Pupils gather in the playground of the Makhtar boarding school before returning to class on September 29, 2022, in the Tunisian central-west region of the same name. - The Makthar boarding school, a unique business initiative is both generating income and opening pupils' minds to the outside world. Lotfi Hamadi, founder of the NGO "Wallah (Swear to God) We Can", is hoping that helping schools boost their resources through food and energy production can breathe new life into Tunisia's failing, cash-strapped education system. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
Pupils gather in the playground of the Makhtar boarding school before returning to class on September 29, 2022, in the Tunisian central-west region of the same name. - The Makthar boarding school, a unique business initiative is both generating income and opening pupils' minds to the outside world. Lotfi Hamadi, founder of the NGO "Wallah (Swear to God) We Can", is hoping that helping schools boost their resources through food and energy production can breathe new life into Tunisia's failing, cash-strapped education system. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
Entrepreneur Lotfi Hamadi (left), 46, founder of the 'Wallah [Swear to God] We Can' non-profit group set his sights on the school, south-west of the capital and close to his parents' hometown of Kesra. 'I wanted to take what works in the business world and turn schools into social enterprises,' said Hamadi. 'We are not trying to fill the gap left by the education system but to compensate them a bit, teach them to learn, give them the curiosity to open up to the world.'
Entrepreneur Lotfi Hamadi (left), 46, founder of the 'Wallah [Swear to God] We Can' non-profit group set his sights on the school, south-west of the capital and close to his parents' hometown of Kesra. 'I wanted to take what works in the business world and turn schools into social enterprises,' said Hamadi. 'We are not trying to fill the gap left by the education system but to compensate them a bit, teach them to learn, give them the curiosity to open up to the world.'
Mr Hamadi started a decade ago by gathering donations to buy 50 solar water heaters and 140 photovoltaic panels that produce four times the power consumed on site. By selling a third of the surplus back to the national power company, the school could pay back money owed to utilities and fund site improvements and extracurricular activities. The remaining extra power is distributed for free to three other nearby schools.
Mr Hamadi started a decade ago by gathering donations to buy 50 solar water heaters and 140 photovoltaic panels that produce four times the power consumed on site. By selling a third of the surplus back to the national power company, the school could pay back money owed to utilities and fund site improvements and extracurricular activities. The remaining extra power is distributed for free to three other nearby schools.
Last year, Mr Hamadi's group launched Kidchen, a farmers' co-operative that grows vegetables on about eight hectares of nearby land.
Last year, Mr Hamadi's group launched Kidchen, a farmers' co-operative that grows vegetables on about eight hectares of nearby land.
While some produce goes to the school canteen, 90 per cent has been sold since this summer, with the profits helping to pay for school activities. Kidchen is staffed by six school parents, formerly unemployed, and an agricultural engineer, who receive stable incomes and a share of the equity and dividends.
While some produce goes to the school canteen, 90 per cent has been sold since this summer, with the profits helping to pay for school activities. Kidchen is staffed by six school parents, formerly unemployed, and an agricultural engineer, who receive stable incomes and a share of the equity and dividends.
Mr Hamadi said better schooling is urgently needed in the country, which has endured years of political instability and economic woes since the revolution. The situation now is a far cry from the era of Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia's first president after independence from France in 1956, who strongly promoted primary education.
Mr Hamadi said better schooling is urgently needed in the country, which has endured years of political instability and economic woes since the revolution. The situation now is a far cry from the era of Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia's first president after independence from France in 1956, who strongly promoted primary education.
Initially the Arab uprisings inspired hope of greater social and economic rights, but today '75 per cent of pupils leave primary school without being able to write two sentences', Mr Hamadi said. 'The education system has been suffering since the revolution ... because every government has caved in to pressure from the unions.'
Initially the Arab uprisings inspired hope of greater social and economic rights, but today '75 per cent of pupils leave primary school without being able to write two sentences', Mr Hamadi said. 'The education system has been suffering since the revolution ... because every government has caved in to pressure from the unions.'
As a result, more than 95 per cent of the ministry's budget goes to paying staff salaries, leaving little for maintenance, schoolbooks and teacher training. About 100,000 pupils drop out of the Tunisian school system every year, and many parents, worried about low academic standards in state schools, opt for expensive private tuition.
As a result, more than 95 per cent of the ministry's budget goes to paying staff salaries, leaving little for maintenance, schoolbooks and teacher training. About 100,000 pupils drop out of the Tunisian school system every year, and many parents, worried about low academic standards in state schools, opt for expensive private tuition.
Chayeb, the chief farmer, said the Makthar model had helped his family and given his children better school meals and activities ranging from business skills and foreign languages to robotics and drama. 'Before, I was a seasonal worker on five or six-month contracts, always somewhere different,' he said. 'Now I work near where I live.'
Chayeb, the chief farmer, said the Makthar model had helped his family and given his children better school meals and activities ranging from business skills and foreign languages to robotics and drama. 'Before, I was a seasonal worker on five or six-month contracts, always somewhere different,' he said. 'Now I work near where I live.'
Former pupil Chaima Rhouma, 21, is now studying law with a view to becoming a diplomat. She said the project had completely revitalised the school, replacing a garbage-strewn yard with a sports field and garden. Literature, theatre and cinema clubs had filled her with 'good vibes', she said. 'I've become more curious, I'm always looking for new things. Here you can study by having fun.'
Former pupil Chaima Rhouma, 21, is now studying law with a view to becoming a diplomat. She said the project had completely revitalised the school, replacing a garbage-strewn yard with a sports field and garden. Literature, theatre and cinema clubs had filled her with 'good vibes', she said. 'I've become more curious, I'm always looking for new things. Here you can study by having fun.'
The school has gained a reputation in the region and there in high demand for places, with 80 children now on the waiting list, said its director Taher Meterfi. Meanwhile, Mr Hamadi is forging ahead with his next project — a largely organic 40ha farm project to supply the city's 23 schools with energy and food for about 3,500 pupils.
The school has gained a reputation in the region and there in high demand for places, with 80 children now on the waiting list, said its director Taher Meterfi. Meanwhile, Mr Hamadi is forging ahead with his next project — a largely organic 40ha farm project to supply the city's 23 schools with energy and food for about 3,500 pupils.

