Application open to join WAVE Belgium team
WAVE – We Are Voices of Ecology
Dear future climate leaders,
If you are between 18 and 35 years old, based in Belgium, are passionate about empowering youth voices on climate justice and action, and would like to learn about podcasting, climate literacy and transformative learning methods… We are looking for you to join our WAVE Belgium team.
WAVE’s mission is to take action against climate change, encourage environmental sustainability and give a voice to European youth by providing them space and tools to become active citizens. WAVE is a European funded ERASMUS+ project, run by 5 partner organizations based in Romania, Turkey, Lithuania, Portugal and Belgium. WAVE Belgium are looking for 30 young people (18 – 35 years old) based in Belgium to join our team, from now until July 2025.
If you are interested in joining the WAVE Belgium team, please fill in this application form, adding web links where possible. We need people to commit to a minimum of events. Deadline for application has been extended to Tuesday 15th of October (23.00h CEST).*
Here are the links to the application forms in the 3 languages:
You can also share this call out on Instagram here.
(* The original application deadline was Monday 7th of October)
The current WAVE Belgium – Project team is made up of 6 ambassadors and 2 coordinators:
WAVE Belgium Ambassadors
- Inés Elvira
Inés Elvira is an activist, emergent yoga teacher and facilitator. She is keen to support the transition towards diverse regenerative futures by sparking collective action within youth networks and local communities across Europe and beyond. She has been supporting numerous capacity building activities among multiple societal stakeholders such as community-led initiatives, activists, and citizens to promote environmental, climate and social justice at the heart of the transition. She holds a MSc in Sustainable Territorial Development, Climate Change, Diversity and Cooperation..
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- Jacinta Manta
Jacinta Manta, a Portuguese national based in Brussels, is a biochemist by training, currently working in the field of research and innovation at the European Commission. Transitioning from a predominantly benchwork environment, Jacinta sought to bridge her scientific background with socio-economic contexts by pursuing a post-graduate degree, which introduced her to the field of circular economy—a subject that fascinates her. During this period, Jacinta had the opportunity to be involved in a project developing a biodegradable composite material from agricultural waste and mycelium—did someone say circular economy again?
Firmly convinced that policy formulation should be rooted in scientific evidence, Jacinta is, yet, aware of the challenges posed by technological advancements and eager to better understand the link between innovation and sustainability. Jacinta’s interests and experiences span diverse fields, but they share a common denominator: Jacinta is keen on leveraging not only science, but youth voices and activism, to foster sustainable development and global justice.
- Léa Van Nyverseel
Léa Van Nyverseel, a Brussels native, is currently working at the European Commission, where she splits her time between Human Resources and driving sustainability initiatives. Outside of her HR responsibilities, which include recruitment, Léa dedicates herself to promoting environmental awareness and engaging Commission Staff, particularly Bluebook trainees, in climate action efforts. Beyond her professional environment, Léa is also committed to bringing climate action to a local level, with a specific focus on engaging her local community in climate actions.
With an interdisciplinary academic background in Anthropology and Environment and Development, Léa is particularly drawn to the human side of climate change. Her areas of interest include climate justice, human-nature relations, disaster vulnerability and adaptation, the psychological impact of climate change, sustainable development, and political ecology. In her free time, Léa finds solace in nature, valuing its serenity and beauty.
- Shizuho Ido
Shizuho Ido, originally from Japan, is a Bachelor of Social Sciences student at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Growing up in the Kingdom of Bhutan, she was amused by the great nature of the Himalayas and the Bhutanese’s cultural beauties of living with the land and community. She is interested in the interdisciplinary approach to sustainable living, natural protection, and cultural diversity, specifically in the context of the development of the Global South. Being a big lover of travelling and adventure, Shizuho explores intentional communities and transition movements in Europe and Japan. She is specifically fascinated by the Ecovillage movement, having internships/volunteering at the Ecovillages in Japan, France, and Germany. Her interests include community living, Anthropology of development, degrowth, and political-cultural-spiritual approach to sustainable development.
- Stefano Cisternino
Stefano is half Italian, half Spanish, a scientific communicator at the Joint Research Centre, and an environmental journalist for various newspapers across Europe. He is also the co-founder of the Earth Society. His primary commitment is to make climate communication clear and actionable. While he believes in the power of data and science, he also strongly believes that emotions and understanding them are fundamental in addressing climate change
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- Teun Boswinkel
Teun Boswinkel works at Intysify as a consultant in energy & sustainability. Based in Brussels, he is active in the Federated Young European Greens after a history in environmental activism in his native country, the Netherlands. There, he helped to set up Maastricht for Climate and worked with local stakeholders to create recommendations for easily adoptable green initiatives, lobbied the municipality of Amsterdam with Friends of the Earth (Milieudefensie) and became part of Extinction Rebellion. With 2 masters (in energy & green economics, and in environmental governance), he maintains a multidisciplinary approach to societal problems. During the last European elections, he co-spearheaded a team of volunteers to support young, green candidates for the European parliament with research. Part of this campaign’s message was “fight for joy”, which Teun tries to apply in all situations. Teun is an animal lover, enjoys sailing and spending time outside and is permanently willing to discuss politics, environmentalism or moral ethics.
WAVE Belgium Coordinators
- Carmen Contreras
With over 7 years of journalism experience, Carmen is a dynamic professional specializing in crafting and implementing impactful communication strategies, as well as creating engaging content for social media and digital platforms. Her focus is on critical global issues such as systemic change, the climate crisis, and feminism. Originally from Lima, Perú, Carmen has a diverse background that enriches her perspective. Having worked in environmental organizations in her hometown and in Brussels, Belgium, she brings experience of working with multicultural teams. Now based in Barcelona, Spain, Carmen has a proven track record of producing multimedia reports, podcasts, educational campaigns, documentaries, and articles for media. She has also played a role in covering international negotiation spaces like COPs, contributing valuable insights to the global discourse on pressing issues.
- Duncan Crowley
Duncan Crowley works with ECOLISE and is the WAVE Belgium project manager. He also coordinates the Community of Practice for the FLIARA project (Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas). Duncan is an Irish architect exploring community-led ecocities. A climate activist for a quarter-century, his work seeks to build bridges between different communities, languages, movements, and peoples. He is part of Lisbon’s Regenerative Practitioner community and completing an action research PhD after his Masters in Environment & Development in Curitiba, Brazil. While in Barcelona, he co-founded a Transition group, gained a Permaculture Design Certificate and participated in 2011’s Indignado square occupations. Part of Indymedia since 2002, he helped livestream the People’s Assembly with indigenous leaders from Copenhagen streets during 2009’s COP21, had video documentaries screened on cable TV and art galleries, organised film series, street theatre workshops and many parties. His involvement with ECOLISE began in 2019, as part of FCUL, through UrbanA. He served as Co-President from 2021-2022 and collaborated on the 2019 COP25 climate delegation to Madrid, Transformative Cities and Portugal’s participation with the European Day of Sustainable Communities. Duncan is a river lover, Degrowth-er and big fan of adventures and comics.
