Padel operator partners with sports nutrition business to fuel growth plans – company recently completed IPO for £350m
Soul Padel has entered a partnership with a sports nutrition business (Image credit: Pixabay)
Mbonde: How young Tanzanians capitalise on new tourism boom
Towards the end of 2019, a pandemic of a scale not seen in a very long time ravaged the world and brought the tourism industry to its knees. Strangely, Tanzania kept its borders open while the rest of the world closed its airspace.
That decision turned out to be a stroke of good luck, helping Tanzania’s tourism industry to recover more quickly than most countries.
After the dust settled down, what emerged was a growing number of young Tanzanian travel enthusiasts who spent time exploring the country and soon realised that they could use their love for traveling around their country, and sharing the stories on social media reels could also be a business opportunity.
The tourism companies that cater to tourists coming to Tanzania have traditionally been reserved for large organisations with substantial budgets to back their operations, but a growing trend of European and American tourists entrusting young Tanzanians to be their tour guides is on the rise.
Captivated by engaging social media videos being posted, tourists are gravitating toward more affordable small tour companies rather than the much-experienced organisations with decades of experience.
Francis Mbonde is a former filmmaker and professional photographer who, for the last two years, has built a small but vibrant tour company based in Zanzibar.
He is determined to grab a share of the industry that is booming due to the Tanzanian government’s enthusiastic marketing to the world.
His change of heart to jump into tourism came after he received a contract as a photographer for a tour company.
There, he learned the ins and outs of the tourism business; the expeditions he undertook while photographing tourists fascinated him, and he couldn’t resist sharing them on his platforms.
That’s where his work caught the attention of the online community, and soon people started inquiring about Tanzania and the pictures he took.
“Then I thought to myself, if they want to come to Tanzania, I can host them, take them around, and make money out of it,” he said.
He puts more effort into creating social media content and has an advantage over others because he can multitask as a photographer, graphic designer, and editor.
While other tour operators had more experience than he did, being tech-savvy gave him an edge.
The business challenge for youth in Tanzania is obtaining capital for any venture.
Mbonde had to sacrifice weekend parties and save every coin he could earn to secure his starting capital while staying focused on creating his tour agency.
He emphasized that a young person must have discipline and a vision; the drinking binge is temporary, but creating a company is your legacy.
The business network he cultivated over time has been very helpful to him; he would constantly meet tourism stakeholders in Zanzibar and share his vision.
“Most young people are afraid of sharing their vision and plans because they think someone will steal their idea. But, on the contrary, you might find a mentor who will guide you,” he said.
The tourism industry in Tanzania has embraced all kinds of investors, both locals and foreigners.
Francis is not worried about the large foreign tourism investors because he knows his niche and is dedicated to the consistency that will help this agency grow.
He had to learn quickly how the industry works and prepare for the high tourist season while knowing how to survive during the low season.
Being multilingual is an added advantage; a tour guide has to know more than just English. He noted that some hotels would only have Italian or Russian guests, and knowing how to communicate with them beyond basic greetings would encourage them to recommend your services to others when they return home.
Most of his earnings are in foreign currency, which is advantageous when he converts forex to the Tanzanian shillings.
However, he insists on developing a culture of saving money because the tourism market is tricky; sometimes, one can go three months without any clients.
During this time, he focuses on posting previously recorded videos to drive more traffic to his page. His Instagram page, ‘lubaacris,’ features truly amazing videos and pictures.
For a young Tanzanian who ditched the unemployment line and bravely went to Spice Islands to capitalise on the tourism boom, Mbonde has done remarkably well in a short period of time.
Right now, he is focused on safaris to Serengeti, Mikumi, and Selous, as well as Zanzibar excursions and photography for hire.
His reputation is paramount in this business; being honest and handling people’s money properly can make or break a tour operator in an instant.
“I give my clients three options regarding payment. Sometimes, I let them pay online, while in other cases, they pay me after they land and we meet face-to-face,” he explained. He further elaborated that Zanzibar is known for having trustworthy tour guides, but it helps to make clients feel comfortable and at ease.
With the presence of social media review apps like TripAdvisor, word of mouth is everything. Mbonde is extremely careful about his interactions with clients and ensures he provides them with the best service possible.
He encourages young people to explore the tourism industry, as it has huge potential and is bound to grow as the world’s economy stabilises and more people have money for vacations.
He mentioned that not having formal studies in tourism should not be a deterrent for youths pursuing a career in the field. Crash courses can be helpful, but volunteering with a tour company to gain practical experience is the quickest way to get in the game, he said.
