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Forces Avenir nominee gears up for change 

At 21 years of age, recent journalism and anthropology grad Siena Anstis has done more than many people do in twice that time. She’s helped set up HIV/AIDS awareness programs in East Africa, freelanced in Kosovo, and worked with communities to integrate information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as cell phones or internet to create opportunities for communities to become more socially committed. What hasn’t she done? Slouch about waiting for the world to come to her.

For her extraordinary humanitarian and journalistic work, Anstis is among the nominees for the Forces Avenir Undergraduate Personality award, recognizing her commitment to community development as a socially conscious, and responsible citizen. Winners will be announced on Nov. 17.

Currently based in Nairobi, Kenya as a communications officer with the Aga Khan Foundation and a freelance journalist under the CIDA Journalism and Development Initiative Scholarship. Anstis filled in the Journal via email.

What’s the overall goal of your work?

I became particularly interested in how ICTs can be used in rural communities as a means of self-determination. Technology is pretty incredible; people in Kenya have taken the basic structures and turned programs into fabulous open-source-software that can be used for everything from election monitoring to helping farmers figure out why their crops are dying. I would like to further support this tech-revolution and see how it can bolster international development projects and make them more relevant to the communities they work with by having them determine their own needs and implement their own changes.

Second of all, I hope to work with the literary scene in East Africa. Especially in Kenya where there has long been a powerful, strong art scene.

Why is this technology so important in what you’re doing?

ICTs are important because they allow more independent, self-directed development. So, for example, the cell phone is primarily for communicating between individuals in Canada. However in Uganda, people use the cell phone to check market prices for their crops and stocks. Also, technology allows us to get work done faster. More free-time equals more time to specialize in the production of a certain product, which leads to an increase in profit, more time for political action, learning, family-time etc.

You’ve mentioned you’re learning more from your co-workers in Kenya, rather than vice versa. What’s the difference in dynamic between your current endeavours and traditional Western humanitarian aid?

The Aga Khan Foundation’s mission is not “aid,” but helping bring people out of poverty through community development projects with a participatory approach. The majority of the foundation is run by local individuals, therefore prompting a greater connect between community and development. I am learning from my co-workers who are introducing me to new types of development approaches and projects.

Future plans?

Well, it looks like a master’s next year, probably in London. Following that, I’m hoping to work as a journalist in East Africa or elsewhere. I guess we’ll see what works out and what doesn’t.