It’s less than two months until the CAST pilot goes live. It’s a project that has been 18 months in the making and it’s not long until teams from the Media Innovation Studio and WiCastr will be touching down in Armenia to set the CAST network up.

With this in mind I spoke to Clare Cook (Media Innovation Studio), Armine Saidi (WiCastr), Sara Anjargolian and Ani Baboomian (Impact Hub Yerevan) to find out why they’re excited and what they’re expecting from the project.

WHAT ARE YOU BRINGING TO CAST?

Clare: Experience in getting alternative news to restricted environments. One project run at MIS looked at how communities and technology interact. I am hoping to bring that knowledge to the project.

Armine: Years of wireless networking and innovation, and devices that can be set up anywhere, regardless of connectivity.

Sara and Ani: Local knowledge of Armenia – the landscape, language and culture, and our local connections.

WHAT IS INNOVATIVE ABOUT CAST? WHY ARE YOU EXCITED TO SEE THIS PROJECT GO AHEAD?

Clare: We’re attempting something that hasn’t been done before. Carving out new knowledge and understanding is a rare and exciting opportunity. The fact that this could benefit and empower village communities is really powerful.

Armine: Communities in Armenia will finally be able to access to information and web services. This project could impact people’s lives positively – it will empower them to improve their local communities and potentially change the world.

Sara and Ani: It has not been done before and we have no idea what the results will be. We’re excited about the possibilities and surprises we’ll find along the way.

WHERE DO YOU SEE CAST IN 5 YEARS TIME?

Clare: Operating in more areas – first in Armenia, then in other countries. I’d like to see it used in exiled media.

Armine: Spread across Armenia, connecting more and more people in rural areas with each other and the world around them.

Sara and Ani: Being a driver of social change in Armenia – more informed citizens and better governance.