Columbia Students Meet Alumni - First CAA Tunisia 2026 Meeting

Columbia Global Center Tunis, together with the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) Chapter in Tunisia, hosted a special meet-up in January in Tunis, bringing together Columbia students, alumni, and faculty members, alongside several family members. 

The event was organized in partnership with Dowit, a Tunis-based impact organization that designs immersive cultural experiences rooted in Tunisia’s living heritage—from guided visits and thematic routes to hands-on workshops that connect visitors with local know-how and craftsmanship.

The visiting students—Barnard Classics seniors traveling with their professors as part of a study tour linked to the Fall 2025 course Carthage and Africa Proconsularis—began their first afternoon in Tunisia with an introduction to the capital’s historic heart: the Medina of Tunis. Guided by Tunisian journalist Hatem Bouriel, the group explored key landmarks including the Kasbah, the Zitouna Mosque, and the souks, while discovering some of the Medina’s most iconic streets, palaces, and architectural treasures.

Following the walking tour, the group joined other students and alumni at Dar el Sanaa, in the heart of the Medina, for a Tunisian traditional buffet and an informal conversation across generations and cultures. Over dinner, students, alumni, faculty, and friends exchanged perspectives—on Tunisia and North Africa, on study and research, and on the many ways Columbia’s global community can connect meaningfully beyond campus.

As Columbia’s alumni network continues to grow in Tunisia and across the region, we remain committed to creating moments like this one: welcoming students to the country, strengthening alumni ties, and building a community that combines intellectual curiosity with shared experiences on the ground.