The use of the masculine gender has been adopted for ease of reading and has no discriminatory intent.
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Monica and Sibile: Two Gems Among The Treasures of Casamance
Author: Emilie Michaud
Reading time : 5 minutes
They are guides, entrepreneurs, managers, and have made their mark in a predominantly male industry. Discover our series on women in the tourism sector. Through their journeys and challenges, these inspiring women encourage us to embark on new adventures!
We had the privilege of meeting not one, but two female tour guides in Oussouye! Monique Diatta, 28, and Sibile Diendénie Lambal, 35, introduce tourists to the riches of Casamance, a region in southern Senegal. Although their paths differ, they share a passion and ambition for their work.
Monica is multilingual and has been an official guide for three years. She grew up in the tourism industry: her father, Gouho Diatta, owned a lodge and worked as a guide, and her brother, a Spanish teacher, helped her learn the language. She was immersed in the field from a young age, often guiding tourists during school breaks.
Sibile pursued simultaneous training in both tourism and hospitality. It was her colleagues, particularly Mamadou Paco Sané, a guide at the Oussouye Tourist Office, and Charles Kingky Diabone, her mentor, who encouraged her to become a guide and take the official exam. In 2022, Sibile earned her official guide certification !
While the exam to become a guide is demanding, the real challenge lies in public perception: the guiding profession has few women, even though many female tourists prefer being guided by a woman, feeling more at ease.
This lack of female representation can lead to uncomfortable situations: travelers see that the guide wants to work but may think they can take advantage of the situation. Comments about forced marriage, verbal abuse, and lack of collaboration with male guides are not uncommon. Mindsets are slowly changing. But as Monica mentions, if she stops, they will have won, so perseverance is key! This is also the message Sibile wants to convey to young girls aspiring to a career in tourism. She believes it’s a noble profession. Monica adds that it’s a profession requiring courage and character.
Both women are beginning to reap the rewards of their perseverance.
In addition to receiving excellent feedback on social media, Monica was invited as an influential woman during a training session on young female leaders. She was deeply moved to discover that three young girls had drawn her in response to the question “a woman who inspires you” !
Sibile, on the other hand, has already toured Senegal with American tourists for 15 days. The couple wrote to her after their world tour, stating that Sibile was, in their opinion, the best guide they had encountered! A well-deserved compliment!
These two guides have ambitious plans: Sibile aims to become a leading guide in Casamance, launch her own agency, work full-time in her passion, and continue to grow. Monica plans to develop “L’Auberge du Routard,” her parents’ lodge that she took over, and continues to welcome female interns who wish to follow in her footsteps.
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Monica and Sibile are among the guides with whom Village Monde is collaborating as part of its “Development of a Green and Resilient Local Mangrove Economy in Lower Casamance” initiative. They will be delighted to help you discover the natural and cultural riches of their region during your next stay!
Village Monde is registered as a charitable organization with the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec and as an organization of general interest with the French government.
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The use of the masculine gender has been adopted for ease of reading and has no discriminatory intent.
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