Charity Dinner

TunisAid kick-off event

The stage has been set, scenes have been cast, the players are all in place, and the project story is ready to unfold. It is important to have a meeting that is well-organized, informative and motivational—something that addresses priorities, nurtures teamwork and generally rallies the troops.

The TunisAid kickoff meeting was the greatest opportunity to set the tone for the entire project. The main purpose was to establish an atmosphere of communication, transparency, preparation and momentum building.

As during the month of May 2019, Muslims around the world were observing Ramadan. Each evening they break their fast in a ceremony known as Iftar.  Therefore, TunisAid team have chosen to hold its first kick-off meeting, on Saturday, 18th May 2019, by organizing an Iftar event to bring the community together in a celebration of food, love, and friendship, and it was attended by people from faiths and background to share beautiful moments of peace.

After breaking the fast, Khaled Kombas, the current chair of TunisAid association started the meeting with a welcome word and a familiarisation session, in which he gave an overview of the association, its members and its background. Afterward, he explained the TunisAid goals, the projects we are currently working on, the expected goals and deliverables, and the vision for why these upcoming project matters. Likewise, he went over the general approach and activities that the association is focusing on so that everyone gets an insight into how our mission will unfold.

Once finished, the team held a question and answer session where all attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions and get clarity. The purpose was to allow people to voice specific doubts or concerns they have as our mission begins.

The project kickoff meeting gave the members and the attendees a chance to know each other, understand project vision, and it set a tone for success. It was more about getting everyone on the same page, giving clear directions for next steps and generating energy and enthusiasm, which will help us complete our projects more efficiently.
Getting the project team members, the community present and partners excited to begin will serve us well as the project moves away from being an idea to being a working project with schedules and challenges. Shared perceptions and a common vision will serve us well for the long haul.