to be Carefree’, providing refugees and migrants with tailor-made education in care for the elderly. The refugees and migrants study and earn money simultaneously, all paid for by Zuyderland, and receive a permanent contract upon completing the programme. | The Netherlands

I am happy to be Fellow of COMMEET and to spread Good Practices such as ‘Into Care – to be Carefree’ into the world. I highly value COMMEET’s ideals of local practices and the bottom-up approach of empowering local communities to implement good practices. I am glad and proud to be part of the COMMEET network and to raise international awareness about the local implementation of good practices.

Dzulkifli Abdul Razak

Rector of the International Islamic University of Malaysia | Malaysia

Dzul has decided to step down from an active role in COMMEET. The Board is very grateful to Dzul for his extremely important contributions to the development of the COMMEET Fellowship. Therefore Dzul has been granted the title of Distinguished Fellow of COMMEET.

David Gibbon

BSc in Agriculture, Leeds University, UK; MSc in Agronomy, University of West Indies, Trinidad; PhD in Crop Physiology and Environment, Leeds University, UK. | UK

My experience is in agricultural research and the review of farming systems and rural livelihoods. Also, the facilitation of interdisciplinary and participatory learning systems, organic farming research, institutional monitoring and critical learning in tropical and temperate regions. I am delighted to join such an illustrious group of people. dgibbon662@gmail.com

Ali Bukar Ahmad

Country expert Nigeria | Assistant General Manager at Transmission Company of Nigeria | Nigeria

I value COMMEET's richness of content in activities, sincerity of intent and its mission general in outlook nature, cutting across all developmental horizons, and culture.

Jo Spaubeck

Entrepreneurship | Senior lecturer Zuyd University | the Netherlands

With our common efforts we can create a better balance in local labour markets and improve the value and image of many jobs within a new economic order.

Dr Ayar Ata

Freelance social researcher and linguist working for the Ministry of Justice in London | UK

Ayar is an active member of Sustainability Research Group at London South Bank University and as part of his postdoctoral and action research he helped Croydon Voluntary Action to start Croydon Refugee and New Communities Forum in 2019. In the course of his PhD research Ayar has also helped to establish a small voluntary group called Maheen Project in Croydon-south London. This project is supporting unaccompanied refugee children to settle successfully in London (www.maheenproject.co.uk). Ayar has also served as ExCom member of International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM) 2018-August 2020, and still the IASFM's Working Group as a blog commissioning author. Ayar has recently joined COMMEET to promote positive communications on migration, refugee, and social integration issues in London.

Saima Raza

| United Kingdom

Saima is committed to social and environmental justice and has campaigned against modern slavery and worked on migrant-based issues in Bosnia, Albania, Indonesia, Turkey, Greece, Calais and Budapest. She currently works with an INGO overseeing projects in Asia supporting vulnerable communities and internally-displaced persons and is a Researcher at the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Migration (Jember, Indonesia) investigating migration movements. Saima was one of the Editors of the COMMEET Migrant Toolkit and is engaging with refugee networks in the UK to disseminate it as widely as possible.

Winona Kamphausen

Trainee at the Berlin Public Administration; Maastricht University Graduate in MSc European Studies | Germany

I joined COMMEET because its core values deeply resonate with my beliefs and aspirations. First, I am wholeheartedly committed to fostering positive change from the ground up. COMMEET's dedication to working from a bottom-up approach aligns perfectly with my conviction that true progress stems from empowering communities directly. I am profoundly inspired by COMMEET's emphasis on community-centric solutions to global challenges, particularly in the realms of gender equality, environmental sustainability and climate action, which are close to my academic interests and passions. My decision to join COMMEET stems from a combination of personal conviction, shared values, and a shared vision for a more just and equitable world. I am excited to be part of this dynamic community and look forward to contributing to its meaningful impact on a global scale.

Alexandra Montague

Education | Lecturer at Faculty of International Business and Communication at Hogeschool Zuyd, Netherlands | the Netherlands

I’m committed to COMMEET’s ideals of valuing vocational training, bettering the lives of individuals through effective education and improving communities by connecting stakeholders with a capable workforce.

Andrey Dakhin

Education expert, researcher RCE Nizhny Novgorod | Russia

International collaboration projects in the field of regional SD and TVET, especially regarding aspects of SD of contemporary city agglomeration, social and creative communities of agglomeration are important.

