"After getting married, I moved from Monastir to the town of Sakiet Sidi Youssef, Kef, where my husband was the manager of a struggling private school. I am a lawyer by training, but I have always had a passion for teaching. I believe investing in the next generation is the most important investment we can make. As my husband could no longer manage the school, I took over – and I was full of hope!

We are the only private school in the region, so we play a crucial rôle in helping to decrease the school drop-out rate and giving a second chance to students no longer welcome at public institutions. However, as we are located far away near the Algerian border, it is difficult for us to find teachers willing to work with us. When the COVID-19 crisis began, it was even more difficult for us to keep our teachers and students, but we hung in there. I believe being optimistic can open one’s eyes to opportunities, such as the COVID-19 Enterprise Recovery Grant established by the US government through USAID Tunisia JOBS. Through this grant, I dream of creating a computer club at my school that will operate all year long, helping to equip students with the tech skills they need in the modern workplace."

Abir Ayed - CEO of Emtiyez Private School