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For example, in Kebili in southern Tunisia people are worried because tourists are staying away and date prices have collapsed. This is not a good starting point for the elections in July. Thanks to Fair Trade, producers and processors in Kebili are in contact with gebana. Both sides want to use this bridge to contribute, step by step, to the successful outcome of the Tunisian revolution. With the campaign “Dates for Tunisia” the partners want to fund a meeting of European and Tunisian young people that is to take place during the date harvest in southern Tunisia.
In memory of Rami El Abed
“Nothing will be the same as before,” says Taieb Foudhaili, Managing Director of gebana Maghreb in Tunisia. “People will not let what has been achieved be taken away from them.” He is referring to, above all, the many young people who, at the risk of their lives, brought about the local change of power in hundreds of towns across the country. This was also the case in Kebili. As late as February and March the government wanted to appoint someone from the Ben Ali party as governor in Kebili. During demonstrations against this, Rami El Abed was killed by the police. In February we asked Taieb Foudhaili to ask the transitional council, in which he works, what support for their work would be useful. In addition to a request for solidarity at the political level, it was proposed to set up a solidarity account to help the relatives of Rami El Abed. Thanks to the “Dates for Tunisia” campaign, 5,180 francs (4,100 euros) could be transferred to the El Abed family in April.
Meeting of the Young Friends of Democracy and Date Festival
"Solidarity is important and has its time. Now we want to think about the future." According to this motto, Taieb, the Transitional Council and gebana have in recent weeks considered how gebana's small "fair-trade bridge" could be used to support the partners in Kebili on their way. The absence of tourists and the collapse in date prices are the main economic problems of the people in southern Tunisia. The date harvest takes place each October and November and is celebrated in Kebili with a "Date Festival". From this came the idea to organize a meeting for the Date Festival. It was the young Tunisians who overthrew the old regime and we now want to invite young people in Europe to travel to Tunisia and meet their peers. At the organic farmers of the Dergine and Bargouthia oases, visitors will take part in the date harvest. Afterwards a meeting will be organized to discuss various topics of the new Tunisia and the experience with democracy. The focus should be on personal and cultural exchange. Everyone interested, young and old, is invited at cost price. Please contact us for more detailed information about the trip to Tunisia.
The "Dates for Tunisia" campaign continues. From now on, for each sold box of dates, 20 francs or 14 euros will be set aside for the organization of the "Meeting of the Young Friends of Democracy" in October.