(22 Oct 2014) LEADIN:
Almost four years after the Tunisian revolution which overthrew a dictator and launched the Arab Spring, some youth look back with disappointment at what has been achieved.
But a few days ahead of parliamentary elections, others prefer to remain hopeful that real change can occur.
STORYLINE:
Thousands were on the streets of the Tunisian capital in January 2011 to protest against then President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Tunisia was the birthplace of the Arab Spring.
What happened on these, now calm, streets started a wave of revolutions that impacted the entire region and will continue to do so for decades to come.
Although the barbed wire is a reminder of the country's more turbulent times.
Tunisia was held up as a model for Arab Spring countries, when elections were held in 2011.
The country's youth was on the front lines of the uprising and had great hopes for democracy, freedom and change.
Now, ahead of Parliamentary elections of October 26, Tunisian youth look back and realise how far they've come.
They all appreciate the freedoms of speech and expression which were only dreams under Ben Ali's regime.
Almost four years after the revolution however, they are starting to realise how long the road to full democracy will be.
Hamdi Jouini is a film director who participated in the uprising. He explains how the fact that he can now openly criticise the government is in itself an amazing achievement, but that the process must continue.
"We carried out a revolution, that's great, but we have to continue working on it. It's not like we had a revolution and that's all," he says.
Jouini wants to remain optimistic for the future of his country. He recalls that throughout history, any country that has gone through a revolutionary process faces highs and lows in the years after.
He encourages people to take any opportunity they can to move forward as he thinks this is the only way to achieve all the goals of the revolution, and that now means going to vote - even if people are unsatisfied with the parties representing them.
"As we say, it's a lesser evil. Let us get what we need first and then we can add, each time we'll go forward. Now we have the elections, we'll make them succeed and then democracy will end up happening," he says, adding that voting is a right but also a duty.
Others see things differently.
Asma Moussa was 16-years-old during the revolution. Like many others, she first started to share information on social networks before taking to the streets to join the protests.
She explains how she became aware of the many problems the country was suffering, especially outside the capital.
But says she won't vote in the elections because nothing has really changed in the past four years.
"I don't see anyone that represents me, no party, no list, no politician. They're all looking after their interests and not ours," she says.
Moussa refuses to make compromises and does not understand how real change can happen through people who keep marginalising young people - who make up nearly 20 percent of the population.
She believes the real work will begin after the elections and that it's up to Tunisia's youth to fight for themselves and for their rights and recognition, instead of relying on others.
"Our slogan is determination, hope and resistance. We trust ourselves and we can succeed. I'm telling you, we can and we will succeed, youth will seize their place (in the political process) in 2014."
It's been a turbulent few years for Tunisia, plagued by political assassinations, government delays and a worsening economy.
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