"Bilel Kriaa: About the "Young Arab Voices,Tunisia

In pre-revolutionary epoch, Tunisians faced a host of obstacles to voice themselves freely and upend the Establishment

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system that fanned fear of any form of resistance. Ergo, the system taught us to follow a code of norms and convention without questioning them. Worst still, some of us have internalized all forms of conformity, submission and apathy. Tunisians yearned and fought for freedom and basic human rights for decades. They dreamt of subverting the standardized, normalized and politicized outlook ingrained in the vulnerable by the powerful. An outlook that is fixed, rigid and definitive. Yet, in 2011, the dream came to reality. In the post-revolution period, youth have founded torrents of CSOs and programmes across the country among which is Young Arab Voices, a programme, initiated by the British Council in partnership with Anna Lindh Foundation, which enhances youth skills in debate and advocacy through establishing clubs in high schools, CSOs, or still in universities. Drawing on my involvement in the programme, I see YAV as an asset towards cementing a culture of civic engagement and democracy. By tackling divergent topics that youth deem crucial, one comes to terms with the necessity and significance of differences and diversity. YAV has given youth the opportunity to speak their mind and express themselves in things they hold dear or reject, in a constructive, logical and persuasive way. They not only scrutinise wicked problems but also propose alternatives to combat them. I am pleased to see YAV whets youth’s critical awareness so that they react against the stereotypical representation of the things that affect their lives. It sets the ground for analysis and reflection which trigger youth to maintain a process of doing and undoing, learning and unlearning, a process that questions and challenges. I can see how my friends develop a better understanding about thorny issues and how they get rid of many hasty decisions fueled by misinformation and emotions. It is very interesting to see them identify many gaps and rifts and show a tremendous amount of daring agency to overcome them. I strongly recommend Young Arab Voices programme as I perceive it as informal education that brings about informed and

critically alert citizens rather than passive and naive ones.

Bilel Kriaa
Trainer,judge and Project Intern