HELP LAUNCH THE 1ST CENTER OF IT'S KIND IN NORTH AFRICA.

Imagine:

...an 8000 square foot center for CHILDREN, CREATIVES, and INNOVATORS that is housed in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage site, a mere several hundred yards from the Mediterranean coast. A center that is a launchpad for dreams, innovation, and mentorship while home a gorgeous contemporary art gallery & co-working space.

After years of work and investing our own family's time and money, we are ONLY $80,000 away from making imagination a reality. Can you help?

Let me rewind...

OUR STORY:

Our family is a small and determined circle of three: a mom, a dad, and an 18 month old bundle of life called Sirat. We've been fortunate to work on social impact initiatives across the globe, while being inspired by the daily acts of courage and resiliency we witness. We have also been heartbroken by every trip back to Tunisia, and the stories we hear of another young man or woman who has left on a refugee boat north or to fight in Syria.

Tunisia's Beauty Is Real: 

The potential of creativity and innovation within Tunisian youth is amazing: 

• There is a 96% Youth Literacy Rate.
• Nearly 100% of the nation is bilingual, with 1/2 of Tunisia trilingual.
• 50% of the country is under the age of 35.
• Enrollment in higher education has DOUBLED in the last 3 years.

The Needs of Tunisia Are Real As Well: 

• Youth unemployment is nearly 40%.
• From Tunisian and Libya, over 176,000 refugees attempt to cross the Mediterranean per year. 
  
• 3000+ Tunisian youth have gone to fight in Syria, more than any other country in the world.
• Twice the amount of Tunisians LIVE OUTSIDE the country than in the capital.
• In a recent national poll, 1 out of every 3 people said they feel hopeless about the future.
• There are nearly ZERO co-working spaces outside the capital.
• Mass tourism (responsible for 20% of the nation’s livelihood) is dead.

Yet at the core of every statistic, is a common story: one of hopelessness. 

In their own words:

Imen's Story:

Pharoan's Story:

Tawfiq's Story:

Tunisia is NOT a tragedy, it is a nation at a tipping point. 

In the last 3 months, we have placed our money where our heart is. We believe in the power of art and entrepreneurship to transform problems into possibility. Through savings and family contributions, we have invested nearly $100,000 in money & time to launch a center for art and innovation in the 3rd largest city of Tunisia. 

It is now time to begin architectural renovations to make this vision come alive. We cannot do it alone. We are asking for your help, so dreams are not delayed but accelerated.

ENTER THE NEW MEDINA: A Center Like No Other 

The New Medina is a plan for kickstarting hope, possibility, and wellbeing by launching an 8000 square foot center for youth, creatives, and entrepreneurs to cultivate a solution driven culture. Each of the programs will be housed inside a 3 story building we are renovating that was once the olive mill of the old city (until being bombed during World War II). After the bombing Italian architects rebuilt each room with an original and unique mosaic tile floor, which will be kept intact!

Below are the renovation sketches, each one completed by our locally based Tunisian architect who specializes in Old City Restoration and Preservation.

The Entrance! 

The CoWorking Space.

Once renovated, the New Medina will house a co-working space that invites, mentors, and incubates young entrepreneurs in their dream-to-launch process. 

The Little Dreamer's Lab.

There are nearly zero programs for the children of the Old Medina, or those who like to play there. The Little Dreamers lab will curate and create monthly programs that inspire children to laugh, nurture parent's in their development, and cultivate healthier families. 

The Gallery for Contemporary Art.

The Contemporary Art Gallery will be the first gallery housed in the Medina of Sousse, and one of the few in the entire region. It will serve as a display window for emerging and established artists to showcase their gifts with the world, providing visibility and clients.

DAR SIRAT.

Our daughter's name is Sirat, Arabic for the bridge between this world and the next. We named her that because she is a bridge between our love, as well as between lives. DAR SIRAT is named for the same reason: it will be 6 Suites inside The New Medina (each family friendly) that can house innovators, scholars, artists, and investors inside Tunisia as part of our global connection series. 

OUR PARTNERS:

A core part of our strategy is to create a pipeline for mentors and innovators across the world to come INTO Tunisia and mentor young entrepreneurs, children, and educators in future economies. A sample of the individuals who have expressed a willingness to mentor, and the companies their expertise is housed:

MEET THE FOUNDERS