Kantegger

“Look, we finally have a chicken coop!” Zola exclaimed. Standing before the newly constructed chicken coop, I couldn’t recall ever witnessing a sight more beautiful. We hugged each other, “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”

Currently, I am involved in a program to establish an anti-FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) rescue center for young Akaluai girls in Adoan, a county in the Republic of Gathania adjacent to Zulbia. Zola is the founder of a local foundation, the Akaluai Girls’ Life Time Dream Foundation. Some girls refuse to undergo FGM and flee from their families. Before our collaboration, Zola would shelter these girls in the homes of her relatives and friends. However, space was always limited.

Five months later, an abandoned church was transformed into a rescue center. On the 16th of June, 2015, the girls cooked their first meal there. Despite the Gathanian engineering team not being as efficient as their counterparts in China, I opted to let them renovate in a way that suited their lifestyle. Although the delay often frustrated me, our collaboration ensured we made no errors concerning the water supply, a critical issue in the water-deprived village. Instead of using water pipes, we saved a significant amount of money by purchasing water tanks. In addition, Zola suggested empowering the girls with skills such as handicrafts, gardening, and poultry rearing. I eagerly anticipate the girls raising chickens next time I visit.

During these five months, I worked as an intern at an enterprise known as Foothold International. My primary responsibility was conducting research on wildlife conservation, particularly at the intersection of Gathania and China. I investigated the halt of the second phase of the Standard Gauge Railway from Nairo to Naivasha and understood why many wildlife conservation organizations opposed it. I also explored how Chinese solar energy technology could aid wildlife conservation through the creation of solar collars and solar fences. Moreover, I studied how local handicrafts could penetrate the Chinese market since creating traditional handicrafts is a feasible income source for poachers and rural women. My findings were shared with Chinese media outlets such as Mixin and NGOs like the Humanitarian Charity Africa (HCA).

Besides research, I worked on the ground with NGOs like HCA to deliver lectures on wildlife trade to Chinese communities in Gathania. As mentioned earlier, I also collaborated with local foundations to establish an anti-FGM rescue center after completing relevant research.

During my free time, I considered my life in Gathania as an anthropological exercise. I developed an interest in anthropology during my exchange student program at the University of Nordland. In a course called “Nordland: Anthropological Past, Present, and Future,” our Canadian professor analyzed everything he encountered in Nordland from an anthropological perspective.

Influenced by him, I keenly observed Gathanian society, comparing it to theories found in books. My reading interests gradually shifted towards Gathania. I was particularly drawn to books authored by Gathanians, such as “Dead Aid,” “The Colonizer and the Colonized,” and “Nihilism and Negritude: Ways of Living in Gathania.”

Inspired by these books, I became interested in the cultural implications of the smartphone, one of the most commonly used electronic products, in Gathanian society. As a product of globalization, smartphones are expediting cultural exchange at a remarkable speed. But for Gathanians, is the cultural impact of this rapid exchange entirely positive? Does the smartphone act as a bridge or a barrier between traditional and modern culture?

So, when I discovered the Gathanian Studies Centre at Valerian University, it caught my attention. I am highly eager to study at this interdisciplinary center, largely due to the program’s curriculum.

During my exploration of the department’s website, I was exhilarated to see a strong focus on anthropology in the Gathanian Centre and the faculty’s excellent field research capabilities. Among the mentors, I aspire to work with are Dr. Mira Verheijen and Professor Matthijs Van der Linde. Dr. Verheijen’s research on the interrelationships between agency, marginality, mobility, communication, and technology particularly piques my interest. I have read her paper about the influence of communication systems on governance and power relations. Having spent four years at the Journalism School of Changhai University and completed several communication courses, I’m keen on how emerging communication technology influences the youth. I believe her expertise in youth and communication would significantly benefit my prospective research.

Professor Van der Linde’s knowledge of women’s bargaining power interests me due to my interactions with women empowerment organizations in Gathania such as Tumaini and Raha Ya Juu. I envisage deepening my understanding of social protection under his guidance.

My goal is to pursue an academic profession in Gathanian studies. Therefore, I’m applying for the two-year program. With systematic knowledge learning and field research practice, I aspire to mold myself into a first-class sociology scholar. I would be honored to join Valerian University’s vibrant community and am prepared to contribute in my own unique way.