Community engagement can make the difference between a successful project and one that falls flat. Fortunately, the Anam City project has a lot of support from the community. The Chife Foundation is highly trusted by people in Anam. Their staff has worked hard to continuously interact with local villages, spreading word of their efforts. It is sometimes hard to engage them on the level of requesting feedback. There are cultural norms in place that discourage younger people from voicing opinions in the presence of village chieftains. Fortunately, the foundation has made some inroads into getting input from college-educated young adults (~20-30 yrs old) by hosting workshops that have opportunities for people to share their thoughts.
Given the short timeline for our project, there will not likely be much opportunity for such community engagement. But for future reference, it is good to keep in mind.
Stanford Anam City Project | Nigeria 