By: Mohamed BenFredj (YES 2017-2018, Tunisia, hosted by AYA in Philippi, WV) and Elaa Jemazi (YES 2014-2015, Tunisia, hosted by AYA in Pasadena, TX)

Do you have ideas that you feel passionate about but don’t know where to start?  Have you ever wanted to write a project proposal but found yourself lacking the necessary skill to do so? Or maybe you helped organize an event but had trouble reporting it or posting about it on social media? 

Well, you're not alone. Twelve Tunisian YES alumni had those challenges so to help develop their writing skills they all took part in the Professional Writing Workshop (PWW) last Saturday, August 4th, at AMIDEAST Tunis. It was led and conducted by Rachel Markowitz, the senior YES program officer at AMIDEAST headquarters.

The 12 alumni from six different cohorts gathered at AMIDEAST Tunis, and though they were all accustomed to the space, some of them were meeting for the first time. This called for an ice-breaker at the beginning of the workshop that lightened the mood of the session. Then, they each introduced themselves. Once that basic sense of acquaintanceship had been set, Rachel started by setting some general professional writing tips and guidelines. She explained she wouldn't be setting writing "rules", only tips aimed at putting the participants on the right track.

The workshop consisted of three sessions which centered around three main topics: proposal writing, report writing, and social media and advocacy. Each individual session started with Rachel breaking down the main topic into its smaller components and introducing the participants to some basic do’s and don’ts that would prove useful in the future. She later started a discussion about some real life examples like the YES Alumni Grants Competition’s proposal or the YESDP (YES sports for development and peace) workshop’s report. After each section of the PWW, Rachel suggested a short activity that would help the Alumni use what they had just learned in writing something of their own. The group shared their writing, praised and highlighted the good parts, and discussed and improved the weaker parts. This collaboration was complemented with delicious all-American treats, courtesy of Rachel herself, which was our favorite part of the workshop.

Overall, the casual settings of the sessions as well as the enriching collaborations and enthusiastic discussions of the group made for a successful workshop. Not only did the participating alumni leave with a better understanding of professional writing, but they also gained confidence in their potential to turn their ideas into reality. According to some of the participants this workshop was a fun educational opportunity that helped them learn more about one of the most important skills of their careers.