This document summarizes reports from training sessions held in multiple regions of Tunisia as part of an initiative called "Imaginons notre région". It details the sessions held in Nabeul, Kairouan, Sfax, and El Kef governorates. The trainings aimed to discuss issues and recommendations for local municipalities. Key findings included lack of infrastructure for events, need for youth involvement, and concerns around security, entertainment, and culture. Participant recommendations focused on modernizing services, engaging trained youth, and investing in cultural development.

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IMAGINONS
NOTRE
REGION
10/11/2017 OCTOBER’s​ ​REPORT

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●1​ ​team
●4​ ​weeks​ ​,
●5​ ​Governorates,
●+70​ ​participants,
●860​ ​kilometers
●Countless​ ​expectations !
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_Imaginons​ ​notre​ ​région_
OCTOBER’S​ ​REPORT
The​ ​very​ ​first​ ​training​ ​on​ ​the​ ​code​ ​of​ ​local​ ​collectivities​ ​and​ ​decentralization​ ​in​ ​Tunisia​ ​took​ ​place
in​ ​Nabeul​ ​governorate​ ​,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​​ ​aimed​ ​at​ ​forming​ ​people​ ​from​ ​the​ ​newly​ ​established​ ​municipality
« CHRIFETTE-BOUCHARAI ».
The​ ​session​ ​was​ ​hosted​ ​in​ ​the​ ​local​ ​of​ ​Soliman​ ​municipality,​ ​1st​ ​of​ ​October​ ​,​ ​from​ ​9​ ​to​ ​1 pm​ ​in
presence​ ​of​ ​20​ ​participants​ ​,​ ​10​ ​women​ ​,​ ​10​ ​men​ ​,​ ​ages​ ​varying​ ​between​ ​15​ ​to​ ​over​ ​55.
Khadija​ ​,​ ​15​ ​years​ ​old​ ​,​ ​youngest​ ​participants​ ​in​ ​the​ ​program.
Participants​ ​raised​ ​concerns​ ​about​ ​the​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​infrastructure​ ​in​ ​their​ ​hometown.​ ​When​ ​asked
about​ ​their​ ​visions​ ​of​ ​the​ ​issues​ ​currently​ ​related​ ​to​ ​this​ ​area​ ​,​ ​one​ ​particular​ ​participants
answered :​ ​« ​ ​we​ ​all​ ​came​ ​to​ ​Soliman​ ​today​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​about​ ​Chrifette-Boucharai,​ ​and
that’s​ ​a​ ​problem​ ​itself ».​ ​In​ ​fact​ ​,​ ​the​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​proper​ ​venues​ ​to​ ​host​ ​such​ ​trainings​ ​and​ ​events​ ​is
hindering​ ​any​ ​progress​ ​or​ ​implementation​ ​of​ ​a​ ​culture​ ​of​ ​citizenship​ ​in​ ​this​ ​place.
Other​ ​participants​ ​expressed​ ​what​ ​they​ ​deemed​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​major​ ​problems​ ​currently existing :
-security
-lack​ ​of​ ​entertainment
-bad​ ​infrastructure
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-absence​ ​of​ ​local​ ​culture.
The​ ​trainees​ ​,​ ​who​ ​come​ ​from​ ​different​ ​backgrounds,​ ​had​ ​different​ ​views​ ​on​ ​what​ ​they​ ​needed
to​ ​do​ ​to​ ​change​ ​things​ ​around​ ​their​ ​cities.​ ​While​ ​some​ ​demonstrated​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​the
upcoming​ ​elections​ ​,​ ​others​ ​were​ ​more​ ​convinced​ ​of​ ​the​ ​need​ ​to​ ​create​ ​some​ ​activity​ ​and​ ​get
more​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​citizenship​ ​building.