MENA

Solar power and farming revive Tunisia school as social enterprise - in pictures

An innovative project has allows one college to become self-sustaining by generating its own solar power and growing its own food

The National

November 04, 2022

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We Weren’t Supposed to Survive But We Did

We weren’t supposed to survive but we did.      
We weren’t supposed to remember but we did.              
We weren’t supposed to write but we did.  
We weren’t supposed to fight but we did.              
We weren’t supposed to organise but we did.
We weren’t supposed to rap but we did.        
We weren’t supposed to find allies but we did.
We weren’t supposed to grow communities but we did.        
We weren’t supposed to return but WE ARE.
Amira Sakalla

WHAT%20IS%20'JUICE%20JACKING'%3F
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Juice%20jacking%2C%20in%20the%20simplest%20terms%2C%20is%20using%20a%20rogue%20USB%20cable%20to%20access%20a%20device%20and%20compromise%20its%20contents%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20exploit%20is%20taken%20advantage%20of%20by%20the%20fact%20that%20the%20data%20stream%20and%20power%20supply%20pass%20through%20the%20same%20cable.%20The%20most%20common%20example%20is%20connecting%20a%20smartphone%20to%20a%20PC%20to%20both%20transfer%20data%20and%20charge%20the%20former%20at%20the%20same%20time%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20term%20was%20first%20coined%20in%202011%20after%20researchers%20created%20a%20compromised%20charging%20kiosk%20to%20bring%20awareness%20to%20the%20exploit%3B%20when%20users%20plugged%20in%20their%20devices%2C%20they%20received%20a%20security%20warning%20and%20discovered%20that%20their%20phones%20had%20paired%20to%20the%20kiosk%2C%20according%20to%20US%20cybersecurity%20company%20Norton%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20While%20juice%20jacking%20is%20a%20real%20threat%2C%20there%20have%20been%20no%20known%20widespread%20instances.%20Apple%20and%20Google%20have%20also%20added%20security%20layers%20to%20prevent%20this%20on%20the%20iOS%20and%20Android%20devices%2C%20respectively%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

MATCH INFO

AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports

Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'

Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.

Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.

"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.

"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.

"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."

Quarter-finals

Saturday (all times UAE)

England v Australia, 11.15am 
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm

Sunday

Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm

While you're here
The schedule

December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club

December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq

December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm

December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition

December 13: Falcon beauty competition

December 14 and 20: Saluki races

December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm

December 16 - 19: Falconry competition

December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am

December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am

December 22: The best herd of 30 camels

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: November 04, 2022, 10:20 AM`
PhotographyTunisiaClimate changeCop27