Blog

Joan Bowler

Australia

Joan Bowler, aged 74, was born in rural Australia of Irish Catholic tradition. She is the mother of six children and has had a long career in maternal and community health. Joan has also been involved with Australian Aboriginal people through her husband's work in geology and archaeology. Joan is firm believer in the values of multi-faith exploration and that no culture alone possesses the secrets of life on this planet. She sees this visit to Istanbul as an opportunity to explore with others some of the mysteries of life that we share as common ground.

Annetine Forell (AO)

Australia

Annetine Forell is a mother of four children and a trained nurse. She worked as a midwife in the remote Chimbu region of New Guinea. In Australia Annetine established an organisation assisting families of handicapped children. Currently Annetine is in business promoting ancient timber, this raises awareness of this heritage issue and profits go into research into ancient Australia. In her spare time Annetine plays the violin and writes poetry.

Gina Flash

Australia

Gina Flash was born and raised in South Africa in the tradition and community of Progressive Judaism. This value system instilled in Gina many layers of spirituality, social conscience, responsibility and a sense of self within a wider world context. Growing up during a time of great change in South Africa also created an early awareness of human and civil rights and the suffering of those less privileged than herself - and the responsibility of that privilege. Gina works in graphic design and communication and is currently working with Blood Foundation in Thailand promoting and assisting in the growth of the NGO.

Famke Lantsocht

Belguim

Famke Lantsoght is a 24 years old student from Gent. After graduating she wants to become a teacher because she sees education as the key element towards development. Like 70% of the Belgians, Femke has a catholic background: she is baptised and went to a catholic school but she personally relates to Catholicism more as a tradition than as a religion.Participating at the Muslim for a month project is an excellent way to combine her greatest interests: travelling and learning about other cultures. She considers the project as a wonderful opportunity to achieve personal growth.

Carol Doyle

Ireland

Carol Doyle is a horse massage therapist and trainer from Dublin, Ireland.  She was raised in the Catholic tradition. At the age of 14, unable to equate what God meant to her with what she heard from the Church at Sunday mass, she turned her back on it all.  Thinking that Christianity was the only way a person could be "religious", she came to the conclusion that God did not exist. Through illness and, yes, through horses, she discovered God in the people and things around her in ways she had never, and always, dreamed of.  While not ascribing to any one religion, Carol is seeking to explore God through many religious traditions.  In particular, the works of Rumi capture her heart. Working with horses is a very special thing and requires a strong awareness, knowledge of self and in many ways, of God. Carol chronicles her innermost musings and journey in her blog, The Horse's Tail.

Anne-Jan Brouwer

Holland

Anne-Jan Brouwer (26) is born in the North of Holland. He grew up in a warm supporting family with no particular religious background, but with an open mind towards all. He has travelled throughout Asia doing volunteering work in India and has been involved with Blood Foundation from its inception. He is currently studying social work in Ghent. The program attracts him both personally and professionally. Being a future social worker it is fundamental to have an understanding off different religions and cultures. Personally he views religion as one of the most important foundations for all human beings.  He is highly interested in learning about the different ways of expressing religion. He therefore sees this program as a great opportunity to gain insight in to the second biggest world religion.

Ben Bowler

Australia

Ben is a 37 year old Australian who along with his wife Jildou is the founder of Blood Foundation. Ben is inspired by current opportunities in the fields of inter-faith experience and social enterprise. He is a poor (as in not-very-good) follower of Jesus and likes the word catholic with a small 'c'. Ben is looking for the emergence of convergence and the enlightenment of faith.

Jildou Brouwer
 Holland
 Jildou is a 30 year old Dutch mother of one with a background in Pedagogy and migrant education. With her husband, Ben she is the founder of Blood Foundation. Since 2007 Jildou spent 3 years volunteering in remote northern Thailand working as development projects along the Thai-Burma border. She now lives happily in Chiang Mai and is looking forward to making new friends in Turkey and shopping at the Grand Bazaar.

Ben Reisman

Holland

Ben is a video producer from Amsterdam. Ben was born in Israel and grew up in the north of Holland. Having been raised in a Jewish tradition and growing up in a secular society has given him and early insight into cultural differences and similarities. This has therefore always Ben one of his great interests. Ben has been involved in video making for the past four years and is responsible for Blood foundation' promotional video. He feels closely connected t Blood Foundation's philosophy and activities.

Rajiv Sankarlall

Trinidad & Tobago

Rajiv Sankarlall is an Artist/Photographer from the US, originally born in the small island country of Trinidad & Tobago. Rajiv has always been fascinated with theology and philosophy as his upbringing exposed him to a diverse perspective of spiritual beliefs. His father was a Hindu, mother a Christian and his high school education was an Islamic one. Rajiv has spent much of his life in exploration of perspectives of spirituality that have taken him to several corners of the earth and on many amazing adventures. It was through one of these adventures in Thailand on the Monk for a Month program with the Blood Foundation, that brings him now to Turkey..