About the storyteller – Marije M. Nederveen

In Sudan I was told for the first time that my name Marije sounds like the word for mirror in Arabic. A month later in response to my story about my impressions of Palestine and Israel a Palestinian lady who shared with me her story, said to me the same:

‘Your story mirrors what we feel and experience.‘

My curiosity about people and their stories is one of my main drivers in life. Another one, a strong sense of justice. The others are based on creativity, being sensitive to light, a love of colours and the many forms to use a language. The combination has helped me to study Sociology, engage in human rights and development work, create an interest in photography and find a friend in poetry to express what I observe, feel and experience. Over time I have changed way of expression, translating poetry in to graphic images, which is becoming part of this website. Feel free to contact me.

Acknowledgment

I have had the privilege of working for Oxfam Novib, the Dutch office of Oxfam International and various other human rights and development organisations. I have considered myself both a committed colleague and staff, but also a critical friend to the organisation. My opportunities to travel were many because of this job. Trying to do the right thing, did not necessarily mean we always and automatically did this. I had to stay on my toes to really help deliver what people needed. Therefore I spend the last part of working life there on an Authentic Partnership Journey trying to work on fundamentally changing ways of working. Now it is time for my own Authentic Journey, including moving on to the Dutch Drinkwater Sector, working for PWN. Find my overall experience on my linkedin profile.