Category: Tunisia

Photo Blog: IFDS in Tunisia

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful country of Tunisia in June as part a faculty member participating in the international faculty professional development (IFDS) seminar titled: “The New Tunisia: Migration and Democratic Consolidation” organized by SIT abroad. My participation in the seminar was sponsored by an IFDS grant awarded to faculty members at The University of Tampa by the Office of International Programs and the International Programs Committee. I was honored to received this grant. Participation in this seminar gave me the opportunity to learn more about topics related migration in the African continent, specifically the Maghreb region. Several of our meetings with experts and NGOs focused on conversations that allow use to learn more about the social, political, and economic effects of migration in the Maghreb region, sub-Saharan Africa, and European countries. I plan to write more about the seminar in the near future; however, for now I want to share some of the photos taken during the seminar.

One of the many reasons I am sharing this photo blog is that in the months prior to my departure to Tunisia, I mentioned to a few colleagues, friends, and family members the destination of my IFDS. I was amazed by the number of people who do not know where Tunisia is located or that it even a country. So, I feel that it is important to let others see (even if just through the lens of my camera) a bit of Tunisia.

Seaside City of Mahdia
Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said
Seminar participants
Meeting with FTDES
Minarets
Language learning
Tunisian dish
Tunisian Parliament
Delicious bread dips
Sidi Bou Said
La Medina de Tunis
To Sidi Bou Said
Visit with Euro-Med
33,293 migrant deaths
Seaside City of Mahdia
La Medina de Kairouan
Sidi Bou Said
Holy City of Kairouan
La Medina de Tunis
Seafood
La Medina de Tunis
Coca-Cola
Downtown Tunis
Seaside City of Mahdia
Downtown Tunis
Sidi Bou Said
Visit with Euro-Med
Seaside City of Mahdia
Postal service
Downtown Tunis
Tunisian Parliament
La Medina de Kairouan
La Median de Kairouan
Tunisian Parliament
Seaside City of Mahdia
Sidi Bou Said
Seaside City of Mahdia
Tunisian dish
Tunisian Parliament
Carthage
Language learning
La Medina de Kairouan
Tunisian Parliament
Tunisian dish
Carthage
Dr. Dario Cristiani

Tunisian NGOs and Resources

It is well past my bed time here in Tunisia, but I wanted to put together a list with the links to the organizations that we have interacted with or have been mentioned as part of the international faculty development seminar in which I am participating. The title of the seminar is: “The New Tunisia: Migration and Democratic Consolidation.” Over the last three days, we have talked to several experts on the topic and we have visited several NGOs. Below I am sharing the links to the organizations  and also other resources mentioned during the seminar. I will update this blog post at the end of the seminar in case there are other links or additional resources.

NGOs

  1. EuroMed Rights – TunisiaThe focal point of this NGO is the rights (social and economic) of migrants and refugees in Tunisia.
  2. Forum Tunisien pour les Droits Economiques et Sociaux (FTDES)
    • The aim of this NGO is to defend economic and social rights at the national and international levels. FTDES works on labor law, women’s rights, environmental rights, and migrants rights.
  3. Terre d’Asile TunisiaThe focus of this NGO is to provide guidance and support to non-Tunisian migrants.
  4. AMALThe focus of this NGO is to empower Tunisian mothers by providing accommodation, legal advice and vocational training to unmarried mothers [News Article]

Resources

  1. Maghrib Past and Present PodcastThis podcast is a forum in which artists, writers, and scholars from North Africa, the United States, and beyond can present their ongoing and innovative research on and cultural activities in the Maghrib. The podcasts are recorded at research centers, universities, and cultural venues across the Maghrib (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania).
  2. “The Cemetery of the Unknown” in Tunisia:
    • Rahma Ben Mansour recommended that we learn more about this place. She discussed how issues related to migration are sometimes dealt with by local communities. This cemetery and the burial of many migrants is one example.

Music

One of my colleagues in the program mentioned these great pieces of Jazz. Although they are not from Tunisia, I thought it would be good to share them in the blog.