In the memories, the break is sharp. "Before, Mali was a country that appealed to people. Today, it is a red zone to be avoided," says Hervé, head of communications for the communal youth council. Hervé lives in Bandiagara. This city in central Mali has long been known for much more than violence. "The great writers of my region, like Hampaté Ba, made me fall in love with words. I wanted to follow in their footsteps."

Then, when the conflict broke out, the words took on a different hue, and they, too, began to fly like bullets. "Information was coming in from everywhere. It was hard for the media to handle." So Hervé writes. With the crisis, his pen takes a more committed turn. "Most of the information from Bandiagara goes through me; I also intervene on the radio. Whenever there is an attack, I rush there to report damage and deaths".

However, for the facts that Hervé cannot see for himself, doubt hovers. The line between truth and falsehood often blurs amidst the flood of information he receives. Given poor network connectivity and lack of resources, "it sometimes took us up to two months to verify the information. Some of the images that were circulating did not even come from Mali. People were sharing them to create more tension."

In 2021, Search helped him out. Hervé received training in fact-checking and conflict-sensitive journalism. Among other things, "I learned how to use new tools to debunk these fake images and videos in record time."

Today, information no longer flows blindly. "This has allowed me to become a more credible source of information to the community." Soon, thanks to Hervé's efforts, his critical approach to news expands, "communities no longer take everything they hear for granted. They regularly ask us to verify the information before sharing it."

Similarly, conflict-sensitive journalism training gives him a fresh impetus. "My practice has changed. My messages are now unifying. Whenever evil affects society, I pick up my pen to fight it. Writing can help to awaken consciences by pointing to the right path. And this path is the one that moves away from hatred."

Whether on the web, radio, or in person, Hervé's every word is carefully and intentionally chosen. "I have seen people die. I have seen the consequences of insecurity. Today, by taking action through communication, I am fighting to bring that peace to my community. If we don't receive a medal for that, I will always have a medal hanging in my heart."