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A​ ​glimpse​ ​​ ​at​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​participants :
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General​ ​comments :
● The​ ​session​ ​was​ ​smooth
● No​ ​particular​ ​obstacles​ ​were​ ​faced
● The​ ​Debate​ ​amounted​ ​to​ ​recommendations
● Some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​participants​ ​expressed​ ​the​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​create​ ​their​ ​own​ ​association​ ​and​ ​raise
awareness​ ​about​ ​the​ ​need​ ​to​ ​plant​ ​the​ ​seeds​ ​of​ ​a​ ​​ ​civic​ ​culture​ ​in​ ​Chrifette​ ​Boucharai​ ​,
thus​ ​meeting​ ​one​ ​of​ ​« imaginons​ ​notre​ ​regions »’s​ ​long​ ​term​ ​objectives.
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KAIROUAN​ ​GOVERNORATE
The​ ​second​ ​destination​ ​reached​ ​was​ ​kairouan,​ ​over​ ​200​ ​kilometers​ ​away​ ​from
Tunis.​ ​
Jinane​ ​Limam ;​ ​the​ ​expert​ ​.
Thesession​ ​was​ ​hosted​ ​in​ ​the​ ​local​ ​of​ ​Junior​ ​international​ ​chamber ;​ ​Kairouan
section.
The​ ​training​ ​was​ ​offered​ ​to​ ​10​ ​participants​ ​,​ ​with​ ​only​ ​one​ ​girl​ ​showing​ ​up.
Even​ ​though​ ​the​ ​main​ ​target​ ​of​ ​the​ ​workshop​ ​was​ ​dedicated​ ​to​ ​the
municipality​ ​of​ ​« Raqqada »​ ​,​ ​and​ ​despite​ ​efforts​ ​of​ ​promoting​ ​the​ ​program,
only​ ​one​ ​participant​ ​was​ ​originally​ ​from​ ​this​ ​region.
The​ ​team​ ​‘s​ ​findings​ ​regarding​ ​this​ ​reluctance​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​what​ ​should​ ​be
of​ ​an​ ​interest​ ​to​ ​every​ ​citizen​ ​in​ ​the​ ​time​ ​being​ ​involve​ ​the​ ​following​ ​factors :
A- ​ ​The​ ​timing​ :​ ​the​ ​workshop​ ​was​ ​done​ ​from​ ​1p.m​ ​till​ ​5p.m,​ ​on​ ​a​ ​Friday​ ​.​ ​The
timing​ ​was​ ​not​ ​best​ ​suited​ ​for​ ​an​ ​audience​ ​which​ ​gives​ ​great​ ​importance
to​ ​attend​ ​the​ ​weekly​ ​prayer​ ​at​ ​the​ ​mosque.
B- The​ ​political​ ​climate​ :​ ​The​ ​region​ ​of​ ​Raqqada​ ​was​ ​very​ ​heated.​ ​Some
protests​ ​and​ ​demonstrations​ ​were​ ​taking​ ​place​ ​as​ ​the​ ​workshop​ ​was
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being​ ​held.​ ​[the​ ​unique​ ​participant​ ​from​ ​Raqqada​ ​only​ ​showed​ ​up
because​ ​he​ ​was​ ​unaware​ ​of​ ​such​ ​protests.​ ​As​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​he​ ​found​ ​out​ ​,​ ​he
left​ ​the​ ​training​ ​to​ ​join​ ​his​ ​peers.)
C- The​ ​climate​ ​per​ ​se​ :​ ​the​ ​bad​ ​weather​ ​conditions​ ​may​ ​have​ ​contributed​ ​in
the​ ​relatively​ ​small​ ​number​ ​of​ ​participants.
Place :​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​JCI’s​ ​local​ ​as​ ​the​ ​training​ ​was​ ​given​ ​to​ ​young​ ​participants​ ​IN​ ​KAIROUAN.
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*
General​ ​comments :
- Despite​ ​the​ ​relatively​ ​small​ ​number​ ​,​ ​the​ ​debate​ ​was​ ​rich​ ​.
- The​ ​recommendations​ ​were​ ​very​ ​reflective​ ​of​ ​the​ ​nature​ ​of​ ​the
participants​ ​​ ​all​ ​under​ ​35​ ​years​ ​old :​ ​their​ ​main​ ​focus​ ​was​ ​on​ ​modernizing
the​ ​services​ ​offered​ ​by​ ​the​ ​municipality​ ​,​ ​that​ ​is​ ​engaging​ ​more​ ​youth​ ​that
is​ ​capable​ ​of​ ​carrying​ ​tasks​ ​involving​ ​sensibilization​ ​,​ ​access​ ​to
information​ ​,​ ​and​ ​dealing​ ​with​ ​digital​ ​resources​ ​in​ ​general.
