education - regeneration - development
Mieke Lopes Cardozo
Welcome — I’m Mieke.
I believe in the regenerative potential of education: its ability to help us develop more conscious, caring and life-affirming relationships with one another, our communities and the living world around us. My work brings together scholarship, teaching, research, leadership, regenerative practice and inner-work, exploring how education can contribute to more just, peaceful, inclusive and regenerative societies. This drive is sourced in the (known and silent) stories of my various ancestors about the impacts of war, social exclusion, discrimination and migration - and my own experiences of growing up in rural Drenthe (a Northern province in the Netherlands), my previous work in Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Indonesia and Myanmar and serving as a educator-researcher for about two decades at the University of Amsterdam.
I’m curious about what becomes possible when we learn to see education systems, actors and processes — and ourselves — as part of living systems, rather than separate from them. My work grows from this curiosity and feeds a commitment to co-create with and serve the potential of those I have the privilege to work with.
This website brings together some of my explorations, projects, ideas and collaboratons. I hope you find something here that speaks to you, sparks a question, or invites you into a conversation.
Three regenerative pilars
Inspired by Regenerative Development Theory and Philosophy - my work is grounded in three pillars:
Inner development
As I aspire (often fail, and try again) to work and live regeneratively, I commit to a healthy discipline to support inner development work by practicing daily reiki, yoga and continuous self-reflection and discernment individually and in regenerative resource communities (inspired by mentors like Carol Sanford and her work on The Regenerative Life)
I aim to approach my various roles in life - from mother, educator, teamleader, researcher, writer or neighbour - through co-creation: recognising, challenging and serving the innate capacity of all involved in a relational way, towards a common goal and direction (with mentorship from Ben Haggard and colleagues at https://www.regenerat.es/)
I try to remember that not knowing is a source of continuous learning, and that wisdom comes in many intergenerational and (non)human forms. Consciousness-focused and living systems thinking communities re-source my deep care for the ecosystems and living human-made systems I am part of and aim to serve.
Let's Connect
Get in touch
✉️ T.A.LopesCardozo@uva.nl
University of Amsterdam
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Research Master International Development Studies
School of Regenerative Educators
✉️ school@regenerative-educators.com
Visit the School of Regenerative Educators