“Tanzania has actively promoted its tourism in the United States, and we are seeing a focus on strengthening diplomatic relations with China, which includes tourism and culture. It is a safe bet to predict that more Chinese tourists will flock to the beaches of Zanzibar and venture into our national parks. Tanzanian youths have all the leverage to position themselves to directly benefit from their God-given natural resources,” he said.
Mbonde hopes the government will assist young Tanzanians in venturing into tourism as a form of self-employment.
He hopes there will be greater ease in being issued with a licence to operate as a tour guide, especially in Zanzibar, where it can be challenging to obtain one if you come from Tanzania Mainland. He urged young people to be courageous in pursuing their goals and advised them to “show, not tell.”
“Don’t tell people what you will do; just work on your craft, and they will see the results for themselves,” he said.
Foreign Office warning to Brits travelling to holiday hot spot – ‘lock doors and keep documents in a safe’
Visitors travelling to a holiday hotspot have been urged by officials to lock their doors and keep documents safe. The Foreign Office has warned UK tourists to know where their paper work is and keep their accommodation locked. Holidaymakers headed to the Caribbean, particular the island of Dominica, have been given a warning to “leave…
Foreign Office warning to Brits travelling to holiday hot spot – ‘lock doors and keep documents in a safe’
Visitors travelling to a holiday hotspot have been urged by officials to lock their doors and keep documents safe. The Foreign Office has warned UK tourists to know where their paper work is and keep their accommodation locked. Holidaymakers headed to the Caribbean, particular the island of Dominica, have been given a warning to “leave…
Story Science & Exploration Join the Space Resources Challenge 01/11/2024 379 views 13 likes Read
Science & Exploration
01/11/2024
358 views
13 likes
The Space Resources Challenge was launched last week, an opportunity for innovators to pioneer the technologies that will help humankind live and work sustainably on the Moon.
LUNA facility next to ESA’s Astronaut Centre (EAC) near Cologne, Germany
The competition, launched by ESA in partnership with the Luxembourg Space Agency and their common European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), welcomes all participants – from engineering students to space technology start-ups – with Exotopic serving as a Team Partner to provide guidance and support.
Living off the land
Lunar regolith simulant refined into oxygen and metal
The challenge aims to develop in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) technology, using resources available on the Moon to reduce dependence on costly supplies from Earth and enable a more sustainable presence in space. The Moon’s soil, or regolith, can be processed to extract breathable oxygen and metals, such as silicon, iron and aluminium for construction, while water ice from shadowed craters can provide drinking water, additional oxygen and hydrogen for rocket fuel. These advancements are important for future exploration and could also lead to more sustainable practices in mining and manufacturing industries on Earth.“Competitions like the Space Resources Challenge incentivise creativity and innovation, providing opportunities for smaller players to contribute to solving some of the most critical problems in space exploration. ESA’s unifying role in such initiatives fosters cross-border partnerships within Europe between SMEs, research institutions and industry leaders and ensures Europe’s competitiveness in the global space sector,” shares Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration.
First steps
Field test during the first Space Resources Challenge
The first Space Resources Challenge held a few years ago invited European industries and research institutions to develop innovative methods for prospecting lunar resources, the first step for any ISRU activity. Thirteen teams competed in a first field test in the Netherlands and five finalists participated in a second field test in Luxembourg, with the winning group earning a €500,000 development contract with ESA.
A second challenge
The field test for the second Space Resources Challenge will take place at the state-of-the-art LUNA facility
The second Space Resources Challenge is focused on collecting and processing lunar regolith and will take place at LUNA, the newly inaugurated state-of-the-art facility at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. Participants will have to design and operate robotic systems capable of collecting and sorting lunar regolith simulant and prepare the extraction of enough oxygen for a crew of astronauts on the Moon. Teams have until 20 February 2025 to submit their proposals; after an evaluation process, the selected teams will be invited to the field test in LUNA taking place in October.
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China’s sanction-hit tech industry puzzles over impact of Trump, Harris presidencies
Policies Harris would inherit from President Joe Biden “are more long-term, coordinated and predictable, which may bring more stable but longer-lasting challenges to China’s semiconductor industry”, the editorial read.Trump’s unpredictability is borne out in statements and social media posts. He expressed willingness during his presidency to reverse course on measures he took against Huawei and peer ZTE. During his current campaign, he has railed against a ban on Chinese-owned social media app Tik Tok that he himself proposed while in office.
