Who are your heroes?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Adel BENZARROUK on January 17, 2012 at 5:47am

Hello,

Few days ago we have celebrated our 1st year of the revolution in Tunisia, when we have tribute our hero Mohammed Bouazizi, where His act became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring, inciting demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest of social and political issues in the country. The public's anger and violence intensified following Bouazizi's death, leading then-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down on 14 January 2011, after 23 years in power:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Bouazizi

Permalink Reply by Renee Day on January 17, 2012 at 7:22pm

Dear Adel,

Thank you for sharing your hero with us.  After reading the links you provided and recalling the events of both the Tunisian Revolution and the Arab Spring, it gives one pause when one realizes the impact that can be generated by the act of one person standing against injustice.  Change does not occur easily. It was noted in one of the articles that college-educated students have limited job opportunities. Unemployment is also an issue that high school and college graduate students have experienced in certain parts of the U.S. How has this issue been addressed in Tunisia? I teach Economics, so would like to know more, please.

Warm regards,

Renee

Permalink Reply by Adel BENZARROUK on January 18, 2012 at 3:45am

Dear Renee,

The diverse Tunisian economy hinges on tourism, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and exports to EU. The economy is based on sound market-driven economic.

About 20 percent of the Tunisian workforce is engaged in agriculture.

The mining and minerals industry (excluding oil and gas), contribute Tunisia’s GDP. The Ministry of Industry regulates the oil industry in Tunisia. 

Tourism is a significant source of revenue and foreign exchange. Tunisia’ primary trading partners are France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Maghreb countries.

Tunisia has agreed to gradually remove barriers to trade with the European Union over the next decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency, and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges for the future.

Agriculture – products: olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds

Please find the enclosed report made by the AFDB (A f r i c a n D e v e l o p m e n t B a n k) which describe really the Tunisian economy before and after the revolution.

Regards

 --Adel

Attachments:

• North Africa Quaterly Analytical Anglais ok_North Africa Quaterly Analytical.pdf, 338 KB

Permalink Reply by Renee Day on January 19, 2012 at 1:36am

Dear Adel,

I appreciate the economic report that you provided and your insightful analysis.  The changes that you mentioned above will take time, but will hopefully provide the kind of mechanisms necessary to produce economic growth and stability.  The youth bulge as noted in the report is a challenge that many communities are facing.  Even here, the youth unemployment rate has grown to 14% while the need for skilled labor in the Inland region of California grows. The 'mis-match' between the professional fields that graduates have chosen and the lack of market demand was notable.  It is not as easy for graduates here to get a job in their field as it has been in the past.  Last year, my students participated in a course on entrepreneurship and social enterprise.  Do you think that is a viable approach, or should there be more investment in vocational training in order to prepare interested students to fill the gap in skilled labor?  Perhaps a combined approach?

Sincerely,

Renee

Permalink Reply by Adel BENZARROUK on January 19, 2012 at 3:54am

Dear Renee,

In Tunisia, we are trying to boost the employment and labor market reform using many approach with the support of many institutions (UN, world bank ....).

Analyses of the legal and institutional framework of the labor market pointed to scope for improvement particularly in the regulation of work contracts, employment services for national and international placements, and open dissemination of labor market information.

The Government of Tunisia has chosen to pursue an approach that reaches across several sectors to tackle employment issues, and this approach is reflected in the Country Partnership Strategy. The different sectors which play a role in employment, (notably education/skills supply, the private sector/labor demand and the labor market and its institutions and regulations) are each addressed with separate loan instruments.

By implementing significant changes in policies and regulations governing the labor market, the program backed by the government and supported by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has so far:

• Restructured the portfolio of active labor market policies;
• Reformed operations and processes of the public employment services to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, and allow for better assistance to the more difficult cases of long-term unemployed.

The Tunisian Government invited the Bank and the European Commission (EC) to join forces to support these reforms on the basis of a shared vision over a five-year perspective. In addition, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supports the Government’s preparation of several targeted studies that inform actions under the second development policy loan.

Financial support would be granted first from the World Bank followed by the EC, including the following coordinated instruments over the next five years: reform financing through two IBRD development policy loans in 2010 and 2011 and budget support from 2012 to 2014 through the EC, which will support a common set of reforms to improve the functioning of the labor market, especially young graduates’ school-to-work transition;  technical assistance from both the Bank and the EC, which will build the capacity for employment intermediation and labor market analysis; and Bank-facilitated trust funds to pilot innovative forms of employment in social entrepreneurship.

Concluding, today the world facing many challenge since last year the EU touched by the crisis deeply and may some contacts will change or could be reformed, but at the end what I see is these development countries such as Tunisia depends of many facts which impact their economy and reflect on unemployment of skilled labors.

Since many years the Tunisian government try to help such categories of skilled and education youth by providing them some small loan to start their own project, but the challenge of the transition from school-to-work, how was approached and is it fruitful or not,because what we see today many graduated youth did not win and they lose their projects because of no assistance no education of "how to open a new project", and what kind of business which feet the local needs...

