AVSI in Tunisia
- AVSI Tunisie Immeuble Cristal Palace, bloc A,
1er étage, bureau numéro 3,
Rue de Lac Annency,
1053 Les Berges du Lac, Tunis
AVSI has started working in Tunisia in 2000 with a training project for teaching staff in primary and secondary schools, addressed in particular to the nine schools managed by the Archdiocese of Tunis throughout the country
In 2019 AVSI obtained official recognition from the Tunisian government and opened an office in the capital, Tunis. Today AVSI works in Grand Tunis, particularly in the poorest neighborhoods of the capital, and in the governorates of Nabeul and Gabes.
Projects in the country
- “SCHOOL OASIS: WHEN BEAUTY EDUCATES AND PROTECTS” in partnership with the Department for Teaching of the Archdiocese of Tunis and funded by CEI. The project aims to contribute to the social inclusion of Tunisian youth through formal education and play / recreational activities. On one hand, the aim is to improve the quality of formal educational services and psychosocial support, through the training of teachers and the creation of a psycho-social support team within schools. On the other hand, it is working to facilitate the access of young Tunisians to the community recreation centers in the vulnerable districts of Sidi el Bechir and Manouba, neighborhoods where young people are generally out of school, often in situations of illegality, and predisposed to illegal migration
- “Support project for breadwinners women in the precarious neighborhoods of Tunis”, in partnership with CARITAS and the VOIX DES ENFANTS association, funded by the Africa Fund. The project aims to increase access to economic sustenance opportunities for single Tunisian mothers, marginalized and stigmatized by society, who live in precarious situations, through the financing of micro-entrepreneurship projects that improve their social and economic condition
- “BLUE MARINE” project, in partnership with the association CLUB BLEU ARTISANAL and funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region and TAUW Foundation. The objective of the project, lasting 2 years, is the promotion of responsible and sustainable economic activities related to fishing, as well as the promotion of sustainable food systems in the areas bordering the Grand Lac de Tunis, capable of involving the local communities of the popular neighborhoods. The project aims to promote the alternation between artisanal fishing and small-scale aquaculture activities as a means of preserving natural stocks, improving the incomes of vulnerable fishermen and increasing sustainable food production.
- “ENACTING SDG 6 - Strengthening the capacities of Gabes water operators” project, in partnership with MM Spa, the Municipality of Milan, the Municipality of Gabes, SONEDE, the association UTSS and funded by the European Union WOP program (Water Operators Partnerships). The 3-year project aims to improve the operational, financial, social and environmental capacity and performance of the water operators in Gabes, in southern Tunisia. Through a series of trainings aimed at strengthening the skills of the Tunisian partners, the project intends to achieve a more efficient management of the water supply system (focusing on water losses) as well as increase the capacity to reduce water stress in the urban area and awareness on the water consumption of local communities.
Areas of work
- Education: strengthening the teachers' skills and the psycho-social support of pupils
- Environment and Energy: in particular managing the natural resources, renewable energy, sustainable fishing and agriculture
- Professional training and job creation: working in support of formal and informal SMEs in the craft, tourism and agro-food sectors. The main target are women, unemployed young people and migrants
- Sustainables cities and communities: promoting bilateral cooperation between Italian and Tunisian cities
- Migration: through the socio-economic reintegration of returning migrants, the training of sub-Saharan migrants in transit and the prevention of illegal migration.