- The​ ​youngsters​ ​expressed​ ​concerns​ ​in​ ​the​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​expertise​ ​of​ ​current
assigned​ ​employees​ ​and​ ​suggested​ ​that​ ​recruitment​ ​be​ ​based​ ​on​ ​other
criteria​ ​,​ ​namely​ ​being​ ​trained​ ​to​ ​grasp​ ​and​ ​adhere​ ​to​ ​the​ ​concept​ ​,​ ​but
also​ ​​ ​culture​ ​of​ ​decentralization
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SFAX​ ​GOVERNORATE
On​ ​october​ ​21st​ ​,​ ​The​ ​third​ ​training​ ​was​ ​organized​ ​in​ ​the​ ​city​ ​of
Bir-Ali-Ben-Khalifa,​ ​targeting-initially-​ ​« Sidi​ ​Ali​ ​Ben​ ​Abed,​ ​Al-Nadhour ».
The​ ​place​ ​of​ ​meeting​ ​was​ ​a​ ​coffee​ ​shop​ ​that​ ​had​ ​a​ ​hall​ ​usually​ ​used​ ​by​ ​a​ ​local
club​ ​for​ ​kids,​ ​the​ ​only​ ​possible​ ​​ ​venue​ ​in​ ​a​ ​region​ ​where​ ​there​ ​are​ ​no​ ​cultural
institutions​ ​,​ ​no​ ​meeting​ ​rooms​ ​,​ ​no​ ​hotels​ ​,​ ​not​ ​even​ ​mixed​ ​coffee​ ​shops​ ​for
men​ ​and​ ​women.
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General​ ​comments :
● The​ ​social​ ​and​ ​political​ ​climate​ ​were​ ​very​ ​heated​ ​at​ ​the​ ​time​ ​of​ ​the
training.​ ​2​ ​days​ ​before​ ​it​ ​was​ ​due​ ​,​ ​a​ ​school​ ​girl​ ​hung​ ​herself​ ​in​ ​at​ ​school.
Moreover​ ​,​ ​the​ ​city​ ​was​ ​witnessing​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​bitterness​ ​and​ ​protests​ ​related
to​ ​the​ ​situation​ ​illegal​ ​immigrants.
● The​ ​concerns​ ​of​ ​the​ ​participants​ ​were​ ​directed​ ​towards​ ​the​ ​need​ ​to
invest​ ​in​ ​culture​ ​and​ ​create​ ​an​ ​alternative​ ​collective​ ​vision​ ​of​ ​the
possibility​ ​to​ ​change​ ​and​ ​improve​ ​​ ​one’s​ ​conditions.
● The​ ​role​ ​of​ ​the​ ​municipality​ ​should​ ​bear​ ​the​ ​responsibility​ ​to​ ​pave​ ​the​ ​way
for​ ​a​ ​cultural​ ​revolution​ ​in​ ​the​ ​area.
● It​ ​was​ ​noted​ ​that​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​initiative​ ​and​ ​leadership​ ​in​ ​this​ ​area
nor​ ​a​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​structure ;wheras​ ​participants​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​be​ ​loaded​ ​with
ideas​ ​and​ ​perspectives​ ​,​ ​they​ ​lack​ ​–practically-​ ​the​ ​motivation​ ​to​ ​put​ ​their
words​ ​into​ ​action.
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EL​ ​KEF​ ​GOVERNORATE
27th​ ​of​ ​October​ ​marked​ ​the​ ​4th​ ​adventure,​ ​this​ ​time​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the​ ​locals​ ​of
« El-Marja »​ ​,​ ​in​ ​kef​ ​governorate.
