“In Tunisia, I could breathe the air of freedom”

“The air is different, something has happened; you can see it as soon as you arrive in Tunis Airport.” Gueddana Meriem, who has just returned from Tunisia, has worked for Saronno town council for years, as a cultural mediator, in the “Aldo Moro” School, as a translator for the social services, and with the immigration office, where we met her. She had been back to her town of birth, Nebiul, 60 km from the capital Tunis, for a few days; she had gone to visit relatives following the days of revolt that shook the nation.

She works, in Saronno, above all, with elementary school children, of Moroccan descent, and she speaks Arabic and French. She is 36, and has been in Italy for 10 years, after having been allowed to join a family member, but she has never forgotten her country of birth, and now, has even opened a Facebook page, to help the young people after the revolt. “It’s a page to help in the fight against illegal immigration. After the revolt of the last few days, we decided, with a few friends in Tunisia, to do something to explain to young people why they shouldn’t leave, that it would be worse; now, the rebuilding must begin.”

In what way?

“We tell them not to flee, that it’s not easy to obtain a residence permit, that they should try to find a solution with the new government. We tell them to make plans, that even those, like me, who are far away, can help. To enable us to come back one day.”

Some might say it is easy for you to say these things because you are far away.

“Even if we don’t return physically, we can help to create new projects, new jobs, thanks to technologies like the Internet. It’s there that we can work. This revolt was started by the young people, from the Internet.”

But what is it that started the revolt? And what is happening in other countries, like Egypt and Libya?

“For the first time, poverty isn’t the cause. At least, not only poverty. It’s people’s pride that has been affected over these years. You weren’t allowed to speak, you weren’t allowed to write, or describe what you saw. It wasn’t anything specific, just a general dissatisfaction. They wanted freedoms, not bread.”

What did you think when you heard about the revolt?

“I was very worried, the revolt had spread everywhere, it wasn’t only in the capital. I immediately thought I should go back to my family. I waited a few days, and then went.”

What did you find?

“I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but even in the airport, the air I breathed was different.”

What do you mean?

“The people who, previously, had been overbearing, the ones that searched you, had no support, they were isolated. Then, there were the young people; they seemed more optimistic. It’s a logical outcome, it had to happen sooner or later. It might only have been a feeling, but there was so much freedom, now everyone can say everything, they all feel freer.”

What do you think will happen now?

“Something good is going to happen, the young people seem determined; if they give up now, it’ll be worse than before. They must finish what they’ve started. This is why I’ve decided, with other friends, to contribute by creating a page on Facebook, to encourage the young people to stay there; it’s not the time to flee, but to build.”