Past JCI Vice President Slim Gomri and one of his photos
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The Ambassador of Tunisia in Washington, D.C., cordially invites JCI members to the opening of “Colors and Snapshots from Tunisia,” a photography Exhibit by Slim Gomri, 2004 JCI Vice President from Tunisia.
The opening will take place May 17, 2007, 6:00-8:00 p.m., at the Exhibit Conference Room, 1515 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. JCI members are also invited to the exhibit, May 17-26, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Through this exhibit, Gomri will promote understanding and friendship between his country, Tunisia, and the United States. “The idea behind this exhibition in Washington is to have an exchange project in partnership with the Tunisian Embassy in Washington and the America-Mideast Educational and Training Services (AMIDEAST) in Tunis,” explains Gomri.
“As a first part of the project, I will be exhibiting photography of Tunisia in Washington. The second part will be an exhibition to be organized in Tunisia, which will show my view of the US as a Tunisian,” he adds. I’m working on this second part during my four-month stay in the Unites States.
Who is Slim Gomri?
Gomri is an active JCI member, trainer and past officer. Born August 7, 1969, in Tunis, Gomri obtained a diploma in life and earth sciences and worked as a high school teacher in Tunis. He joined JCI Megrine in 1993 and was the founding member of JCI Rades in 1996.
Involved in various projects from the beginning of his JCI career, Gomri became JCI Rades President in 1996, regional JCI President in 1999, and JCI Tunisia President in 2003. He was elected 2004 JCI Vice President. As such, he was assigned to Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria. Because of his outstanding performance in 2004, he was awarded as the Most Outstanding JCI Vice President in Africa and the Middle East (Area A).
Involved in the JCI University, Gomri is an active JCI trainer. “I always try to answer invitations to deliver training locally, nationally and internationally,” says Gomry. “I’m an International Graduate (IG) trainer now, certified as Achieve and Designer Trainer. I delivered Achieve in Damascus, Syria, in 2005, and Designer in 2006 at the Area A Conference in Monastir.”
“As an active JCI member, I try to coach new members and facilitate their contact with sponsors and administrators,” says Gomri. “I want them to have the opportunity to implement projects they believe in.”
“The more you give to JCI, the more you learn and benefit from the movement,” adds Gomri. “I always say to new young members that action and involvement in projects is the best way to learn. Entrepreneurship, communication skills, networking are key elements to success that you can learn in the field when running JCI projects at the local, national and international levels.”
Why is Gomri Involved in photography?
“My father was an amateur photographer,” says the past JCI Vice President. “As a child, I used to ‘play’ with his black and white pictures. Since then, I loved this ‘magical machine’ and started using it later. I also welcomed and adapted to the arrival of digital photography.”
Gomri considers photography a passion. “It’s a way to express thoughts, ideas, and opinions,” he says. “It’s a wonderful tool that lets you share unique and unforgettable moments, places and situations with others.”
He also considers photography a means to promote social progress. “Photography is a very powerful tool,” says Gomri. “As an intern in a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) in Washington, D.C., I was amazed to see projects involving youth and photography to deal with issues like corruption and conflict resolution.”
When asked for advice on how to succeed in photography, Gomri said, “There is no mystery with photography. Just like anything in life, to succeed you have to love what you’re doing and be yourself.”
Why the Exhibit in Washington, D.C.?
Gomri loves Tunisia. “I live in a nice country, small but diverse and full of colors and light,” he says. “I wanted to share this diversity with Americans, interest them in my country, and make them curious and willing to discover Tunisia. I will also try to deliver my view of my country to the visitors of the exhibition.”
“My humble goal is to contribute, through photography, to building cultural bridges and enhancing understanding and dialogue between citizens of the United States and Tunisia,” explains Gomri. “More dialogue and more exchanges remove fear, misunderstanding and seeds of conflicts, and contribute to a better world. I also hope to break many stereotypes on both sides and contribute to dialogue through photography.”
Invitation to the Exhibit
Remember: you are invited to the opening of “Colors and Snapshots from Tunisia” on May 17, 2007, from 600-8:00 p.m. at the Exhibit Conference Room, 1515 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. , Washington, D.C. 20005. Please R.S.V.P. by calling (200) 680-6030. You are also invited to the exhibit, May 17-26, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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