Legend has it that Chaanbi Mountain, the highest in Tunisia, was named after an adventurer who went there to search for treasure, following his dreams. He repeatedly dug a hole but couldn’t find the treasure and instead planted a pine tree in each hole, giving rise to the area’s name Chaanbi (‘Pine’) Mountain.

Legend has it that Chaanbi Mountain, the highest in Tunisia, was named after an adventurer who went there to search for treasure, following his dreams. He repeatedly dug a hole but couldn’t find the treasure and instead planted a pine tree in each hole, giving rise to the area’s name Chaanbi (‘Pine’) Mountain.

Those living in Kasserine (200 km west of Tunis) don’t believe this legend, but they often say they inherited their dreams and sense of adventure from Chaanbi. Armed with that determination, some young locals launched the first radio in the area, naming it after their mountain, Chaanbi.

Starting small scale, with only one computer and server, the station after just a few months broadcasts for more than 17 hours a day, covering all the cities of Kasserine Governorate, and some nearby villages in El Kef, Kairouan and Gafsa.

Obstacles have been numerous. But poor financial and technical resources as well as difficult work conditions haven’t prevented them from realizing their dream. “The start was very difficult and troubled, but we were determined to succeed,” says Hammam Talili, a technician at the radio station. “Our Station lacks most basic supplies; the technical team has to stop transmission during thunder storms because there is no lightning arrester to protect staff, the station and nearby houses.”

Despite all that, he explains, they have already won the support of their mostly poor audience. Their radio has become the most popular station among locals and nearby villages. Hammam adds that young staff faces a daily struggle to overcome technical difficulties and poor resources. “In spite of everything”, says Hammam, “we are the best now. When we started a few months ago, we had one computer and only server.”

Hammam adds that it was staffers who installed transmission studios without expert help, which has caused lasting challenges as the sound inside the studio is heard outside.

The kindness of strangers

Gifts and support from the community have underpinned the station’s success. “The newsroom has no computer and journalists’ tables have been donated by people,” says Zakia Jaddi, a journalist at the Station News Department.

Every day, Zakia moves from the center of Kasserine to the Station to present the ‘We the Children’ program.  He volunteers, like the rest of the staff, until financial resources are available.

She regrets that they lack access to real-time news sources. Unlike other news organisations they are not subscribed to Agence Tunis Afrique Press. Reporters also have difficulties getting to sites of events.

“We try to be unique”, says Zakia, “by talking about the concerns of people here in Kasserine and nearby villages. Some people, however, refuse to talk in the microphone due to fear or ignorance since it is the first time they face one.”

Thurraya Qassemi, a News Department journalist who joined the station two months ago after she completed her journalism degree, outlines a range of problems. “The station lacks basic resources, but that doesn’t prevent us from persevering in order to communicate the demands of ordinary citizens to competent authorities,” she says. “As a staff, we are greatly respected and appreciated and all our journalists have become well known. People treat us in a special way and help us even though we pay them nothing. They know we are volunteers ourselves.”

The revolutionary dream

Station Director Chazli Talili says the station grew out of Kasserine’s citizens’ dreams. Sons of locals gave their own blood for causes like dignity and employment. We are here to communicate their voice and introduce the culture stock, Talili.

As the revolution unfolded in Kasserine, he says the media failed to report killings. Instead, Watania TV was broadcast a football match while blood was shed in Kasserine. A total of 22 people from Kasserine died during the uprising.

“After establishing radio stations in nearby areas – El Kef and Gafsa – Kasserine people felt ignored and forgotten,” says Talili, stressing that Chaanbi Station represents a triumph over dictatorship and realization of a long-awaited dream.

Talili, a journalist from Kasserine, says that his station aims to air citizens’ problems and seek solutions, breaking with decades of exclusion and marginalization.

He says the media “has been repeating itself since the Revolution. The establishment of Chaanbi Station opens new horizons — it cares about citizens’ problems.”

Kasserine residents see the station as a great achievement. They are even counting on it to help change their lives for the better. “We hope that the station realizes the desired goals and hopes of the area people”, says student Imad Hakki.

Hatem Jbari, a taxi driver, says it is a remarkable achievement to establish a community radio in the area is a remarkable achievement, adding that Kasserine deserves a radio channel that communicates citizens’ concerns to authorities.

Thurraya Qassemi, a News Department journalist who joined the station two months ago after she completed her journalism degree, outlines a range of problems. “The station lacks basic resources, but that doesn’t prevent us from persevering in order to communicate the demands of ordinary citizens to competent authorities,” she says. “As a staff, we are greatly respected and appreciated and all our journalists have become well known. People treat us in a special way and help us even though we pay them nothing. They know we are volunteers ourselves.”

The revolutionary dream

Station Director Chazli Talili says the station grew out of Kasserine’s citizens’ dreams. Sons of locals gave their own blood for causes like dignity and employment. We are here to communicate their voice and introduce the culture stock, Talili.

As the revolution unfolded in Kasserine, he says the media failed to report killings. Instead, Watania TV was broadcast a football match while blood was shed in Kasserine. A total of 22 people from Kasserine died during the uprising.

“After establishing radio stations in nearby areas – El Kef and Gafsa – Kasserine people felt ignored and forgotten,” says Talili, stressing that Chaanbi Station represents a triumph over dictatorship and realization of a long-awaited dream.

Talili, a journalist from Kasserine, says that his station aims to air citizens’ problems and seek solutions, breaking with decades of exclusion and marginalization.

He says the media “has been repeating itself since the Revolution. The establishment of Chaanbi Station opens new horizons — it cares about citizens’ problems.”

Kasserine residents see the station as a great achievement. They are even counting on it to help change their lives for the better. “We hope that the station realizes the desired goals and hopes of the area people”, says student Imad Hakki.

Hatem Jbari, a taxi driver, says it is a remarkable achievement to establish a community radio in the area is a remarkable achievement, adding that Kasserine deserves a radio channel that communicates citizens’ concerns to authorities.