TUNIS — As early as 7:30 a.m., young Tunisians have already staked out the best tables at sidewalk cafes, which pop up about every 20 feet or so in the country’s bustling capital. Once there, many pass the time sipping small cups of coffee and smoking endless cigarettes, conversing with their peers or watching television. For young people in a country with a youth unemployment rate of 42.4%, other options are few.

“I have nothing to do, so I go to the café,” said Ashraf Tahouni, a young Tunisian living just outside the capital. Tahouni, who's trained in electronics, can only find occasional work through family members and friends. His situation is far from rare. As each day passes, many young Tunisians spend their time not in school or at work, but watching TV programs through the smoke from sheesha.

Hadhami Sassi, a young Tunisian woman pursuing a medical degree, shares Tahouni’s frustrations. “The surface the situation has changed [since the revolution], but the roots of the issues remain the same,” she said. “There are too many people [in the government] doing nothing. It paralyzes the system.”

With little hope for help from the government, many youths are left searching for inspiration. Layalina Productions, Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, is trying to help them find that inspiration with its latest production, “Generation Entrepreneur.” A reality show, it follows aspiring young businesspeople in high school and college as they compete to win a national entrepreneurship competition that helps start companies and pairs entrepreneurs with investors.