Introducing myself and my journal: Let us be truthful and surrender our pride

About Me:
I was born in Riedlingen, Germany in 1977. After graduating from school and completing my alternative service in a German hospital, I studied aero engineering. Only two semesters passed, I felt the strong desire to work in a rather ‘human field’ again.

Consequently I volunteered for a one-year service with DAPP in Denmark/ Zambia, where I got my first insight working in the ‘development’ sector and the importance of information and communication, in this particular case, related to health and environmental issues.

Back to Germany, this experience brought me back to university, studying Business Administration, Journalism and Public Relations, which I successfully completed in October 2003. During my studies, up to the summer 2005 I worked as a PR Trainee, later as Account Executive on various clients, such as BMW, Burton Snowboards and SEZ.

In summer 2005, I felt experienced enough to take up the challenge to work for AAH-I South Sudan Programme, establishing a project consolidating peace by Information & Communication tools and techniques. The need to learn more about peace by peaceful means brought me to EPU ( http://www.epu.ac.at )in September 2008, where I graduated in September 2009 with a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies.

In December 2008, I founded Xchange Perspectives ( http://www.xchange-perspectives.org ), an organization that is carrying out projects in different parts of the world under the directing line of Media for Peace. I am very keen on seeing the message of peace spread in an informed and aware manner, through the active collaboration with both the people benefiting from these projects, and other organizations dedicated to peace and positive social change.

Being a committed peacemaker, I take all the initiatives that I get involved in with a great sense of ownership and responsibility. Dedication to the noble cause of peace comes with an inherit knowledge that the processes chosen are to mirror the same characteristics of the goal to be reached, namely non-violence, unity, respect of unique identities and creativity. I trust that we share the same vision of peace and that our commitment and experience put together brings this vision a step closer to reality.

My Passions:
To BE

My Challenges:
To HAVE

My Vision for the Future:
You and me can live together like a melody.

My Areas of Expertise:
media for peace, media production, media advocacy, media literacy, project management