In Guinea - Myriam Fehmiu

Myriam Fehmiu or Communication in a Land of Griots

Myriam Fehmiu is a CECI cooperant and communications advisor in Guinea. This francophone country of West Africa, also known as Guinea-Conakry, is not to be confused with its neighbours Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea, which are Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking, respectively.

"Basically, my job is to support local non-governmental organizations in the elaboration of their communications strategies," explained Myriam during a Radio-Canada radio program. In particular, Madam Fehmiu must help these organizations gain access to funding agencies ("money is the sinews of war", as she puts it) and maximize the impact of communications among local populations.

"Part of my work takes place in the capital (Conakry), part of it the provinces," she explains. "In the capital, organizations have access to the radio, national television and the printed press. In the provinces, organizations are without electricity, Internet access, computers, etc. Therefore, we must go through the traditional channels: regional leaders, community radio stations... griots too can communicate messages. It's necessary to adapt to local conditions and find the appropriate strategies."

In this country of endemic poverty, water, electricity and transportation shortages are frequent occurrences. "What enables us to surmount these difficulties is the welcome people give us," confides Myriam Fehmiu. It's the human warmth of Guineans that keeps us going."

Since her return in May 2005, Myriam has joined Uniterra for the preparation of the Professional Seminar on Social Solidarity Economy, Dakar 2005 .