It is with great pleasure that we present to you the new cohort of École Converse! For 4 weeks now, Firas, Aya, Aude, Sènan, Cindy and Sabrina have been taking part in a 12-week adventure to learn about dialogue journalism. Together, they learn to tell stories that matter, to listen attentively, and to give a voice to citizens who are often invisible. For most of them, their journey has only just begun, but already, their passion and commitment herald great achievements to come. A huge thank you to our partners, who make this mission possible, and to you, who follow Converse School and believe in it. We can't wait to show you their first reports! In the meantime, we invite you to discover them in portraits that they themselves prepared for each other. See you very soon!
Firas Kefi
Written by Sènan Guèdègbé
From Tunis to Strasbourg, from Strasbourg to Paris, from Paris to Tunis, to finally land in Montreal in July 2024, mid-heatwave — that's the journey that took Firas to Converse School. He has been working as a journalist for more than seven years and, at La Converse, he has just begun written a new page in his notebook.
In front of my recorder, Firas explains that this opportunity is a way for him to relearn this profession that he has already known from other perspectives. “But what else can an experienced journalist have to learn?” I asked myself. It is in fact “Canadian-style” or rather “Québec-style” journalism that he now wants to learn.
“Rather, I had a career as a journalist in Africa, where the profession is linked to something a little bigger; it's not such a neutral profession”, he says, telling me about his beginnings in the profession in Tunisia, a country ranked 1 World Press Freedom Index, published every year by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
In Tunis, his hometown, he began by studying communication and politics. He was given his first chance on the radio, where he would do press reviews. He crossed the Mediterranean to reach Strasbourg and pursue studies in sociology. He then moved to Paris, where he covered sports news, his true passion.
After a few years, he set sail again and returned to Tunis, where he made his first steps as a journalist. There, he returned to radio, where he would cover sport on the most listened to program in the country. He acquired a certain reputation and joined the editorial staff of Nawaat, a pioneer alternative media that was interested in press freedom and respect for human rights.
From this atypical career, Firas draws strength: that of a vision of Canada forged from abroad, which allows him to observe his new host country with unique glasses.
Aya Boucenna
Written by Sabrina Laradji
At just 22 years old, Aya, a young Canadian of Algerian origin who grew up in the east end of Montreal, represents a generation ready to break the silence and open the eyes of the world to realities that are too often ignored. A student in international relations and international law, her career is marked by a profound desire to highlight the invisible and to recall that everyone, beyond their origins, gender or history, deserves the same justice.
Her commitment comes to life at the Saint-Michel Youth Forum, where she volunteers and co-hosts the podcast “What if young people had the power”, a platform where she discusses crucial topics affecting young people from visible minorities. From integration to intergenerational relationships, to the challenges specific to women, this podcast is a space where Aya helps amplify voices that are often marginalized. In it, she explores gender inequalities, structural obstacles, and daily struggles, while encouraging open discussions and looking for solutions.
Her career led her to La Converse, a media that reflects values that are dear to her: fairness, transparency and listening. For Aya, La Converse is not only a space for free expression, it is also a mirror held up to society to raise awareness, build bridges and inspire a dialogue that brings people together.
In everything she does, Aya strives to produce stories that are heartfelt, able to resonate with injustice and inspire collective thinking. It seeks not only to inform, but also to make people feel, understand and act. Her writings, imbued with humanity and transparency, are a call to open our eyes to what we sometimes prefer not to see.
Let yourself be captivated by Aya's incisive eyes and discover stories with her that deserve to be heard.
Sabrina Laradji
Written by Aya Boucenna
It is in the busy streets of Montréal-Nord and Rivière-des-Prairies that Sabrina, a 24-year-old woman, has forged her unique perspective on the social dynamics of the city. Being of Algerian origin and having grown up in these neighbourhoods, she has witnessed the challenges faced by visible minorities and has seen the complex mechanisms that shape their daily lives.