The​ ​training​ ​was​ ​very​ ​particular​ ​,​ ​for​ ​it​ ​had​ ​a​ ​particular​ ​audience :​ ​20​ ​rural
women​ ​,​ ​passionate​ ​about​ ​their​ ​hometown​ ​,​ ​and​ ​eager​ ​to​ ​see​ ​it​ ​grow​ ​and
prosper.
The​ ​event​ ​took​ ​place​ ​at​ ​the​ ​locals​ ​of​ ​Tunisian​ ​Union​ ​for​ ​Social​ ​Solidarity
(UTSS).
The​ ​Union’s​ ​main​ ​activities​ ​involve​ ​offering​ ​trainings​ ​and​ ​education to​ ​over​ ​35
women​ ​who​ ​work​ ​mainly​ ​in​ ​the​ ​rural​ ​field.
Women​ ​receive​ ​a​ ​three​ ​hour​ ​course ;​ ​3​ ​days​ ​a​ ​week​ ​for​ ​a​ ​period​ ​f​ ​three​ ​months
before​ ​they​ ​get​ ​a​ ​certificate.
The​ ​participants​ ​addressed​ ​many​ ​issues​ ​in​ ​El-Marja ,​ ​in​ ​particularly​ ​they
pointed​ ​out​ ​the​ ​need​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​back​ ​live​ ​to​ ​the​ ​local​ ​markets​ ​and​ ​rearrange
them​ ​to​ ​suit​ ​best​ ​the​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​people​ ​living​ ​in​ ​the​ ​countryside.
Moreover​ ​,​ ​they​ ​emphasized​ ​on​ ​the​ ​need​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​safer​ ​environment​ ​for
their​ ​kids​ ​.​ ​Problems​ ​of​ ​infrastructure​ ​but​ ​also​ ​of​ ​transportation​ ​means​ ​were
evoked.
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In​ ​the​ ​picture :​ ​kids​ ​just​ ​got​ ​out​ ​of​ ​school​ ​and​ ​playing​ ​in​ ​a​ ​yard​ ​next​ ​to​ ​the​ ​center.​ ​The​ ​kid​ ​with​ ​the​ ​school​ ​bag​ ​is​ ​crossing​ ​a
main​ ​street​ ​that​ ​has​ ​no​ ​pedestrian​ ​crossing​ ​,​ ​nor​ ​a​ ​speed​ ​bump.
Some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​other​ ​problems​ ​brought​ ​up​ ​included​ ​the​ ​absence​ ​of​ ​public
daycare​ ​center​ ​,​ ​which​ ​could​ ​be​ ​an​ ​affordable​ ​solution​ ​for​ ​women​ ​who​ ​are​ ​so
used​ ​to​ ​multitasking.​ ​In​ ​same​ ​context​ ​,​ ​women​ ​complained​ ​about​ ​the​ ​school
transportation​ ​;​ ​and​ ​how​ ​the​ ​current​ ​system​ ​is​ ​not​ ​working​ ​for​ ​their​ ​kids​ ​and​ ​is
not​ ​taking​ ​into​ ​account​ ​the​ ​rough​ ​nature​ ​but​ ​also​ ​the​ ​long​ ​distances​ ​children
have​ ​to​ ​go​ ​each​ ​day.
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in​ ​the​ ​picture​ ​;​ ​three​ ​kids​ ​playing​ ​in​ ​the​ ​center​ ​while​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​their
mothers​ ​to​ ​finish​ ​training​ ​with​ ​“imaginons_notre_région”
.
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General​ ​comments:
● Some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​obstacles​ ​encountered​ ​were​ ​merely​ ​linked​ ​to​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that
many​ ​women​ ​were​ ​unable​ ​to​ ​write​ ​,​ ​and​ ​read..​ ​therefore​ ​no​ ​slides​ ​were
projected.
● Instead​ ​,​ ​the​ ​presentation​ ​was​ ​delivered​ ​in​ ​a​ ​language​ ​that​ ​everyone​ ​can
understand.
● However,​ ​the​ ​change​ ​of​ ​method​ ​did​ ​not​ ​affect​ ​the​ ​quality​ ​of​ ​discussion.
