Young Mediterraneans

2010-02-28

	Mediterranean: Portraits of a Generation How do they live, what are their aspirations? What are the difficulties that they have to face? The vast series of investigations on the 20 to 30 year old generation in the Mediterranean tempts to answer these questions. First tour around Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon and France. Second tour Morocco, Egypt, Italy and Spain.
	A government that is deaf and blind to Algerian Youth’s problems “Tiaret: the town hall’s headquarters besieged by dozens of Young people” is the title of the newspaper ‘Liberté’ of the 1st of February 2009. In this locality, situated in the East of the capital city, young people have stormed the town hall to protest against their life conditions and particularly against unemployment.
	Young Algerians Some live in extreme poverty, abandoned to themselves since their early ages. Others live like all the other youngsters should live, between their studies and their friends, protected by their family. Voices of contrast.
	A Portrait of Tunisian Youth In spite of the increase in the percentage of old people, Tunisia still remains a "young" country. This is the reason why drawing a picture on youth is also giving a picture of the country's evolution. The Tunisia of tomorrow will look like the young people of today.
	On the podium despite everything. Portrait of a young Tunisian girl Fadhila can now have other ambitions. She works hard to participate to the World Championships taking place in New Zealand in 2010 and to go on the podium for the Paralympic Games of London in 2012.
	Disillusioned Generation, Lebanon A feeling of helplessness and torment hovers at the heart of Lebanese youth. Disorientated, youngsters oscillate between worry and hope.
	When Young people express themselves… Amalgamation of cultures and mentalities, the young people of the Cedar trees’ country distinguish themselves by their confessional, social and geographic diversity.
	Youth in France, portraits Their family is “stressed”, their generation “is going through a hard time”, but they seem to be doing pretty well. “Making the best of life” and “building” a balance between work, family and friends…portraits of young people in France, aged from 19 to 33.
	“Too much pressure”: the uneasiness of youth in France A pessimistic, resigned and conformist youth. Why don’t French young people believe in the future? Portrait of a generation.
	M6 generation: disillusioned youth They’re called Simo, Meriem or Marwane. They all say they’re realistic and see themselves as leaders in their jobs in ten years time. Others, dream of being parents. However, in their interviews a lot of pessimism comes out behind these notes of hope. Investigation carried out among ten young citizens.
	Interview with Mohamed Darif, political scientist and sociologist According to Mohamed Darif, in Morocco: “Young people do not discuss religion as they’re not used to do it.”
	«I’m young but I feel a hundred years old»* What do young Egyptians aspire for today? The generation between 18-29 years of age is ageing prematurely. Young Egyptians don’t dream of fulfilling their dreams anymore or travelling to discover the world. Their ambitions are threatened and their dreams are diminishing due to increasingly bad economic conditions, which haven’t spared any field.
	The loss of popularity of Egyptian blogging The active blogs of a few years ago, which scrutinised social violence and confrontations between the opposition and the police, seem to have waned in popularity today. Their success was attained neither by Facebook nor by mini-blogs, like dormant volcanoes whose eruption has been postponed eternally.
	Young Italians: what future? Emarginated from the world of work and abandoned by the State, young Italians are among the uneasiest in Europe. The new generations oscillate between oppressive job insecurity and an irreversible brain drain.
	Youth takes the floor Between tradition and modernity, young Italians desire “simple” things such as finding a job, forming a family and having a house where to live.
	Spain: the birth of the “paro” generation Between unemployment and exploitation, young Spaniards suffer the consequences of the worst economic crisis that Spain has been through since Franquismo. They ask themselves whether to stay and benefit from the State’s support or “largar adelante” (move on to something else).
	Spain as seen by Mara, Fran and Jordi In a bar in Barcelona, three friends meet and talk about themselves describing their fears and hopes, between rage, art and social commitment.
	Young on the Rock Good weather, stability and warm- hearted people. All sell well with the tourists but how do young Maltese people live? What do they make out of living on a tiny Euro-Med island with ambitions of becoming an international communications hub? How does it feel to be a young person living in densely populated Malta today?
	Opportunities are elsewhere Work and money seem to be the number one preoccupation of most of the Maltese between twenty to thirty years of age. Subsistence, precarious employment and living up to one’s expectations are however only part of the complexities which define youths in present day Malta. Relationships, single-parenthood, immigration and education are still very much on the agenda.
	A generation trapped – Gaza’s youth in figures Palestinian youth in the Gaza Strip make up the biggest segment of society trapped in a strip of land with the highest population density. Overview on the situation of youth in Gaza.
	Young population, education, unemployment and politics Turkey is the 2nd country with the youngest population with 20% living in Istanbul. An overview on Turkish youth.
	Different Identities, Similar Concerns Young people in Turkey complain about injustice, repression and the education system. They want to be taken seriously rather than being punished for reacting.