She may have arrived at Converse School by chance, but for Sabrina, it is now obvious: this medium has become the space where she can give life to her ideas, by exploring with nuance and authenticity realities that are often overlooked. A graduate in political communication, Sabrina is distinguished by her ability to decode social issues and to offer thoughtful and accessible perspectives.
For her, writing is not limited to the transmission of emotions or facts. It is an act of connection and a way to connect individual stories to collective issues, while offering keys to understanding. In her writing, Sabrina seeks not only to inform, but also to inspire constructive dialogue and to provoke reflections that resonate beyond words.
Her rigorous and sensitive approach leads her to create stories that challenge and raise awareness. With a pen that is both factual and deeply human, she sheds light on realities that deserve to be recognized and understood. Sabrina is an analytical writeat the service of a more conscious society.
Sènan Guèdègbé
Written by Firas Kefi
Sènan arrives at Converse School to write a new story : her story. Originally from Gatineau, she grew up with the background noise of the TV news, a constant presence in the family home. This guided her to university, where she studied journalism in Montreal in 2019.
A pen in one hand, an orange basketball — her other passion — in the other, Sènan juggles images and words with a clear objective: to do journalism rooted in the reality of those whose story she is telling.
Her first experience in journalism was energetic. Graduating in 2023, she nevertheless found herself facing headwinds to join a newsroom and underwent personal struggles. A timeout was needed, a withdrawal to catch her breath. This break allows her to recharge her batteries so she can start again better. Today, she comes back with renewed determination.
The Converse School is her relaunch point, a space where she wants to refine her art of journalism, resilient and humanist, in resonance with the voices of the most vulnerable. She defends visual journalism that is captivating and conducive to dialogue, journalism that touches and connects.
Sénan, a silent “n” at the end but with a strong will, places benevolence at the heart of his approach. Tall and ambitious, she is a journalist in the making, ready to write a more human, more accurate story.
Cindy Lufuluabo
Written by Aude Simon
Cindy Lufuluabo is a master's student in public health. Her years of research experience and her interest in community connection fuel her desire for justice and knowledge.
"Knowledge is power ”, she quotes with a smile, as she discusses what led her to La Converse.
Originally from Congo and having grown up in Saint-Laurent, she says she has too often seen people speak to marginalized communities without having an empathetic eye. She strongly believes that these communities hold the key to their liberation in their own stories. For her, it is essential to experience a moment of authentic exchange in order to truly understand others.
With her rich knowledge of the research community, Cindy thrives in the art of human exploration. Her keen curiosity for life stories and individual journeys has led her on a path where each encounter becomes an opportunity to better discover the richness and complexity of personal experiences.
However, her caring gaze reveals that her commitment does not end there. Convinced that access to knowledge should not be reserved for an elite, she seeks to reveal truths that are often invisible. For Cindy, it is essential to make ideas and information accessible to everyone and to combat the barriers that prevent some people from learning and emancipating themselves.
With her involvement in La Converse, she says she has three goals: to build relationships, to enrich human connections and to break ancient barriers.
Aude Simon
Written by Cindy Lufuluabo
The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Aude Simon, 27, grew up on the South Shore of Montreal. Passionate about capturing the stories of those whose stories are too rarely told, she is driven by a deep desire to make voices that are often ignored heard. With a bachelor's degree in film studies, she has long dreamed of making a documentary. For her, video is a unique medium, capable of telling the story of life with unparalleled depth, capturing the non-verbal, the smiles and the looks — all elements that transcend words.
It was her love for video that introduced her to journalism, a path that allows her to produce content regularly, while bringing her closer to her ultimate goal. After collaborating with various media, Aude was attracted to La Converse, which she saw as a different space, in line with her values.
As someone who lives at the intersection of multiple identities, Aude joined La Converse to evolve in an environment where diversity is celebrated. She sees it as an opportunity to give a platform to Black, immigrant and, whose voices are often overlooked by traditional media.
Beyond the acquisition of journalistic skills, Aude sees Converse School as a space where she can draw on her own experiences to connect with others and cultivate ever greater empathy.