Clovy Aby, Conflictstudies and Human Rights, 3rd year
Country of fieldwork: Cameroon
Canadian NGO: Alternatives
Local NGO: PROTEGE QV
It has now been several weeks since I arrived in Cameroon as part of my internship with PROTEGE QV, in partnership with Alternatives and the University of Ottawa. This immersion has allowed me not only to adapt to a new cultural context, but also to begin to make connections between my university studies and the reality on the ground.
As a student of conflict and human rights studies, I am often led to reflect on power dynamics, access to information, and means of community empowerment. Working on a project to transform a community radio station into a web radio station has given me a concrete perspective on these issues. This radio station, located in Banka in the Haut-Nkam department in western Cameroon, is a space for local people, especially women, to express themselves, share their experiences and concerns, and express their aspirations.
My mission so far has been to support the team in the transition to a digital platform: choosing tools, training on how to use web radio, creating programming schedules, etc. These tasks presented me with logistical challenges, but above all they allowed me to develop practical skills: intercultural adaptation, active listening, and collaborative project management.
One thing that particularly struck me was the way in which local communities are appropriating communication tools to claim their place in the public debate, even with limited resources. It reminded me of classroom discussions about communication for social change and citizen participation in the context of development.
This internship has led me to reconsider some of my ideas about cooperation. Solidarity is not just about transferring knowledge or resources, but also about the ability to work with, not for, communities. Every exchange, every workshop, every radio broadcast is an opportunity to rethink what it means to “accompany” a local process.
I am grateful for this experience, which pushes me to step outside my comfort zone and learn in new ways. I look forward to continuing this adventure and further deepening my reflections on the role of community media in the dynamics of change.