A July editorial in EETop, an information platform and forum for Chinese electronics firms, said Trump’s criticism of US trade relations with allies such as Europe, Japan and South Korea – which in turn have interests in China – could jeopardise cooperation. That would mean, “especially in the globalised semiconductor industry chain, unilateral suppression by the United States is ineffective”.
“It’s possible that Europe and the Netherlands would deliberately make it easy for us (to circumvent restrictions) then we would be able to import EUVs,” the editorial read. China relies on foreign extreme ultraviolet lithography machines and is barred from the most capable.
SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Irrespective of who wins the election, China’s tech sector is far more domestic-focused and self-sufficient than when Trump or Biden took office, according to analysts and a Reuters review of data.
The trade war has seen a miscellany of tit-for-tat strikes, such as Chinese export restrictions related to rare earth resources, but it also prompted China’s tech industry to insulate itself from sanctions.
In 2016, China had four government procurement projects worth over 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million), replacing foreign hardware and software with domestic alternatives, showed a Reuters review of tenders. This year, it had 169 such projects – 75 involving over 50 million yuan in state funds.
As such, even if Trump or Harris ratcheted up export controls, domestic manufacturers are now far less dependent on foreign technology and are better prepared to deal with the fallout of change in trading environment.
“We have slowed them down on semiconductors, but the other sectors like robots, you can dream on,” said Robert D Atkinson, president of Washington DC-based Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. “They can get everything they need internally.”
The Holdovers to Airplane! The seven best films to watch on TV this week
Pick of the weekThe HoldoversWe don’t get a new Alexander Payne film very often, so when they appear they should be cherished. Especially as he’s back with his Sideways star Paul Giamatti, on fine misanthropic form here as a classics teacher at a New England boys’ boarding school in 1970. Widely disliked, Paul Hunham is ordered to stay on site over the Christmas holidays to supervise the children who can’t go home, most problematically Dominic Sessa’s smart, sardonic teenager Angus. Also stuck there is grieving canteen manager Mary (an Oscar-winning Da’Vine Joy Randolph). Forced into uncomfortable proximity, the three slowly eke out an understanding in a witty and bittersweet story. 8 November, Friday, 11.35am, 8pm, Sky Cinema PremiereMemoriaView image in fullscreenThai film-maker Apichatpong Weerasethakul is a master at slipping the uncanny and magical into the everyday. In his latest elusive drama, set in Colombia, Tilda Swinton plays a British expat in the flower business who hears a mysterious noise – but she’s the only one who can. Her investigation of the sound and its origins involves a disappearing audio engineer, car alarms going off by themselves, the discovery of ancient bones, and a man who remembers everything. A film that plays with perception, and rewards the listener as much as the viewer. Saturday 2 November, 1.35am, Channel 4Sasquatch SunsetView image in fullscreenThis peculiar tale is reminiscent of those old Disney nature films that followed an animal over a year while anthropomorphising it wildly. But in Nathan and David Zellner’s version, the subject is Bigfoot. In the remote forests of North America, a hairy, grunting sasquatch family (two of whom are, inexplicably, played by Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg) eat leaves, have sex, sniff skunks and make fruitless attempts to locate more of their own species. It’s often funny but there is an unexpected pathos to their fragile lives. Sunday 3 November, 10.10am, 10pm, Sky Cinema PremiereFirebrandView image in fullscreenKarim Aïnouz’s enthralling historical yarn sees the end times of Henry VIII’s reign through the eyes of his final queen, Katherine Parr. As the wife who “survived”, Alicia Vikander has rarely been better – struggling to hold on to her limited power while negotiating the moods of her ailing king (a gloriously unsexy turn by Jude Law) and the unsettled religious state of the nation, where the wrong move could be a death sentence. Simon Russell Beale is a stealthy foe as Bishop Stephen Gardiner, who suspects her, correctly, of dangerously modern thinking. Thursday 7 November, Prime Videoskip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionTamara DreweView image in fullscreenBased on the 2005 Guardian comic strip by Posy Simmonds (itself a riff on Far from the Madding Crowd), Stephen Frears’s jolly comedy has a journalist – played by Gemma Arterton – returning to her rural childhood home and throwing a spanner in the lives of everyone she meets. These include Roger Allam’s self-satisfied crime author, his long-suffering wife (Tamsin Greig) and a Thomas Hardy scholar (Bill Camp) visiting their writers’ retreat, as sexual politics and romantic drama collide juicily. Thursday 7 November, 9pm, BBC FourThe Great DictatorView image in fullscreenA remarkable film to be made at a time when the US was yet to join the war against Germany, Charlie Chaplin’s 1940 satire is a bold, comic takedown of Hitler – ridiculing his pomposity while exposing what was then known about his violent persecution of the Jewish people. Parallel narratives follow Adenoid Hynkel, fascist ruler of Tomainia, and an unnamed Jewish barber (both played by Chaplin), doppelgangers whose lives are fated to cross. There are a few trademark skits – a food fight, a shave to the music of Brahms – but there’s a serious point to be made, and Chaplin forces it home. Friday 8 November, 2pm, Sky ArtsAirplane!View image in fullscreenA comedy with arguably the most gags per minute of any Hollywood film ever, this classic from Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker takes the disaster movie genre and tickles it to death. The plot is about a commercial flight where the crew are incapacitated and a traumatised former pilot (Robert Hays) has to land it – but that’s not important right now. Venerable movie actors Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges and Robert Stack gained a new lease of life by allowing themselves to be ridiculous while a series of brilliant, barely connected jokes zip by. Friday 8 November, 12.05am, Channel 4
