End of course 3: GRADUATION

After 5 Months of Computer training, the Zanzibits class of 2008 finally had their first graduation day, on Wednesday the 3rd September 2008. This was the end of course 3, so the students were expected to present their work. This consisted of 2 websites they have made, over the past 2 months. One about their own Neighbourhood and one about culture in general.

Apart from the following the Zanzibits curriculum, as you may have read in the blog before, the students also have had the chance of going to different Zanzibar area’s, like the Zanzibar Butterfly Farm, the Zanzibar Fire Brigade and a Stone Town tour. They were also trained on different social educations, like HIV/AIDS, First Aid, drug abuse, culture, respect, and much, much more.

At 10:00 am on Wednesday, Mr. Hashil Elhamdan, our MC, welcomed the guest of honour, Dr. Hamed Hikmany, Former director of Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA), the students and their parents. He gave a brief introduction of Zanzibits, its staff and its members. Too bad Guy was not allowed to be there (he is in application for his residence permit), but his video message was loud and clear: good job, kids, but there is still a lot to learn, for the ones going on to course four, so get ready to really start rocking.

Then the students did their presentations of their neighbourhood and their culture projects. The Neighbourhood basically defines where they come from and the culture defines the different cultures of Zanzibar, of which they were free to choose an aspect.

Below are links to their work

Aboubakar Nassor
Personal Profile: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/aboubakar/

Ahmad Mohammed
Culture Project: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/ahmad/culture/
Neighbourhood: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/ahmad/neighbourhood/

Ali Haroun
Personal Profile: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/ali/

Jaffar Mwadini
Personal Profile: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/jaffar/

Fatma Hassan
Culture Project: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/fatma/culture/
Neighbourhood: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/fatma/neighbourhood/

Mbarak Ali
Personal Profile: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/mbarak/

Mohammed Juma
Personal Profile: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/mohammed/

Nih-Fadhi Khamis
Personal Profile: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/nih-fadhi/

Saada Haji
Culture Project: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/saada/culture/
Neighbourhood: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/saada/neighbourhood/

Saidi Suleiman
Personal Profile: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/said/

Salama Haji
Personal Profile: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/salama/

Shaibu Othman
Personal Profile: http://www.zanzibits.com/students/shaibu/

Students were awarded their 3 certificates (Course 1, 2 and 3) by Dr. Hamed Hikmany, who gave a talk about why and how Zanzibits is important to Zanzibar and also advised the students on the importance of speaking English, because that is the official language of communication in the world of today…

Thank you, Dr. Hikmany! Karibu tena.

Because it is the month of Ramadan, and most of the population of Zanzibar is Muslim, the least we could do was end the graduation ceremony as early as we could (12:00pm), for which all students were grateful, of course.

We believe that it was a great day, and some few students had their comments also...

“Graduation was good”

“I was happy that I got my certificates and I thank the people who came including the guest of honour”

“I was happy that I got all my certificates and it was great opportunity to present my work to everyone’

“Enjoyed everything that happened but I needed more snacks”