In Tunisia, we don't believe yet in business plan and the keys of successful projects, even today in Tunisia we did not yet realize that MBA exist and must be required in some key position.

Hope the above information helpful.

Regards

 --Adel

Permalink Reply by Laura Modahl on February 2, 2012 at 6:44pm

Buddha is my hero. There is so much understanding and peace to be experienced in this world, and the path I find with Buddhism is a way to claim these for myself. 

"It is better to travel well than to arrive" -Buddha

Permalink Reply by Renee Day on February 3, 2012 at 11:32pm

Hi Laura,

Thank you for sharing your hero with us.  I admire the depth of meaning in the quote and in your reflection.  The photo expresses it all. So beautiful!

Warm regards,

Renee

Permalink Reply by Laura Modahl on February 7, 2012 at 8:51pm

Thank you, Renee, for your kind comments. I like the stacks of rocks I find from time to time that people have made.  The balance and beauty seen in them, is a visual source for meditation.  I found the photo from a search on the internet. 

Best,

Laura

Permalink Reply by Frank Palatnick on February 13, 2012 at 4:32pm

Socrates is my hero. My philosophy is that of a interrogative individual. The best way we can learn from one another is by questioning. In fact, a question is the most powerful wording in any language. Understanding one another through the mode of a question, if done properly and empathetically, could lead to a lasting peace. I am a semi-retired uN Advisor in Education. My avenue of approach to improve education around the world is by formulas, theories and practica based on Socratic thinking. A students mind is full of impressive ideas that, if grown to fruition, can positively alter the world. Questioning the student as well as motivating the student to question, will help that student to benefitting the world. Elie Weisel's mother asked him, when he was going to school, " Did you ask your teacher many questions? "

Permalink Reply by Renee Day on February 21, 2012 at 4:37am

Dear Frank,

I enjoyed reading your post about your hero, Socrates.  If every educator, parent, and policy maker could remember your statement, "A student's mind is full of impressive ideas that, if grown to fruition, can positively alter the word," then perhaps the true purpose of education could be fulfilled. Thank you for sharing your hero with us.

Warm regards,

Renee

Permalink Reply by Frank Palatnick on February 21, 2012 at 1:02pm

Ms. Day:

Thank you very much for your kind remarks. That is my purpose as both a critically thinking individual and a past UN Advisor. To show you how successful that approach is, did you notice that originally you found one of my remarks unwarranted until you asked me to further explain myself, to which you understood better. As Elie Weisel's mother told her son. " Did you question your teacher today?".

Permalink Reply by Megan (Team Member) on February 20, 2012 at 4:28am

    One of my all-time heroes is Paul Rusesabagina. During my high school years, I had the distinct honor and pleasure of being among a select group of 20 students who had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Rusesabagina and discuss with him the horrors of the Rwandan genocide. This short two-hour session was the most memorable and meaningful experience I had during my high school years.

    In 1994, Rwanda erupted into a tribal civil war between the dominant Hutus and their Tutsi countrymen. Long-simmering tensions boiled over when the Rwandan president, a Hutu, was assassinated. Blaming their president’s death on them, Hutu extremists began a 100-day reign of terror aimed at the mass extermination of Tutsis. Governmental authority and the veneer of peace quickly deteriorated and the country erupted in civil conflict.

    Mr. Rusesabagina, a member of the Hutu tribe, was married to a Tutsi. Upon learning of the president’s death, he knew that his family was in grave danger, as his children were considered mixed-blood. He then discreetly relocated his immediate family to the relative safety of the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali and become the active general manager after its other European managers had abandoned it. He used his position to become the protector of all of the hotel guests and the ever-increasing number of orphans and refugees seeking asylum from outside the hotel walls. Using his considerable charisma, diplomatic talent, and remarkable ability to trade the hotel’s ever-diminishing supplies and funds, Mr. Rusesabagina was able to deter a number of machete-yielding Hutu death squads from harming those under his protection.

    Despite his persuasive talents and efforts to seek intervention and assistance from international aid organizations, political leaders, heads of state, and personal contacts, none took any substantive measures to help. Even the small contingent of United Nations peacekeepers was removed along with the last of the Europeans. With their departure, Mr. Rusesabagina realized there would be no outside intervention and that the survival of these individuals depended solely upon him. Refusing to surrender to fear and despair, Mr. Rusesabagina managed to stave off corrupt Hutu militias until the Rwandan Patriotic Front came to their rescue. Mr. Rusesabagina, his family, and over 1,200 hotel refugees were then led to safety. 

    In sharing his experience, Mr. Rusesabagina revealed he was more than a hero, survivor, and witness to history—he also was a harbinger of change and a catalyst for greater global awareness of the suffering of our fellow man. His valiant efforts and selfless determination demonstrated the difference one person could make. Following Mr. Rusesabagina’s example, I hope to similarly demonstrate unequivocal courage and integrity in making decisions throughout life, placing primary importance on fairness, justice, and altruism. Finally, as Mr. Rusesabagina did, I endeavor to exhibit strength of character and dedication in the pursuit and achievement of my goals.

 

--> Learn more about Paul Rusesabagina here!

 

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