They Came Back: Season Trailer

Word on the street is that Tunisians are leaving. It is estimated that about 100,000 Tunisians leave their country each year. The Tunisian Ministry of Social affairs holds a lot of data on their citizens who make their way abroad and they say that the main factor for leaving is the search for better employment and better living opportunities. One piece of data really jumped out at me. 39,000 engineers and 3000 doctors have left in search of greener pastures. I personally know 5 Tunisians who have left since I came to the country in 2018.

Taken on its own, these figures paint a discouraging picture for the future of Tunisia. The term brain drain has been used to describe the flow of talent from economically challenged countries to those who promise a more comfortable life. Logically the effect would be gaps in the health care and loss of innovation that could create jobs for the country and add to its progress.

As I began this project back in 2020, I began to hear of and interview Tunisians who were stepping up to the challenge and breaking the mold. They were using their ideas, energy and talents to create a positive impact for the future of their country. The question began to form in my mind…why did they come back?

The episodes in this season focus on Tunisians who had that opportunity to study, work and live abroad. But through various circumstances, they are investing into their country and the future of Tunisia. Their reasons are different but in the end….They Came Back.