Your NameLieve Claessen
Email Addresslieve.claessen@refoodnetwork.org
Cohort AssignmentEurope, Africa, and the Middle East with Online Intensive, Winter-Spring 2024
1. What do you see as your primary work at this stage of your life?

To establish our organisation 'The ReFood Network'. We are on a mission to create a global network of local ReFood Communities whereby we connect all local food stakeholders to regenerate their community together.

2. What role do you see as yours to play?

To facilitate connection between different actors.

3. What goals or aims do you have in regard to the above?

I want to bring more consciousness into our food system. My goal is to create a connected food system whereby nobody is left behind. A food system whereby communities have decision making power over their food en natural resources.

4. Where do you feel your next arenas for personal growth are?

I want to build confidence to pursue my goals. This will involve self-reflection, stepping out of my comfort zone, setting an achieving small goals and learn my strengts and appreciate my accomplishments.

5. And for professional growth?

I want to become a better communicator. I'm finding it difficult to put my knowledge in words- and to motivate other people.

6. What have you invested in to get you where you are?

I've studies a lot about food systems, to gain more basic knowledge that is important for my work.

7. What fields of learning and which thinkers have been important in your life?

I like the work of Vendana Shiva and Helena Norberg-hodge. I also like the work they are doing with the Conscious Food System Alliance (Cofsa).

8. Can you frame your philosophy or cosmology of life? What role(s) do humans play in it?

I've lived for 11 years in a remote village in South Africa together with the Xhosa indigenous people. Nature told me so much and made me realise even more that we are all connected with eachother but also with the spiritual world. I've learned that humans are not the masters of nature but rather stewards entrusted with the care of the planet.

Date CreatedFebruary 22, 2024