How We’re Co-Creating Youth Engagement in Tunisia with We Love Kairouan
At the heart of our journey to build capacity lies a simple yet powerful truth: meaningful change begins with listening—deeply, attentively, and collaboratively. Before rushing to solutions, we make space to understand the local realities and co-create strategies that are grounded in context.
Our partnership with We Love Kairouan (WLK) began with a focused session dedicated to understanding the realities of youth participation in Kairouan Tunisia. This initial meeting set the tone for how we work with partners by learning from them.
Context isn’t just background noise; it’s the foundation for effective civic engagement. In Kairouan, the way young people engage with their communities is shaped by a complex mix of social, economic, political, and cultural factors. Through conversations with WLK staff, community members, and young changemakers, we asked critical questions:
What does youth engagement look like today?
What barriers are holding people back?
What do young people really need to feel included and empowered?
What became clear is that youth engagement is very much present but it is fragile. While some young people actively participate in local initiatives, many feel disconnected from civil society. A common sentiment was that current programs often miss the mark—they feel irrelevant, inconsistent, or simply lack follow-up. Although social media plays a major role in young people’s lives, it has yet to be fully harnessed as a tool for civic participation.
Youth in Kairouan face many intersecting challenges. Educational and informational gaps limit their opportunities. A lack of infrastructure and public spaces leaves few safe places to gather. Economic pressures and limited job prospects weigh heavily on their futures. Psychological barriers, especially for young women, around confidence, societal judgment, and safety further hinder participation. Add to this a scarcity of active NGOs and inconsistent long-term support, and the picture becomes clearer.
Yet the youth’s needs go beyond simple “inclusion.” They are asking for creative learning opportunities like design thinking and podcasting that spark curiosity and skills. They want safe, open spaces where they can share ideas and co-create. They seek programs that help develop job-relevant skills. Above all, they want recognition and ownership in shaping civic life, rather than being passive participants.
One of the most valuable moments in our session was recognising WLK’s strengths alongside its challenges. Their flexible office space, equipped with podcast tools, photography gear, and laptops, holds great potential as a creative hub for youth-led projects. The team’s experience with feminist advocacy and inclusive education provides a strong foundation upon which to build.
From this first meeting, several promising paths emerged. We aim to co-design engagement strategies with youth—starting small and always listening first. We want to expand WLK’s peer-led training model, where current members share both soft and technical skills with newcomers. By leveraging partnerships with schools, local government, and international allies, we hope to broaden reach and resources. And rather than using social media just to inform, we want to use it to inspire and mobilize.
This kind of context-rooted collaboration allows us to design better, more sustainable strategies. When young people feel truly seen, heard, and involved from the very beginning, they don’t just participate—they lead.
This first session reaffirmed a core belief: effective partnerships start with deep listening. By creating space for local actors like We Love Kairouan to share their lived experiences, we unlock authentic pathways for change—grounded in context, led by community, and driven by those most affected.
We are excited to continue this journey, co-creating a roadmap for meaningful youth engagement in Kairouan and beyond.
