Hey wanderers and work-from-anywhere enthusiasts! I often get asked, “What do you do for work that allows you to do it remotely?” So, for all you wonderers out there, here’s my story.
With a Master’s in Intercultural Communication from the University of Utrecht in hand, my first taste of the professional world was as a Communications Specialist in the Gender & Climate Change research department of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture in Cali, Colombia.
Three years of diving deep into Development Communications, Communication for Social Change, and Storytelling – and boy, did I learn a ton. Gender Sensitive and Inclusive Communications, Participatory Video, Participatory Photography, global events – you name it, I was there, doing it.
2016, the year of change
Then came March 2016, the month I decided to flip the script and chase my dream of freelancing. The naysayers questioned my sanity – leaving a steady job within the UN environment with just 3000 euros in savings. But for me, it was the perfect moment. No ties, no commitments, just a wide-open road of possibilities.
For those who’ve been following my journey, you’ll remember the moment I started freelancing was also the moment I stuffed my ’79 Lada Niva with a laptop, surf gear, kite gear, and a tent, and set off south from Colombia, hitting up Ecuador and Peru.
Fast forward 7.5 years, and I can confidently say it’s been a wild ride! From websites and animated videos to photostories and communication strategies, I’ve dipped my toes into every creative pool out there.
Here are some examples
- Creating websites (such as this Community of Practice website for DeSIRA-LIFT I created in 2022)
- Animated videos (such as this learning series for UNICEF Asia, translated in 11 languages), Hybrid videos (such as those for Crop Trust)
- Photostories
- 360-degree videos (such as this one for the International Livestock Research Institute)
- Infographics (many for UNICEF and Includovate, as well as this one for CIFOR)
- Brief documentaries (see here for a recent one I made for Crop Trust in Kenya, while already 6 months pregnant, and one I made together with a colleague for CIFOR)
- Annual Reports (such as this one for Progreso)
- and many communication strategies.
- I have been the lead of my own Communications Team at WeForest in Brussels, and EcoAgriculture Partners in Washington DC and
- The lead of Social Media and Digital Media during the COP27.
- I have pulled together my teams for videos for UNICEF and OXFAM Novib,
- Participated in Participatory Video processes and
- Taught my online course on Participatory Video for DeSIRA-LIFT.
I have done projects in Colombia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burkina Faso and Indonesia, and while working remotely traveled for a minimum of three months every year (with some years up to 6 months of combined travel) with clients from all over the world.
Since I moved to Spain 5.5 years ago I have been subscribed as a freelancer in Spain and pay my taxes and social security there (for more info on how to become a freelancer in Spain, check my blog here).
Fast forward to 2023/2024
But wait, there’s more – the 2024 update! Times have changed; I now have a partner and a tiny human keeping me on my toes. My priorities have shifted, and now I’m all about being picky with the projects and clients I take on.
My working conditions? Unchanged – remote work, flexible hours, and a strict ‘no obligatory office time’ policy. I’ve always believed in it, and any client who doesn’t vibe with that, well, they’re not my people. However, I’ve added a new clause: I know my worth. It’s not just about the moolah; it’s about the moments away from my family. It took some time, but I’ve learned to stand up for myself, thanks to some wise Dutch literature (such as the ones from Suzanne van Duijn and Merel van der Wouden).
So here’s to the journey – the ups, the downs, and the crazy twists that make this freelancing life oh-so-exciting.
