Student testimonial
Student Lillybelle – MSc International Development
Lillybelle did a bachelors in Middle Eastern Studies and Political Science in Switzerland and Lebanon. After working as a journalist for almost 4 years she decided to quit her job and do our master in International Development Studies, with a focus on disaster studies.
I can picture myself working in challenging places in the world. I grew up with a lot of privileges in Europe and it’s crucial for me to be aware of what’s happening outside this bubble.
Disaster studies
“It is important to understand what we mean when we speak about ‘disasters’. There are not only human-made disasters, but also natural disasters. It intrigued me to understand the aftermath of such a devastating event with widespread impact and long-term consequences on, for example, affected communities. As many professors teaching at WUR have practical know-how from the field, I was able to learn about different places and realities in the world. This also enabled us as students to connect the theories learned to real-life experiences.
In this study program, you don’t focus merely on the economic, the political or the social sphere. You focus on the interplay between them and how everything is related to each other. Another great strength is the duration of the master program. I already have the feeling that 2 years is too short a time to learn about international development, let alone if it would only be a 1 year program.”
Internship at Peace Paradigm Organisation
Lillybelle decided to do her internship at Peace Paradigm Organisation (PPO). This local Iraqi organisation seeks to offer context-specific solutions to achieve comprehensive and impactful results in its efforts to mitigate and prevent conflicts.
“As I searched for an internship, I thought about which aspects of international development align best with both my thesis topic and personal development. Our class discussions on crisis and wars have intrigued a stronger interest in aftermath of conflict. When is something truly considered as “post-conflict” and how can this deeper understanding contribute to sustainable peace building? Therefore I looked for an organisation that would focus on strengthening social cohesion in a complex and interesting context such as Iraq. Moreover, it was crucial for me to work with a local organisation, as it provides invaluable insights into local dynamics and offers perspectives that may differ from those previously assumed. Additionally, I was able to build a strong connection to my surroundings – acknowledging the locality, language, and culture – which was equally significant.”
“During my internship, I mainly focused on reporting on different projects. Normally, local experts work directly with the communities on-site and then share their experiences with us. As we are a small and local organisation, we are also able to know the local circumstances. Together, we analyse and discuss possible restructuring and improvements and then compile the reports. However, I also attended focus group discussions and engaged with tribal leaders, community members or activists. These meetings were very enriching since they gave me direct insights into their realities. My ability to speak Arabic proved highly advantageous and I was able to further professionalise this skill during my internship.”