Akpezi Ogbuigwe

A true nationalist and internationalist, Dr. Akpezi Ogbuigwe is a respected and high-profile expert in environmental law, environmental/climate change education, and transformational change in Africa. She is the Founder of Anpez Centre for Environment and Development - founded in 1992 to respond to the environmental degradation and pollution of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. She is currently working on a new initiative called The Star Advantage Network to mobilize women and young persons to take transformative action in their communities and areas of influence and to celebrate such impacts. Akpezi also currently serves as Adviser for the African Region, UNU-RCEs; Board Member, Earth Charter International; Member, Advisory Board, Network on Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures, School of Education, University of Bristol (www.tesf.network); Associate, KIKO Educational, London; Board Member, Centre for Biblical Transformation, Kenya. Until December 2019 she served with four global experts as Juror for the UNESCO/Japan Prize for ESD. She was a former Head of Environmental Education and Training (2002-2012) and later Coordinator of the Ecosystem Management Sub-Programme at the United Nations Environment Programme (2013-2014). Before that, she was Dean, Faculty of Law, Rivers State University. | Nigeria

I was motivated to join COMMEET because of the critical issues handled by COMMEET – Migrants, social justice, climate change and others. These are issues that are relevant to me as an African and as part of our global family. COMMEET Team members are also very committed, diligent, and accomplished persons from different walks of life and different geographical backgrounds. They are just the best! COMMEET is not looking for experts but for people with the heart, knowledge, courage and time to transform lives and enable people everywhere to take the next step to transform their lives, the lives of others and their environment.

Adama Zanga

etudiant | Burkina Faso

COMMEET is an opportunity to be helpful for my community and get experiences from others.

Abaru Peace

Founder and Director of Peace for Women-West Nile | Abaru has an associate degree in Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University, and a Diploma in Social work and Certificate in Project Planning and Management from Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development. She has extensive knowledge of working with Vulnerable Children and Women, different cultural norms, and experience in data collection and data analysis. | Uganda

I would like to work with COMMEET where I can utilize my skills to their fullest potential. With my experience performing administrative duties I have the knowledge to help plan and implement programs designed to encourage support from individuals, businesses and government agencies. I also have the ability to create plans for keeping track of memberships, activities and events associated with the organisation, to organise projects and to meet tight deadlines. Last but not least, I have the skills and training needed to promote special events hosted by the organisation.

Nurazzura Mohamad Diah

Lecturer Department of Sociology & Anthropology, KIRKHS, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Digital Entrepreneurship Trainer | Malaysia

COMMEET's ideals really caught my eye. I think that innovation and creativity in digital entrepreneurship is another important part of a community's success. Developing digital entrepreneurship creativity is a collaborative effort. It is something that needs to be nurtured, practiced and respected. I would be so excited to be a part of that innovation here.

Armand Schrevel

Armand has a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam. He currently works for the Amsterdam municipality. | The Netherlands

I think it is important to realize helping other people starts with listening to them and giving them opportunities to let their voices be heard. I see the lack in opportunities for certain groups in a society as not just a loss for that group but for that society as a whole. Talent can be found in unexpected places and someone you help today might help you tomorrow. This is why I joined COMMEET, as it helps people empower themselves.

Andi Demo

MPP University of Tokyo; MA Maastricht University; political activist from Albania | Germany

The reasons I am part of Commeet are twofold. The first is a personal conviction that people should strive to maintain a certain degree of civic and public engagement in order to promote democracy and empower the most vulnerable. Secondly, I firmly believe in the paradigm shift from the individual to the community as the atomic part of our modern societies, which is envisioned by Commeet's approach and in line with UN SDGs.

Sam Wenmakers

| The Netherlands

I firmly believe in the work of COMMEET and the way this organisation contributes to a better world. I want to share the knowledge and experience of this international group of people who work so very hard on the toolkits that can make that change. That is why I joined the Marketing & Communication team.

Axelle Gaillard

Maastricht University Graduate International Business Organization: Management, Change and Consultancy | France

I truly support COMMEET's values to work from a bottom-up approach and help deliver positive and empowering development opportunities for communities across the world.

Carolina C. López

Founder of Living Lab/Centro de Diálogo y Transformación: RCE Borderlands México-USA | Mexico

COMMEET helps link like-minded individuals globally and locally, thus helping build world class global teams and allowing talented individuals to make connections for the job of their dreams.

Betty Okot

Dr. Betty Okot has interdisciplinary interests in research/practice spanning the fields of humanities and social sciences; environmental/sustainability education; refugees, migration, diaspora and conflict studies; land and culture – especially land rights and customary laws in modern times; indigenous knowledge and challenges of education in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. She has been working closely with local communities to encourage community dialogue and interventions in delaying deforestation through green conservation activities. | Uganda

The pursuit of a sustainable future is in humanity’s best interest. This is something the Commeet Fellowship programme promises by seeking to empower communities to identify and address specific/localized sustainability concerns. I see the Fellowship as a unique opportunity for tangibly catalyzing sustainable change in my local community. The COMMEET Fellowship will give me the opportunity to share my experience and knowledge of community organising and also contribute to strengthening north-south collaborations in research and practice for sustainability.

Dr Shyamal Majumdar

Dr Shyamal Majumdar is the former head of the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training(TVET). | India

Shyamal has decided to step down from an active role in COMMEET. The Board is very grateful to Shyamal for his extremely important contributions to the development of the COMMEET Fellowship. Therefore Shyamal has been granted the title of Distinguished Fellow of COMMEET.

