First of all, my EVS experience for 1.5 months in Medenine, Tunisian has been a perfect springboard for me bypushing myself into unknown and out of my comfort zone that ended with a strong desire of discovering more and more about this magnificent culture.
I truly believe that as a human being it’s impossible to be a “tabula rasa” and to be free of any thoughts, concerns facing the new so called home, but it’s a great chance to have a clearer image about customs and all aspects that are defining the local life, in a way to observe the local reality and, summing up: EVs It’s a great opportunity to break down the stereotypes and to cultivate your receptivity, openness and the way how we perceive “the other”.
Moreover, when it comes to culture exchange there is no place for any doubts, Tunisia is a country extremely rich in diversity, the last month and half I had the chance to discover the particularities of a Southern Tunisian city- Medenine but also one aspect that kept my interest was the discrepancy between local people lifestyle to any Northern Tunisian city. Here I discovered the beauty of simple human being, to adapt to a totally new environment- Sahara, and also that times is such a relative conceptJ.
Tunisia for me, wasn’t so far from a political/administrative point of view, following the Arab spring events, it was always present in my study interest area, but when it comes to facing the local reality and basically be involved into an NGOs work, I was happy to say yes to a short EVS programme and also surprised to see such a rich community of youngsters that have the desire and motivation to be involved and help the development process in various fields, as: education by doing small things but with a huge impact- coping with the environmental, by raising awareness among the young students, creating debates on different topics, working on social issues or simply gathering together and having an open constructive discussion.
At the end, there is no drawback feeling, and this type of experience should be mandatory for young active people that want to invest in themselves and the others, EVS is definitely a learning by leaving process, that will bring positive grow to the society.
PS: EVS, is definitely for those that want: to pack their knowledge, dreams, good vibe, andopenness, to share and learn about new culture thru direct implication,or for those that simply want to jump into “unknown”…but don’t forget to take with you…time, to discover this challenging& beautiful part of the world!! And the rest comes by itself, Inshalaah! 10 OF June, Medenine, Tunisia.