Youth were marginalized for years in the Arab countries. Considered a source of instability, they were ignored by governments and excluded from the decision-making processes that affected their lives. But something has happened in the last year. Aware that if they don’t initiate change themselves for a better future, then no one will, they took the lead in Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Morocco, and other Arab states. But it seems that revolutions are the easiest part. The transitional period and the establishment of a sustainable democracy is another tremendous challenge for youth. The regime collapsed … and so what?
On two recent trips to Tunisia for IREX that focused on media training and youth civil society organizations, I witnessed a positive youth-led dynamic in local communities that answers the “so what” question. Tunisian voiceless and marginalized youth are now spreading the democratic basics amongst their communities. They organize youth-led networks supporting democratic change, conduct community consensus and voter’s education meetings, mitigate local conflicts and mobilize communities to vote for Tunisian interests in development, economic growth, and stability, peace and prosperity.
I came away convinced that these Tunisian youth understand that positive change does not come with the revolution but happens subsequent to the revolution through hard work at the grassroots level. The initiatives I saw will help lead Tunisia towards a future with equitable economic growth and employment, respect for women’s rights and other basic human rights, and the participation of citizens in ensuring good governance at the community and national level.
My 19 years of working with youth in the Arab world and beyond has repeatedly shown me that youth involvement is crucial to a country’s sustainable development. What I witnessed in Tunisia reinforced this and deepened my appreciation for IREX’s longstanding approach of “investment in youth.” IREX emphasizes that youth around the world can be a productive workforce, act as key players for local community enhancement and initiate positive changes in the lives of their fellow citizens. IREX programs advocate for treating youth as experts in their own development while working to spread awareness of the potential for youth to engage at the political and community levels.
The IREX programs I work on in Lebanon [18] have provided the opportunity for thousands of young people to connect to others across sectarian divides, develop and utilize skills to contribute to their communities’ well-being. With a renewed sense of purpose, I will continue to work for IREX in its youth development mission implementing programs in youth [19] leadership, conflict mitigation, capacity building of youth-led civil society organizations, youth-based community development and youth social entrepreneurship.