Growing up on a mixed farm in rural Lower Saxony, living in the global south, studying ethnology, political science and sustainable development, working in development cooperation – holistic thinking is a lifestyle for Marieke Behrens. She makes use of ethnology as a tool to change perspectives and to question the status quo. For example, in her Masters’ thesis, she explored the future of agriculture and asked herself how it can positively influence the social fabric in rural areas. Marieke joined the AHA in October 2021 as a rural development advisor. After one year, she moved to the International Division and, in addition to the projects in Tanzania, is in charge of thematic projects in the field of health and organic agriculture.