Gina Barbieri & Mimi Keita

Gina Barbieri: We recently met in Durban, South Africa, where we were both talking a lot about issues that are close to our hearts and I feel like we’re lucky because we straight away had a common base to work from. I would love to hear more about your backstory.

Mimi Keita: I’m a mother of three, I have two daughters and a son. I actually was born and grew up in Guinea, but then I came to college, went to George Mason University in Fairfax Virginia and got a degree in government and international politics, then worked a few years, then moved back home. I started working in mining first with a private company and then with IFC. I always wanted to do humanitarian work, , it was my dream as a child, and I actually managed to do that somehow’.

Gina: When I first met you, what resonated with me was your grassroots practical understanding of what it means for an international development organization operating in countries such as Guinea, such as South Africa. It is something I struggle with being based in an international financial organization when you’re looking at really trying to do the right thing and give voice to communities. When you say you’re actually driven by a humanitarian calling, the first question for me is, how do you answer that calling in the arms of a bank?

Mimi: I think there are different ways of helping people, My county is a mining country so the fact that we are active in that sector, and that we want to use mining for people, for economic development, that is the role that my team plays and that I play, so I feel that through that particular channel I am able to help people uplift themselves. People like us who have local knowledge, but also know how to work within these organizations, I think we can definitely make a difference because we know both worlds.

Mimi: That’s an interesting way of looking at parenting. That’s a good tip. I’m actually going to try that.

Gina: I have the extreme privilege of working with indigenous communities across the globe, that are often in a state of crisis. I will often find a way, if it’s possible, to bring my children into that space, whether it’s on Facetime or Skype, now with technology the ability to have a quick call with your kids where you are about to start a community meeting with 500 people under a mango tree in the middle of a soccer field, and you can Skype your kids then and say, ‘this is where I am and this is why it makes sense’. They’re old enough now to engage with that and I find it a little helpful for me to bring them into the story.

Mimi: I am so happy about all the learning from you. I usually tell them what I do but never thought about giving them the opportunity of seeing it, even if it’s through a screen. I think that’s also a good tip.

Gina: Another challenge for me is being a woman in these contexts. How does a woman who’s trying to find a voice in anything, in life, in development, operate in systems of patriarchy where they are told it’s not the women who speak on our behalf, and what do we do about that? The more of us able to have the conversation and raise awareness on moving from the paternal ‘we know best’ to understanding how to get the information from you as the local community. It’s really something I think we can all do better at and I’m excited to be on more platforms with you where we get to share some tools because the tools you’re using in that regard are really useful.