An Anonymous Portal, a Dust‑Covered Space, a Second Vestibule
We are at the headquarters of UNESI, a Tunisian association that works for an inclusive and solidaristic society.
La Presse – Behind the name Union Nationale de l’Éducation Spécialisée et de l’Intégration (National Union for Specialized Education and Integration), you meet passionate, devoted, ever‑present men and women who, with science and patience, strive to leave no one stranded on the side of the road.
Their Mission
- Promote inclusion and autonomy for people with disabilities.
- Foster socio‑professional insertion.
- Facilitate integration into professional, cultural, environmental, and sporting fields.
It is a colossal task for a relatively small team, modestly supported, yet driven by a faith that can move mountains.
The Workshops
On land granted by the state, several workshops have been set up for the few hundred youths aged 14‑18 that UNESI welcomes each year.
- Jewelry making
- Leather goods
- Ceramics
- Sewing
- Plantation and extraction of aromatic and medicinal plants
- Arboriculture
- Introductory computer training
- Sports
Visiting the workshops reveals the work of these young people, supervised by trainers whose salaries are largely covered by various ministries.
Key Figures
- Mahrez Aloui, ever‑present and efficient director of the centre.
- Lila Radji, brilliant and devoted psychologist and technical director.
- Michèle Belajouza, long‑time supporter of the association.
All speak with one voice and the same conviction:
“Our role is to give these youths autonomy and self‑confidence. They must feel useful. We have many beautiful stories of children once considered a burden to their families who became supporters as soon as they could work after receiving training. Some have even launched small projects. We accompany them throughout their training.
Of the roughly 100 young people we host each year, about thirty are integrated into a professional pathway.”
Challenges and Community Support
Of course, nothing is easy for these teams: subsidies are scarce, contributions modest, and operating costs heavy. Friendly associations lend support. Parents who can afford it contribute within their means, because the youths come from all social strata—affluent, middle‑class, or deeply precarious.
To sustain the centre, various initiatives are organized:
- Artists volunteer to perform.
- Exhibitions showcase workshop products.
- Young people stage theatrical pieces.
All of this stems from the firm belief that they are filling a gap left by the disappearance of specialized classes in schools, and from the determined intention to replicate this experience and open more centres across the country.
