You sent this mail to Susan Brockett, not to Gemma Hoskins. Please correct this in your records.
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Fra: Complexity & Planning på vegne av Alexis Doucet
Sendt: on 27.09.2006 12:50
Til: [log in to unmask]
Emne: Job Application
Dear Gemma Hoskins,
My name is Alexis Doucet, and I am writing to you concerning the job announcement I received from you by email.
I am very interested by the jobs offered by Voluntary Service Overseas: since a long time, I feel concerned with the problems that occur in the developing countries. Increasing poverty, massive urbanisation and slums are among those issues I'm worrying about.
During my childhood, I used to admire some pieces of Modern Western architecture. This is why I decided to follow a Master of Science in Architectural Civil Engineering at the University of Liège (Belgium). But observing what is happening in the world, my objectives changed. Even if I still want to work in that field, I am not interested anymore in building houses in Europe just to appear in magazines. I would rather work in the field of development cooperation and, if possible, try to be useful.
This is why I made my first Master's thesis about earth (mud) architecture, its modernisation and its use in developing countries. This was based on a two month fieldwork in South India, where I also worked on the reconstruction after the tsunami as architect and self-help construction trainer.
Since this brief experience was not enough to understand the diverse challenges of housing, urbanisation and spatial planning in developing countries, I decided to undertake some further studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), where I followed a postgraduate Master of Human Settlements. This programme was a good opportunity to improve my knowledge in a field with which I was already familiar.
During this last year of study, I wrote a thesis on the spontaneous ("ger") settlements around the city of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia). Also based on an intensive fieldwork, this thesis allowed me to grasp the specific situation and problems of habitat in Mongolia, to elaborate some solutions, but also to apply my general knowledge in architecture, human settlements and town planning in a specific context.
This last experience further convinced me that I wanted to dedicate my career to human settlements in the context of development. Hence, on the one hand, the jobs VSO is offering now are exactly matching with my interests, values and expectations, and for this reason I would certainly do my best to support VSO in any of its projects through the world. On the other hand, I am sure that my technical and social skills as much as my commitment and sense of ethics can be of great help for the organisation.
I don't have any strong preference concerning the job or destination, although my previous experience as a construction trainer and my fieldwork in Mongolia might well be some assets for the post of "Construction and Architect trainer in Mongolia".
Attached, you will find my CV with my personal details in case you would like to contact me.
I'm looking forward to your answer.
Best Regards,
Alexis Doucet
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