The Know-how Forum and the App
Facilitating the sharing of know-how and connecting indigenous communities around the world.
Join our multilingual WhatsApp forums to share, discover and build cultural links between indigenous communities around the world! Thanks to this strong relationship, we have embarked on an even more impactful project: the construction of a water tower.
How does the Know-How Forum work?
1 Whatsapp group per language (French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.) with the meaning of certain words in brackets.
Who: When a community wants to take part, a young person who can read and write is appointed as a representative to work with the elders and local leaders. Their role: to strengthen the intergenerational link and develop projects within the community.
Vote and theme: Each month, all the representatives propose a theme in a Whatsapp group, then vote on it. Once the theme has been selected, the association asks 5 questions.
Content: The representatives answer the questions using the knowledge of the old-timers via a text of at least 200 characters accompanied by details of the meaning of the words used. They can also add audio, video or photos to enhance their testimony.
- Display: Answers are referenced on the website, within knowledge constellations (see Know-How Constellations page). You will find themes such as traditional costumes, marriage, musical instruments, conflict management, crafts, etc…
Since October 2022, Byron of the Waorani (Ecuador), Maurice of the Bulu (Cameroon) and Saw of the Tah La Kone (Burma) have been facilitating the exchange of know-how between their communities on Whatsapp.
Maurice’s testimony
‘In our village, we have always made a point of preserving our traditional skills. However, we’ve noticed a decline in young people’s interest in these skills.
By taking part in the forum, we were able to share our techniques (basket weaving, environmentally-friendly farming, traditional recipes), learn new ones (permaculture, the art of food preservation) and discover distant cultures with values and challenges similar to our own.
This forum has not only strengthened our pride in and knowledge of our own culture, it has also created links of friendship and solidarity across the world. We now feel part of one big global family, united by diversity and mutual respect.’
Maurice
Our spokesperson
in Cameroon
THE MOBILE APPLICATION
Become a key player in an innovative digital project and let your expertise shine!
The first version of the application will be ready by March 2025. It will make it easier for people to share information across language, culture and border barriers.
People who exchange information on WhatsApp in their own language will all be able to get together and find out about each other’s expertise. They will have access to help with word selection and precision, and their responses will be sent in real time to the constellations on the website. In this way, the project highlights intangible cultural heritage while giving visibility to communities and cultures that are often marginalised, and raises awareness of the diversity of cultures by highlighting skills that are resilient and respectful of the environment. Thanks to its digital format, it involves the collaboration of young and old alike, encouraging the transmission of know-how between generations.
In a future version, the application will allow free discussion, the display of constellations and the extension of the network.
Our other projects
– Site under development –
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