GUINEA CONAKRY - Relationships that give life

THESE ARE NOT PARTICULARLY GOOD TIMES FOR MANY COUNTRIES IN AFRICA. Where the desire for true democracy, where elections are merely the starting point for the effective development of civil society, is being successfully thwarted by autocratic regimes. They maintain their power by manipulating consensus and, where difficult, simply through violence.

IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD, THEY FIND FRIENDS WITHOUT PROBLEM - old and new - eager for trade without having to compete too much: compromises that are generally opaque and open to traumatic outcomes. Despite its significant resources, both mineral and agricultural, life in Guinea remains precarious and difficult for many. As in many other places, everything necessary for life has a price, but few have the means to pay it. From the small country, a significant flow of migrants is growing toward Europe, who see no other prospect for themselves.

OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS REALITY began many years ago with a meeting with Mother Renée Boiro of the Sisters of Our Lady of Guinée, renewed once again in recent days. A concentration of enthusiasm in faith, and in her continued faithful presence alongside her people, despite the passing years... An expression of a small, simple Church, yet well-liked and listened to for its closeness to all and for the values ​​it embodies; in an open relationship with the Islamic majority. This meeting then expanded to many other contacts with whom we collaborated: parishes, dioceses, local associations, universities.

THE JOURNEY HAS TAKEN PLACE IN A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, from the capital to the nuns' missions in the countryside and elsewhere across the country: crops, mills, workshops, wells, structures, equipment... These projects have always been intended to represent the "start" of something new, working with the people, the poor; to be supported by other initiatives to consolidate and expand.

THIS YEAR WE START AGAIN WITH A NEW SERIES OF INITIATIVES, defined based on what has yielded the best results here or elsewhere. A new container of materials will soon be sent—in collaboration with our friends at S.O.S. Sviluppo e Salute in Ferriere (Turin)—to provide the communities involved, especially women, with new tools to build and take action. From adequately equipping IT training initiatives for young people, stemming from a previous collaboration with the Catholic University, to new sewing workshops—the container itself becoming a point of sale for the products—food and produce storage equipment, medical supplies, hygiene supplies, and photovoltaic materials for lighting and powering utilities. As jointly planned, agricultural production initiatives in various communities will be the driving force behind development, promoting greater food security along with job opportunities. The establishment of rice paddies, the launch of egg-laying farms, and new beekeeping experiments are among the initiatives that, in light of previous experiences in Guinea and other similar contexts, appear most immediately feasible and promising significant results—in terms of production and income.

AS IN ANY OTHER CASE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ACCOMPANY THEM WITH A WELL-TARGETED TRANSFER OF SKILLS, through the advice of experienced friends: this is also where the relationship is born.

Mauro Palombo
NP January 2026