● In​ ​fact​ ​,​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​everyone​ ​was​ ​involved​ ​,​ ​women​ ​were​ ​split
into​ ​two​ ​teams​ ​and​ ​asked​ ​to​ ​detect​ ​problems​ ​,​ ​find​ ​solutions​ ​that​ ​could
be​ ​translated​ ​into​ ​recommendations​ ​,​ ​and​ ​present​ ​their​ ​views.
● All​ ​women​ ​,​ ​despite​ ​their​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​education​ ​,​ ​had​ ​a​ ​developed​ ​sense​ ​of
citizenship.​ ​For​ ​instance​ ​,​ ​they​ ​were​ ​all​ ​registered​ ​and​ ​hopeful​ ​that​ ​the
upcoming​ ​local​ ​elections​ ​would​ ​make​ ​a​ ​difference​ ​in​ ​their​ ​lives.
● Some​ ​women​ ​felt​ ​more​ ​encouraged​ ​to​ ​present​ ​themselves​ ​as​ ​potential
candidates​ ​in​ ​the​ ​elections​ ​after​ ​the​ ​workshop.
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​ ​​El​ ​Mehdia​ ​Governorate
​ ​The​ ​fifth​ ​training​ ​day​ ​was​ ​organized​ ​sunday​ ​,​ ​29th​ ​of​ ​October​ ​,​ ​from​ ​9:30to​ ​1
30,pm.​ ​The​ ​newly​ ​established​ ​municipality​ ​in​ ​question​ ​is​ ​that​ ​of​ ​“El-Tlelsa”​ ​,
however​ ​,​ ​the​ ​meeting​ ​was​ ​done​ ​the​ ​city​ ​of​ ​El-Jem​ ​,​ ​more​ ​priciesly​ ​in​ ​a
museum-coffeeshop​ ​called​ ​“Dar-EL-Jem”
Questions​ ​on​ ​the​ ​decentralization​ ​in​ ​the​ ​new​ ​constitution​ ​,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​applicability
of​ ​the​ ​principles​ ​related​ ​to​ ​the​ ​concept​ ​were​ ​profoundly​ ​discussed​ ​among
activists​ ​who​ ​showed​ ​up​ ​to​ ​the​ ​training.
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Some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​issues​ ​in​ ​these​ ​areas​ ​would​ ​include​ ​the​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​presence​ ​of
women​ ​in​ ​the​ ​public​ ​life.​ ​Participants​ ​all​ ​expressed​ ​their​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​see​ ​local
women​ ​get​ ​more​ ​active​ ​in​ ​the​ ​social​ ​life.
​ ​[Note​ ​that​ ​this​ ​workshop’s​ ​audience​ ​included​ ​only​ ​one​ ​woman.]
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Also​ ​,​ ​according​ ​to​ ​participants​ ​;El-Tlelsa​ ​is​ ​widely​ ​affected​ ​by​ ​deep​ ​problems
of​ ​infrastructure​ ​and​ ​salubrity.
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General​ ​comments​ ​:
- the​ ​conditions​ ​were​ ​okay.​ ​The​ ​participants​ ​were​ ​very​ ​receptive​ ​to​ ​the
information​ ​exposed.
- Some​ ​recommendations​ ​were​ ​suggested​ ​by​ ​the​ ​participants​ ​who​ ​are
more​ ​informed​ ​than​ ​others​ ​on​ ​the​ ​content​ ​of​ ​the​ ​current​ ​code.
- The​ ​few​ ​activists​ ​in​ ​the​ ​region​ ​of​ ​El-Jem-Tlelsa​ ​are​ ​very​ ​motivated​ ​.
- El-Tlelsa​ ​does​ ​not​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​have​ ​particular​ ​problems​ ​of​ ​its​ ​own.​ ​It​ ​shares
with​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​the​ ​region​ ​a​ ​common​ ​need​ ​to​ ​have​ ​basic​ ​infrastructure​ ​,
including​ ​lightings​ ​,​ ​and​ ​more​ ​spaces​ ​to​ ​build​ ​local​ ​culture​ ​.
Khawla​ ​Mraydi​ ​,
communication​ ​officer
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