2011-2012 YES alumna Hamida Jridi presents on association building at the alumni training. 

On April 19, 30 YES alumni attended a two-day training in Sousse that targeted the development of leadership skills, team building and project planning. The training’s main goals were to engage the  alumni in community service projects and create an official YES Alumni Association.

The first day of the training started with opening remarks given by AMIDEAST’s Country Director on the importance of being actively engaged in the community, especially after finishing the YES program. This was followed by presentations on project ideas for future events. The projects ranged from reading campaigns to English summer courses for underserved communities in remote areas. The alumni were very enthusiastic about these initiatives, and suggested ways to expand upon them.

The next day, alumni participated in a Skype call with Reem Sharha, the YES alumni coordinator in Palestine, to learn more about the experience of the YES community there, along with best practices to help the association grow. The call helped alumni get a clearer image of the structure of their future association.

Afterwards, 2011-2012 YES alumna Hamida Jridi conducted a series of workshops that focused on leadership, management, and team building. Hamida also presented on partnership, reporting, and organizing community service projects.

The alumni were fully engaged during the training, especially after talking to Christopher Littlefield, who is an American professional trainer based in Lebanon with a long experience of working with YES Alumni. Everyone left the training knowing that they needed to submit two action plans for follow-on projects that to be implemented before the end of August.