Two students from the College of Architecture at Kuwait University supervised the design of two memorial monuments in Tunisia on Tuesday, bearing the name of the State of Kuwait, funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.  

The official in charge of the funding project from the Kuwait Fund, Dhakoukh Al-Banwan, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that Tunisia's initiative to gift Kuwait two sites on its land for the construction of memorial monuments symbolizes and reaffirms the deep relations between the Tunisian and Kuwaiti peoples. One monument will be located in the capital, and the other in the ancient city of "Kerkouane" in the east of the country.  

She added that the Fund was keen to adopt designs by Kuwaiti students from the College of Architecture, making these projects significant milestones in their future professional lives. She emphasized the Fund's confidence in the professional and creative abilities of these students and its commitment to supporting their future careers.  

Al-Banwan noted that the two monuments, which will be implemented by the Fund, were designed by two Kuwaiti female students from the College of Architecture. "These projects are considered impactful milestones in the students' journey and provide them with real-world engineering experience."  

In his remarks to KUNA, Dr. Mohammed Al-Ajmi, a professor in the Department of Architecture at Kuwait University, praised these projects initiated by government and private entities for their role in encouraging students to participate in significant works that enrich their academic journey.  

Al-Ajmi added that the project represents "an important opportunity for architecture students to collaborate with the Kuwait Fund for Development in designing a monument symbolizing the friendship between Kuwait and Tunisia."  

For her part, Jana Al-Abduljader, a student in the Department of Architecture and the winner of the design competition for the monument in Tunis, told KUNA that this experience was "an exceptional opportunity" to enhance her vision in architectural design and gain a deeper understanding of real-world implementation.  

Al-Abduljader added that the memorial monument she is working on represents a "central element" in urban formation, connecting urban spaces and creating a comprehensive sensory experience for visitors. It emphasizes the importance of fluidity in movement and interaction with the surrounding environment.  

She explained that the monument takes the form of a "sailboat inspired by the national anthems of Kuwait and Tunisia, reflecting the shared glory between the two countries. This gives it a symbolic dimension that enhances national identity and documents historical and cultural ties."  

She noted that the monument, which includes an element representing the Kuwait Towers, embodies the deep friendship between the two countries through an abstract design that transforms architectural symbols into an artistic expression of shared relations.  

Al-Abduljader expressed pride in being chosen by the Kuwait Fund for Development to represent Kuwait and the College of Architecture at Kuwait University in the memorial monument competition in Tunisia.  

She said, "This experience has added greatly to my architectural and professional portfolio, allowing me to interact with a new environment and understand the challenges of implementation in a different context. It has reinforced my understanding of the importance of integrating ideas with practical application."  

She added that through this project, she confirmed that "design can go beyond being a visual landmark to become a true symbol of brotherhood, cooperation, and shared progress among nations."  

In turn, Noura Al-Babtain, a student in the Department of Architecture at Kuwait University and the winner of the design competition for the memorial monument in the ancient city of Kerkouane, said that her design reflects historical and cultural values through an artistic vision that combines heritage and modernity, drawing on architectural elements that embody the deep ties between Kuwait and Tunisia.  

Al-Babtain added that the design of the memorial monument, which serves as a bus station in the ancient city, embodies concepts of unity and brotherhood by integrating cultural symbols from both countries. It becomes a landmark that enhances cultural identity and connects the past with the present, reflecting the spirit of shared cooperation.  

She expressed pride in participating in the memorial monument design competition in Kerkouane, noting the importance of the experience as "a valuable opportunity to gain new experiences and engage in a different environment."  

Al-Babtain stated that the experience allowed her to "understand the challenges of implementation in different contexts and reinforced her understanding of the importance of integrating ideas with practical application in architectural work." She added that the project confirmed to her that architecture "goes beyond being a mere aesthetic element to become a means of expression that reflects the values of brotherhood, cooperation, and development among peoples."  

Jana Al-Abduljader and Noura Al-Babtain, accompanied by a delegation from the Kuwait Fund, including coordination and follow-up specialist Abdulrazzaq Al-Sane and engineering consultant Rawya Al-Awadi, visited the relevant sites to conduct field surveys and take measurements. This followed their participation in a course with 50 students, where they discussed how to artistically express the relations between the two brotherly countries.  

It is worth noting that the project, funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, is being carried out in cooperation with the Tunisian Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Municipality of Tunis, and the Municipality of Kerkouane.