“I rejoiced, like other young Tunisians during the Jasmine Revolution, but I never imagined losing my only means of survival and turning overnight from a waiter at an inn into a peddler selling religious books, cooking magazines, comics, and perfumes,” says 34-year-old Ahmad.

“I rejoiced, like other young Tunisians during the Jasmine Revolution, but I never imagined losing my only means of survival and turning overnight from a waiter at an inn into a peddler selling religious books, cooking magazines, comics, and perfumes,” says 34-year-old Ahmad. “I know that I am not the only one who has lost his job due to the difficulties experienced by the tourism sector and I am sure that it will be a fleeting crisis, but my wife and little girl became accustomed to a luxurious way of living, which I do not think I will be able to maintain with my current job.”

After earning a degree in German language and failing to get a teaching job as a secondary school teacher, Ahmad went into the field of tourism, which has suffered greatly since the 2011 revolution.  Tourism, which makes up seven per cent of Tunisia’s overall GDP, fell by almost a third since the uprisings that toppled Ben Ali, leaving a gaping security gap and instability and keeping tourists away.

 “In addition to my good salary, I used to gain generous tips from tourists,” Ahmad remembers of better times. Shortly after the revolution two years ago, however, there were frequent strikes, insecurity, and numerous crimes of all types.

“Some people’s efforts to incite riots have had negative impacts on tourism and changed the image of our country in the eyes of foreign tourists who now refrain from coming to Tunisia out of their fear for their safety,” says Ahmad.

These factors, as well as others, have made many tourist establishments unable to face the financial crisis, and also caused Ahmad and many others lose their jobs. A year after the revolution, nearly a third of the unemployed had lost their jobs since after the uprisings.

Ahmad found that selling magazines and books on the street needed neither much money nor a license; just a table and some books and perfumes. “Steely determination is all that I need, in order to set off every morning to the street, carrying my tools in order to earn my living with my own efforts, and not to see tears in my wife’s eyes, or to feel, even for a moment, that I am neglectful of my duty towards my small family,” Ahmad says.

Given his new conditions, Ahmad reconsidered teaching German. “I submitted a new application to the Education Directorate, hoping to make my dream come true,” he explains.

Ahmad attempted to give it another shot since recruitment standards after the revolution changed and it was said that favoritism and bribery were no longer in place as in the former regime.

Unfortunately, Ahmad did not get a positive response, and did not perceive any significant change from the past. Therefore, he irrevocably decided to sell religious books until the situation changed. “Either the situation in Tunisia improves and I go back to my work in the tourism sector or I succeed in making my dream of teaching at an institute come true even if in a remote area,” he stressed.

“I did not choose this job on my own; it was destiny which imposed it on me. This is just a test from God,” Ahmad concluded.

Ranging between optimism and pessimism, Ahmad keeps on selling books on the street and showcasing his goods, waiting patiently for customers in order to earn money and make his family happy and hoping that the present conditions change.