"Ever since I began studying tourism management, my goal has been to offer youth a sustainable and accessible way to discover the region of Jendouba.
After finishing my studies and gaining some experience in the hotel industry, I began managing the family business, Discover Youth Hostel, a youth lodge in the mountains of Ain Drahim. My first step was to add amenities to make the facility more comfortable for guests.
When COVID-19 hit, we added new sanitary measures and opened up an outdoor camping area to diversify our activities. During the crisis, we had to temporarily shut down our cafe, costing us a lot of revenue. Still, we were able to sustain our staff, using the time to renovate the hotel rooms.
I heard about the US government’s COVID-19 Recovery Grant Fund on social media. I applied, hoping to use the funds to open a new gym in our facilities that would attract new clients."
Noaamen laazizi - Director of Discovery Youth Hostel