Coming (back)? The questions you ask yourself!

To succeed in any project, the most important thing is to have a powerful WHY! With a real motivation, the “how” will take shape in a fluid way.

After your long vacation (article here) , do this necessary introspection:

What lifestyle do I want for me? My children?

From the outside, we quickly tend to focus only on the 3 major negative points (Political instability, failing health system, level of school education) as if to justify staying in one's comfort zone. But Guinea-Bissau has so much to offer!

With COVID19, we have seen to what extent the Western way of life has taken a beating (poverty of food and related deficiencies, sedentary lifestyle and overweight, loneliness and mental health, stress, bullshit jobs not aligned with our values ​​and our ambitions, feeling useless…).

In addition to a diet much closer to nature (pesticide-free except imported products), the sun and a much "cooler" relationship with the time, haven't you felt how resilient Guineans are (Ok sometimes lazy...)? Before the covid, the bars were full, the games or the concerts were sold out. I used the past but let's be honest, at Christmas 2020 the discos came back into service. The markets are still just as shielded, other businesses continue to run, schools and public hospitals are doing what they can (and are waiting for reinforcements).

Private medical and school alternatives are satisfactory, which should reassure chilly repats.

In short, a vida continua!

Here a detailed article on what life in Bissau (really) looks like.

• Yes, you will have to organize yourself to do the groceries more often for fresh and healthy products.

• Yes, you won't have the little McDonald's anymore and you'll be too lazy to go to downtown just to eat a tiny and overpriced chawarma, your love handles will melt like magic.

• Yes, life in Bissau will have you running from right to left, no need for a gym membership! It spares you the promiscuity of the metro for the friendliness and eco-responsibility of toca-toca or shared taxis ...

• Yes, it will often be 100+° in the shade, but think about vitamin D and the role of the sun on your general mood.

• Yes, many of your neigbours, cousins/uncles will only come to see you to ask for money but at least you will NEVER feel alone again! Joking aside, the African “Familia Garandi” in the noble sense, will always be there for you in good and bad times. No homelessness, no question of starving alone. So if the businesses you came to open in the country falls, you won't have this Damocles sword hanging over your head like in Western world.

• And finally, you may have to work in a sector outside of your school curriculum in the first months, but I assure you that it is valuable experience and you will quickly find your place, your "usefulness" in Bissau-Guinean society.

What can I do in the country?

What does the country/people need to evolve?

During your discovery trip, keep this question in mind. The only thing to say is that EVERYTHING is missing/remains to be done in this country. Take a look in the "Business" section to find lots of investment ideas. And even if you are untrained but have an idea, get ready and get started. You will realize that everything you are going to or have been able to learn elsewhere can be useful!

Don't put up mental barriers. Never underestimate your talents and knowledge. From the garbage collector to the doctor, passing through the entertainment or construction trades, everyone can really find their place in this country. With a little courage, a lot of patience and a few adjustments, you will feel useful and will be able to dare anything, undertake anything. Break your limiting beliefs and dare!

Variation: Are my studies (or my know-how) sufficient?

It's a fear that comes from the Western mentality (and especially French!!) but as said above, your knowledge is already enormous for the country!!

I would simply advise you to train in intercultural management techniques and non-violent communication. This will give you the iron fist to put your ideas through the velvet glove of humility and cordial understanding. You can also add training in pedagogy because people are eager to learn, but not everyone is able to transmit their knowledge.

However, be prepared for the worst rejection! All Repat can attest to this, it is extremely difficult to be accepted as a foreigner in a position of power. I may return to this point in another post.

Why coming back?

Because Africa is the future!

Because Guinea-Bissau is YOUR country!

Because I am convinced that the diaspora and the Repats are pillars of the country's development. Not to stupidly copy the West, but to rediscover our Africanness thanks to the technical advances of Westerners.

I often take the analogy of Asian communities who demanded a transmission of know-how for the establishment of foreign companies in the 19th and 20th century. Today, it is time for our parents or grandparents' uprooting sacrifice to bear fruit and for us to contribute to the return of the brains to the country!

I am convinced of the merits of returning to Guinea-Bissau and therefore not very objective! I will try to make you an "Anti-return" article.

How much money do I need?

The 1 million XOF question!

This is far from an easy question and it depends on the lifestyle you want to lead.

To speak from my personal experience, I have never planned (neither in 2018 nor in 2021) more than €1500 in reserve. But beware!

- First, because I was still receiving my monthly unemployment benefit (Shuush).

- Secondly, I have the best family in Bissau who hosted me inexpensively and above all

- Thirdly because over the years before the big leap, I bought little by little the material goods that I will need (Household equipment, tools and necessary for the business(s)) and I have sent everything by container. Thus, cash is used for rent and shopping while waiting to develop an annuity to compensate.

In order not to sacrifice too much of my lifestyle in France, I preferred to devote all my work bonuses over 5 years to the big return project. Of course, I supplemented with a little payday savings but I was not very rigorous. It's up to you to see how soon you plan to leave and with what under your arm.

To give a fairly broad figure, if you don't bring anything from Europe (because you will have been disgusted by my experience with the container), plan 5,000€ to settle in: 6 months' rent in advance is already 1,500€, local furniture is a good long-term investment and you will have to pay for all the little hands that will help you, shopping and the first administrative procedures.

When you're alone, if you already have the living minimum in terms of furniture and you don't splurge, €500/600 per month is more than enough to live comfortably, €800 for a couple without too much Western claims.

1,500€ if you have children attending school.

IMPORTANT: Be aware that the slightest imported product is very expensive! And this also involves real estate since the owners are hyper-taxed on their import of equipment. For a 4-room house with water and electricity, count 200,000 (€305 or 4 times the minimum wage). You will tell me that you don't need such a big one... However, it is very difficult to find "small" houses with one or 2 bedrooms. Therein lies the paradox.

I'm not making anything up by saying that 6 months of savings is a minimum if your area of ​​expertise is sought after locally or 1 year if you are getting into entrepreneurship ( #NoPainNoGain).

DISCLAIMER: I totally didn't follow that advice because saving that much money would have taken me years. So I'm not “comfortable” financially today, but I don't regret having taken these risks.

I ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS:

At the beginning of November 2021, I asked my LinkedIn network to send me the questions preventing them from returning to contribute to the development of the country:

• Dual citizenship:

Guinea-Bissau allows dual nationality. On the occasion, I will go to seek the article of law related to it. With the “Decade of Return” program, I am fighting to have the descendants of populations deported during the slavery period recognized as Bissau-Guineans.

It is customary for a person born abroad to apply for Bissau-Guinean nationality if they can prove that at least one of their parents or grandparents are Bissau-Guineans (born in Guinea-Bissau). This therefore means for some to seek the birth certificate of the grandparents in the civil status registers of the colonial era in the villages or the sector administrations; patience and courage are required!

If ever the civil status registers are missing from the administration, it is necessary to bring together “witnesses” capable of certifying the birth of the parents on the territory of Bissau-Guinean. Very complicated and unviable, the validation being at the discretion of the civil registrar and the amount you will give him.

• Administrative difficulties:

What to say? Registering a simple non-profit neighborhood association costs several months of salary, so imagine a business!

Changing this state of affairs involves changing the entire political system. It costs time, money and education! My GuinéTopia project was born out of all this frustration.

In the meantime, whatever project you imagine, plan for 3 times the initial cost.

I am absolutely not kidding, you are not ready for such chaos!

Tell me in the comments what makes you think about returning home!