Friederike Ertmer followed the very first edition of the PAR Practitioners Program and is now certified action researcher at SevenSenses. She also successfully passed the PAR-trainer course, which makes her part of our PAR-trainers team.
Friederike:
“Born and raised in Eastern Germany – the former GDR – though the eyes of a child, I experienced what people can achieve if they strive for the same goal. Back then, it was a unified Germany.
I believe that this might have had a little impact in my interest in how we live in our societies today. My ambition is to work for equality, same chances and opportunities in life – no matter where and when you are born.
To do so, my focus was helping people with communication disorders first as a Speech Therapist for several years. Later, after graduating from a master in Global Health, I’ve been using qualitative research to create opportunities in the lives of the most vulnerable people. I’ve been working in Nicaragua, India, but also have been doing 2 action- research projects in the Netherlands. My passion is to use action-research for bottom-up change; working with the communities.
Besides, I teach at the University of Maastricht about transcultural medicine, refugee healthcare and intercultural communication, and volunteer at Médicins du monde to work on the delivery of the right to health for all.
“In this fast changing world, I try to live here and now as much as possible. The mother of a friend once said “be where your feet are.” That’s what I try every day.”