The 1st Massari call received 103 applications from 16 governorates (Kasserine, Monastir, Kef, Djerba, Sousse, Sfax, Jendouba, Bizerte, Nabeul, Kebili, Gafsa, Médenine, Beja, Mahdia, Ben Arous and Manouba). 

Candidates were selected in two phases, according to a demanding set of criteria:

• the first phase was based on a call for applications. Applications were scored according to a grid of points awarded on the basis of criteria such as the applicant's familiarity with cultural mediation tools, creative skills, previous experience and fluency in Arabic and French.

This first stage of the selection process enabled us to reduce the number of applications from 103 to around twenty so that we could move on to the second stage. 

• the second selection phase consisted of 15-minute individual interviews with the panel of selected candidates.  

Candidates were assessed against criteria based on their communication skills, cultural awareness, interpersonal skills, motivation and commitment.

In the end, the 15 candidates selected to take part in the training course were : Saida Ben Salem, Wissal Bettaibi, Souha Dougui, Ghassen Gacem, Abir Gasmi, Ameni Ghimagi, Héla Grira (sous réserve), Feten Fellah, Hiba Himdani, Sarra Jouini, Ahmed Moumni, Mohamed Mseddi, Afef Omri, Mohamed Ali Rjibi, Cyrine Sellami.