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Photo: Trainees at work on Africa Day 2024
Tije Smeijsters
Hello FMS network! My name is Tije and this month I started as an intern at FMS together with Jens and Martha. In the coming months, I will mainly be engaged in lobbying and advocacy work for a more just and coherent Dutch policy towards the Global South.
I am currently completing my master's International Relations & Global Political Economy graduate, having previously studied International Development Studies. In my studies and work, I enjoy delving into the roots of global wealth inequality and how international power relations and economic structures sustain it.
I am convinced that prosperity in rich countries like the Netherlands should not come at the expense of people and communities elsewhere in the world. Based on that motivation, I will start working at FMS with great enthusiasm in the coming period. I look forward to working with many of you!
Jens Bosman
Hi, I'm Jens, the new Democracy and International Cooperation intern at FMS! In daily life, I am a history enthusiast, football coach and frontman of a pop band.
As an intern, I am engaged in writing articles, organising webinars and monitoring democratic developments in Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and the Caucasus. This ranges from countries applying for EU accession to maintaining and strengthening our European network of social democrats.
I also work to strengthen Dutch democracy through the Dutch Democracy Coalition. Together with other civil society organisations, we are committed to democratic resilience and cooperation.
Do you have questions or see opportunities to work together? I'd love to get in touch!
Martha Elias
Pleased to meet you! I am Martha and I am an intern at FMS as a Communication and Events Officer. I studied History and in my studies and work I am mainly concerned with international power relations, democratic development and the position of countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America in the world order. In my spare time, I enjoy reading (and often on exactly the same topics).
At FMS, I write and edit articles, interviews and social media posts, spotting relevant developments in international politics and linking them to the global issues FMS deals with. I help think about formats, strategy and creative ways to make complex issues accessible to a wider audience, think about our political cafés, webinars and conferences.
We look forward to contributing as interns to promoting democracy, development and dialogue. We hope to make a nice contribution to the work of Foundation Max van der Stoel. Do you have questions or ideas for cooperation? We look forward to getting to know you!