Russia gives former US Consulate employee nearly 5-year jail term
moscow — A Russian former employee of the U.S. Consulate in Russia’s Far Eastern city of Vladivostok has been sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison for “secret collaboration with a foreign state,” Russian agencies said Friday. Robert Shonov worked for more than 25 years for the U.S. Consulate until 2021, when Moscow…
Dream Big Books empower youth through storytelling, imagination
In a world where stories have the power to inspire, Dream Big Books is at the forefront of educational innovation. The Houston-based publishing company is revolutionizing storytelling through a unique multimedia platform that brings dreams to life for audiences of all ages. Using interactive books, animated films and podcasts, the organization empowers young minds, engages communities and supports aspiring artists. The platform’s multimedia approach brings stories to life, offering lessons on overcoming obstacles, achieving goals and dreaming without limits. Designed to inspire and educate students from pre-K to college, Dream Big Books creates educational opportunities for young artists, helping them build confidence and skills. High school artists contribute to group books, while college students work on full-length books, all of them becoming published authors.Founded by Houston photographer and storyteller Josh Merwin, Dream Big Books reflects his passion for mentorship and storytelling. His vision is to provide young artists a creative outlet and give them a voice in the process. Merwin will be speaking Tuesday night, Nov. 12, at the Local Literati program at the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival.Each Dream Big Books project incorporates several storytelling elements. An animated 45-second cover introduces the athlete or subject, followed by a 15-minute podcast where the subject and artist discuss overcoming challenges. A core feature is a 30-page book detailing the subject’s journey, inspiring young readers to see what’s possible, regardless of the obstacles they face.Ongoing projects include stories of Houstonians, such as Holocaust survivor Ruth Steinfeld, and Peter and Aaron Berry and their impact on wheelchair sports. Another heroic tale is that of Italian cyclist Gino Bartali, who helped save more than 800 Jews during the Holocaust.Steinfeld is excited to be sharing her book with students. “This book will help me make a lasting impact with the students I meet.”Linda Burger, Holocaust Museum Houston interim CEO, said, “HMH supports Josh Merwin and Dream Big Books’ efforts that will inspire students to become upstanders. Wendy Warren, HMH Holocaust and Genocide Education endowed chair, plans to add the digital books to the HMH-recommended resources for teachers and to the E-Books Program that is free to schools that support Holocaust, human rights and character education.”Dream Big goes beyond books by creating a three-minute animated film with the book’s subject narrating their own story. Adding to this is a custom song, offering viewers a multisensory experience. For Steinfeld’s story, Merwin partnered with Jewish rapper Kosha Dills to create the soundtrack.“As someone who has long been active in Holocaust education, I have enjoyed supporting Josh as he created this powerful and critically important platform,” said Jay Zeidman, member of the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission.“Dream Big Books serves as a modern-day tool to combat hatred, prejudice and indifference by educating all Texans about the Holocaust and other genocides in an effort to dismantle antisemitism and prevent such future atrocities. In the times we are living in, historical education around the Holocaust, coupled with innovative tools such as Dream Big’s whole-child approach to early education, is designed to fight antisemitism in a modern-day context,” said Zeidman.The digital versions of these stories are accessible worldwide and include a collection on Jewish athletes such as the Berry brothers, Ludwig Guttman (founder of the Paralympics) and Jack Lubel, former Houston Jewish Sports Hall of Fame athlete and philanthropist.Dream Big also is exploring a future story on the positive tenets of the religions of the world, which will create a better understanding for people of all faiths.A core mission of Dream Big Books’ philanthropic arm is to reach underserved youth. Through events like Literacy Days, the organization distributes books to children who might not have access to high-quality reading materials. Dream Big also hosts Imagination Station pop-ups, offering interactive storytelling experiences for families, fostering creativity and imagination.Each donation to Dream Big directly impacts the number of books it distributes for free in the community. The organization aims to publish two books monthly, distributing more than 24,000 books annually. Partnerships with nonprofits allow these books to become powerful fundraising tools, with a portion of proceeds supporting important causes. Fundraising events, like book-release parties and visits to children’s hospitals, amplify these efforts.Dream Big also offers legacy projects that honor Holocaust survivors. These one-page animated cover stories give descendants an opportunity to tell their ancestors’ stories, keeping their voices alive for future generations. Funders can sponsor a Dream Big Cover Story, ensuring the survivor’s legacy is shared in one of Dream Big’s group survivor books.Dream Big Books relies on individual book purchases, donations and volunteers to continue its work. Contributions help fund specific projects or support the overall program. A generous $50,000 matching donation from the Merwin family and Houston philanthropists Velva G. Levine and Cyvia Wolff is available through the end of 2024, doubling the impact of every donation.To learn more about Dream Big Books, its mission or to donate, visit dream dreambigbooks.org or contact Merwin at [email protected].
