From the last Futures Project lecture I attended, it was like stepping into a possibility workshop. This wasn’t just about ‘projects’ in the academic sense, rather, it was a way of learning to be creative, strategic and realistic. For someone like me, working on Mapping Marginalization: As a gold mine of ideas on how to hone and implement my work, Toward Equitable Water and Sanitation Governance in Kibera was invaluable.
The thing that struck me the most was its focus on ownership. In the lecture, it was stressed that this is your project. It was simple, obviously, but it was a powerful reminder that the success of any project depends on how much you invest in it, not just in terms of effort but also curiosity and a sense of responsibility. This resonated deeply. This is not just another academic exercise, and as someone working in Kibera, I can’t afford to treat it simply like that. It’s centering the voices of those communities that have been left out and ensuring that my work goes somewhere and its tangible for them. Another nugget of wisdom was about the balance of creativity and feasibility. Imaginative, but doable; creative, but original; documentable above all… that was the mantra. This also made me rethink the tools I’m using in Kibera. Could data be mapped as more than just reporting on inequities? Could that somehow evolve into something that communities could use to advocate for themselves? This is not just about collecting information, but about co-creating solutions.
Time was also reframed as limiting and as an opportunity in the lecture. It was only three months of concentrated work for futures Project, so the question was not ‘How much can you do?’ but ‘What’s the most useful thing you can do in such a period of time?’ This manifests in actionability for Kibera. Rather than attempting to overhaul the entire system of water governance, what if I just look at one or two nodes—informal water vendors trying to navigate regulation or differences in sanitation access by neighborhood? One small, sharp insight can lead to bigger changes.
Ethics, as always, was a central theme. It was a reminder that ethics should be integrated into the entire process: planning, execution, outcomes—i.e., more than just “do no harm,” but to actively do good. For the case of Kibera, this would translate into integrating community agency at each layer of the project. It’s their data, their lives, and really, their outcomes that matter most.
My favorite takeaway was that there should be a push to instill strategic thinking. The reminder was to remember that all of our projects, even if they did not pay, could be a portfolio piece, a launchpad for what came next for us. This isn’t just about career building for me; it’s about leaving a legacy. What would I like my research to be remembered for in Kibera? How do I make sure it doesn’t just collect dust on a shelf but becomes a vibrant tool for the people who need it to be?
The lecture also left me with practical advice: Look at the project as a marathon, not a sprint; don’t be afraid to iterate and refine; and most importantly, involve others. The most magic happens when you discuss ideas with colleagues, your supervisor, and the community. It’s a collaborative process and I am already thinking about how to involve more voices from Kibera in the design and analysis phases of my research.
Ultimately, the lecture wasn’t just an academic milestone, but a blueprint for meaningful community driven work. It’s a reminder for Kibera that the future I’m working towards is not mine alone. I build it, one step at a time with the community.
