Tunisian Civil Society Visit Belfast, Dublin and London to Share Lessons in Political Transition and Local Government, 6th-15th February 2020

In early February Forward Thinking facilitated a visit for Humetna Association to Belfast, Dublin and London to share lessons in political transition, local government and delivering change in communities.The group met with the Irish Foreign Ministry, Parliamentarians in London, Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (pictured) in Belfast, as well as local government officials at Belfast City Hall, and community organisations working in restorative justice and delivering change to their communities.   Humenta Association were also hosted by The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast where they explored the role of young people and civil society in conflict and peace.  With job creation one of the toughest challenges facing young people, the group had a workshop at the Institute for Global Affairs at the London School of Economics, in which the group discussed mechanisms to address the local economy and local economic reform.Humetna, “Our Neighbourhood”, is a non-governmental in Tunisia established in 2014.  It is based in Medjez el Bab. (a rural town around 60 kilometres from Tunis) with chapters in Mournaguia (a suburb of Tunis), and Fussana (in Kasserine governorate).  It works to engage elected officials on local challenges; develop the leadership skills of local young activists; and find youth-led solutions to challenges the community faces, such as low voter turnout, and raise awareness around addressing challenges in the local economy.