Jewish Book & Arts Festival: Why does the Torah need multiple commentaries?
In the book “It Takes Two to Torah” (Fig Tree Books), Abigail Pogrebin and Rabbi Dov Linzer model the chavruta, the method of studying Jewish texts in pairs. The idea behind learning in pairs is to engage in ideas outside your own perspective. Learning with a study partner can clarify and sharpen one’s understanding of the text. A partner can provide a different valuable perspective on the text, even if they bring a different level of learning to the study.Most of the traditional Jews who study in a chavruta don’t think of pairing an Orthodox rabbi and a Reform journalist. But as Rabbi Linzer explains in the introduction to the book, “I’d overlooked what it means to be a true learner. It’s not just the hours one spends with their head buried in a book. It’s about engaging with other people and ideas, which may be radically different than your own. It’s about asking yourself: What can I learn from this other perspective.”Pogrebin and Rabbi Linzer came together in the podcast “Parsha in Progress,” produced by Tablet magazine. The format was to explore one parsha at a time in 10-minute segments.When the people of the Book asked if the full Torah exploration was available somewhere, Fig Tree Books saw that an audience existed to edit the podcasts and publish them in book form. The result is “It Takes Two to Torah.”Pogrebin and Rabbi Linzer will discuss their project in two separate presentations on Sunday, Nov. 10, as part of the JCC Jewish Book & Arts Festival. They will present at 1:30 p.m., at Temple Sinai, 13875 Brimhurst Dr., in West Houston, and at 4 p.m., at the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC.“It Takes Two to Torah” comes to us at a time of increasing political polarization, both in the U.S. and in Israel. Pogrebin and Rabbi Linzer model a conversation grounded in dignity and careful listening to the other side’s point of view.Of course, they’re talking Torah. But talking Torah doesn’t preclude people who stigmatize those who hold a contrary opinion as bad and immoral.An example of how to deal with contrary views can be found throughout the book. One example is found in the chapter on Parsha Tzav.Pogrebin starts by expressing her view that the Altar for sacrifices is an “antiquated and repugnant way to connect to the Divine.”Rabbi Linzer responds, “I personally would not use the word ‘repugnant,’ but I get your point.”Pogrebin zeros in on the Ner Tamid, the eternal fire as a symbol of Jewish perseverance and endurance. Rabbi Linzer replies that he identifies with the sense of Jewish endurance, “but when I think of what Judaism is about, that is a factor but not a central one” he adds.Pogrebin wants clarification.Rabbi Linzer says, “Maybe it’s a core element if I think about the Jewish people, but if I think about Judaism, I think of other things, like learning Torah, doing mitzvot and living an ethical, moral life and doing all of these in the context of our larger relationship with G-d and within community.“… If we focus on [endurance] as central to our identity, then the message is, ‘You should give to the Federation in order to ensure that we should continue to exist, which is, to me, a completely uninspiring message. … To me, the better question is, Why is it important for Jews to continue?”A little later, Rabbi Linzer admits he may have come on too strong in order to make a point and offers a view that bridges the gap between the points of view. This is an example of argument for the sake of heaven, which is the point of listening to views different from your own.Pogrebin and Rabbi Linzer offer an inspiring model of where such “argument” may lead.