STAND Canada is the leading organization for youth-led anti-genocide advocacy and activism. The organization is entirely student-run, and works to make the fight against genocide a foreign policy priority. Inspired by a passionate desire to effect change in Darfur, STAND has grown to fight against genocide all over the world. Drawing attention and awareness to the importance of their cause recently with a concert featuring Tamarama (band of noneother then Jay from The City), STAND brings youthful perspective, energy, and passion to the fight against genocide. Anne Wagner is the principle director of STAND Canada.

What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed?

Depending on what time of year it is, my Thursdays can look totally different. This Thursday, I was up at eight, checked email, had a meeting with a potential collaborator for Stand, went to the lab at school and worked on my thesis for most of the day, answered emails, had a conference call, went for a run and then met up with some friends for drinks. While I might only sit down to check email/Stand’s website/facebook/twitter a few times a day, I’m constantly trying to keep up with emails on my blackberry so it doesn’t get overwhelming. I can never fall asleep before 2am, so if I stay in, I do my best writing between 10 and 2. The things I like best about my days is having a little bit of everything – incorporating school, Stand, friends and a little time for myself. While I work a lot at night, and I often have a lot to do, I like having the freedom of choosing when I do what, which makes it feel manageable.

What was your first job out of school?

Well, I’m still in school, so I guess that’s still a mystery. But I suppose being a grad student, working as a psychology practicum student, and running Stand would count as my first job….

What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?

A level head – it takes a lot to get me worked up now, which I think has been very helpful when trying to balance several worlds and put out fires with my team.
Passion – for the cause of anti-genocide advocacy and the people of Darfur, which at the end of the day keeps me committed to this work.
People skills – everyone at Stand is a student or a recent grad – we’re learning, we make mistakes, but we are flexible and eager to do the best job we possibly can, and being able to effectively communicate with Standers and the people we work with has been very, very important.

What do you love most about your career?

I love that I get to spend my time doing things I really care about – I spend my day fighting for causes I believe in and spending my energy trying to make a difference. I love that I can be creative and am constantly learning.

Do you have any warnings?

Self doubt is a powerful demotivator – especially when you are young and there are people who will challenge you and question you every step of the way. But the only way to get past it, in my experience, is to keep trying, keep learning, and persevere. To keep the best interests of the people we are trying to stand for at the forefront and seek as much help, guidance and varying opinions as possible.

If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?

Oh there are so many! Today, I’d want to be a photojournalist.