Ian Roderick

Director, The Schumacher Institute, UK | UK

Our mission is to promote systems sciences to address complex global issues. This is a passion for me that has being growing over the last twenty years. Communities need systems thinking blended with E.F Schumacher’s ideas of local action, appropriate technology, human scale, non-violence, and simplicity. I feel that working with COMMEET is a natural fit.

Peter Ramakers

| The Netherlands

I firmly believe we can learn from 3.8 billion years of natural development of our mother Earth and all the living plants and creatures. As human beings we were the best in adapting to the enduring change of circumstances. Right now we have to protect ourselves from self-destruction and help communities to develop their world and ours in a sustainable manner. Giving meaning to the United Nations SDGs and putting them into practice in local initiatives by individual communities all over the world drives me to support Commeet's goals in Community Empowerment.

George Giannopoulos

Postdoctoral research associate at the University of Cambridge towards applications in nanotechnology and environmental science | United Kingdom

Elisabetta Fierro

I was born in a small city near Salerno in Italy, not far from the Amalfi coast, a place where artists and poets find the inspiration for their masterpieces. I studied civil engineering and architecture and I am working as a consultant for 1st-Solution Group for realizing and managing ICT networks, in Germany. | Germany

Among my passions are art, music and volunteering for non-profit organizations, to improve people’s lives and contribute to bridging the gaps within and among countries. Quality education and compassionate communities could enhance the effectiveness of sustainable development strategies, connecting minds and hearts for meaningful goals. We all dream of a better world where every little girl, every woman, indeed all of us can make a difference and have the chance to live fulfilling lives and contribute to the empowerment of others.

Ron Zwamborn

Internal Management | Programme manager Shared Service Center Zuid-Limburg | the Netherlands

I trust in our ability to make our world a better place. All I have to do is to put my energy to good use, and what better cause than that of COMMEET.

Ahmed I.A. Yameogo

Financial expert at MÂÂM group | Burkina Faso

Help to grow

Robin van de Poll

Director of Nehem International | the Netherlands

I share with COMMEET the aim to encourage and support local communities to define their own sustainable development targets and with my experience in international consultancy I might be able to contribute to COMMEET's work.

Igor Arzhenovskiy

Coordinator, RCE Nizhny Novgorod | Russia

It is interesting to engage in projects in the field of sustainable development and TVET, especially at the regional level (Nizhny Novgorod Region, Volga Basin)

Jasmijn Ouwendijk

Maastricht University Graduate Global Health & Anthropologist | The Netherlands

After working with COMMEET over the past 6 months, I want to continue supporting this great organisation in their mission to empower communities from a bottom-up perspective. As a fellow, I aim to support COMMEET with my skills in developmental sociology, global health and marketing/ social media.

Medjahed Boumediene Djaoued

Partnerships & Advocacy Analyst at UNFPA | Algeria

SDG's

Marcel van Kasteren

Entrepreneurship start-up coach at Starters Centre Limburg, the Netherlands

COMMEET contributes to the worldwide development of entrepreneurship by connecting local needs, education & business into one framework where people can learn from each other and improve their living conditions in a true sustainable way.

Philippe Giblot Ducray

Junior engineer Emineo Ltd | Mauritius Island

I want to dedicate my time to promoting local community empowerment and sustainable development by providing them with the right tools and motivation. I am an optimist at heart and have faith in our future.

Monique Walhof

Marketing consultant | Portugal

Guido Vandevenne

Technical Vocational Education and Training | Former director of technical vocational education school | Belgium

Promotion and support of vocational education is very important for our society and out future. Involvement and participation of the community are major elements.

Engr. Elias Kanchon

Trainer on ARM, textile engineer | Bangladesh

I am really happy to be a friend of COMMEET. I really feel proud if I can work with you.

Detlev Lindau-Bank

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) | Lecturer and researcher at University of Vechta | Germany

I am in line with the vision of COMMEET to empower communities by improving vocational trainings, because change is needed and change is only possible by creating good relationships among the involved partners.

Y P Chawla

PhD in Skill Gaps in Power Sector | Republic of India

Yvon Prince

Mediation | Owner Prince&Advies | the Netherlands

I am strongly motivated to heal rifts in society; finding a new balance between self- and common interests, by using commonalities and cherishing meaningful differences.

Luc Vandeput

Education | Educational expert at KU Leuven | Belgium

In and through COMMEET, we meet, think, discuss, share, develop, emancipate… we’ll make a relevant difference!

Monic Zwamborn

| the Netherlands

It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Monic passed away recently. At the start of our Fellowship she was the energetic and cheerful secretary of our organisation, until she stepped down in 2019. In recent months her health deteriorated quickly, until her untimely death in early April 2022. May she rest is peace, and may her husband and family find all the strength they need in these dark times.