Though Tunisia has been widely seen as the sole success story of the 2011 Arab uprisings, Voice of America reports that poverty and unemployment are unfortunately just as bad today as they were five years ago. But some of the country’s millennials are hoping to change this and have opened a co-working space called “Cogite” which in French means “to think.” Located in a Tunis villa, “Cognite” provides office space, the internet, and an opportunity to network and share ideas.
Co-founder Houssem Aoudi says the goal is to foster entrepreneurship, especially in southern Tunisia where ISIS has gained an unfortunate grip among marginalized youth. “Imagine you are 25 years old without a job, without any self esteem. There are no cinemas, there is no music in the streets. And along comes ISIS, offering everything to these youth that we are failing to provide,” says Mr. Aoudi. “We are obliged to give them a new dream.”
