University of St Andrews alumna Elika Ansari (MA 2014) led a workshop for members of Enactus St Andrews, part of the global Enactus organisation that brings together students and business leaders to create and implement sustainable social enterprises.
One aspect of Elika’s alumni journey is her work in the most infamous Greek refugee camp, Mória, over a five-year period. It is an experience she writes about in her book The Five Stages of Moira: ‘The Worst Refugee Camp on Earth’, which is influenced by and based on true stories. In it, Elika blends autobiography and fiction in her book to convey the reality of a camp and the five stages of grief experienced by those who are held there.
The DROP project
Drawing on her experience as an author, Elika inspired the group on the subject of social justice writing, to support their current project – a book about DROP, one of Enactus St Andrews’ social enterprises which sends packages to South Sudan to help mothers giving birth, both physically and psychologically with both local support from midwives and pre- and post-natal supplies.
The DROP project is an opportunity that future alumni identified to support, while learning new business and creative skills and the project has a real impact on the lives of people and communities in the midst of an ongoing conflict.
Writing workshop
During the workshop, Elika explained the backstory of Móira Refugee Camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.
The voices of Móira are unified in their grief. Homes, hope and dignity are lost amidst undignified living conditions and the omnipresent void where the illusion of salvation once lived.
She shared stories and narratives from her lived experience with students Deborah-Adenike Shonibare, Harry Hine, Elena Rico Hernando (a Laidlaw Scholar) and Margaux De Seze (President of Enactus St Andrews), and with fellow alumni Yayi Zhu (BSc 2022) and Myada Eltiraifi (MA 2024). Myada has led the DROP project from inception until her graduation in June 2024 and is still very much involved in the project to establish a sustainable funding stream through this creative project.
Back L-R: Harry Hine, Elena Rico Hernando, Deborah-Adenike Shonibare and Yayi Zhu. Front L-R: Elika Ansari, Myada Eltiraifi and Margaux De Seze
In sharing her journey during the workshop, Elika demonstrated and advised on the writing, publishing and marketing processes. Through their DROP publication project, the Enactus students hope to raise awareness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis that mothers face in South Sudan, the social enterprise they have established and the humanitarian aid work that is taking place at St Andrews. Through it, they are addressing real-world challenges and conveying the poignance and importance of social responsibility.
Elika Ansari leading the writing workshop
Podcast pending
If you would like to hear more from Elika, you can hear her in conversation with Dina Nayeri of the School of English and Dr Jeffrey Murer of the School of International Relations in an episode of the Ad lib podcast, which is due for release early in the new year. We are all so thankful to Elika for returning to St Andrews and sharing her knowledge and experience with us.
One of our aims as a network is to connect alumni with students to share expertise. If you’d like to share your skills, expertise or get involved in some way, please contact [email protected].