Reviving the Beauty of Guinea

I was born in Guinea, a country with enormous natural resources, called the “Pearl of Africa.” As a child, I played in the fields with trees called “fl amboyant.” Because of these trees, my country was described by navigators as “the best destination on the west Atlantic ocean.” In recent decades, Guinea has become a role model for Africa in terms of environmental and gender issues. Women made early social progress in the country, and the world’s fi rst female UN Security Council president was Guinean woman Jeanne Martin Cissé.

On the environment side, our country has led biodiversity protection measures and developed policies to sustainably manage its abundant natural resources, inspiring other African countries. Unfortunately, as I grew up, Guinea’s beauty gradually disappeared. Forests were destroyed by mining activities, cities lost control of waste management, and women’s rights continued to be undermined. Deforestation impacts women who live off these forest resources. When rivers dry up, women are forced to walk miles to find clean water. Some are even forced to move to other lands. This may lead to community confl icts and women being put in dangerous mining jobs, becoming victims of rape and prostitution.

I became interested in climate justice and human rights to make a change, and at the age of 27 launched two projects. #FemmeVision2030 promotes women’s leadership and human rights. The other, #SelfieDéchets, aims to raise awareness of sustainable waste management through selfies on social media. Activities were added to reach more people, including investigations, advocacy campaigns, sanitation programs at beaches and public spaces, and awareness sessions in schools and on radio and TV. #SelfieDéchets has inspired global youth organizations and has received coverage in most of the world’s major media outlets. It has also been the subject of case studies in universities worldwide.

I believe that better citizen involvement in development policies will lead to sustainable and resilient communities, greater transparency in resource management, and better enforcement of laws, especially for environmental preservation. Environmental degradation and climate change are human rights issues. I hope to see more young people become involved in the f ight against these issues. And I dream that my country will once again be the “Pearl of Africa.”

Fatoumata Chérif

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