{"id":59642,"date":"2022-08-13T12:17:26","date_gmt":"2022-08-13T11:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jazairhope.org\/?p=59642"},"modified":"2022-08-13T12:17:26","modified_gmt":"2022-08-13T11:17:26","slug":"good-news-women-in-algeria-conquering-mixed-martial-arts-and-a-music-festival-powered-by-bikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jazairhope.org\/en\/good-news-women-in-algeria-conquering-mixed-martial-arts-and-a-music-festival-powered-by-bikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Good news: Women in Algeria conquering mixed martial arts and a music festival powered by bikes"},"content":{"rendered":"

News that makes you feel better \u2013 it\u2019s a real thing. Every Friday, Euronews\u2019 good news desk brings you a selection of positive news stories from around the world.<\/p>\n

This week we take a look at how a charity is helping homeless people cope with heatwaves; a music festival stage powered by bikes; a beach made accessible to blind people in Egypt, Colombia\u2019s first sustainable school; and how women in Algeria are grappling with mixed martial arts, a sport traditionally dominated by men.<\/p>\n

Watch the video above for more on each story, or read on below.<\/h4>\n

1. How a charity is helping homeless people cope with heatwaves<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of all the challenges faced by people living on the street, one of the worst is having nowhere to wash or change clothes. And in the recent heatwaves, the homeless have felt the full force.<\/p>\n

Paris\u2019s Agora centre hopes to change that. An oasis created by the international charity Emmaus Solidarity, it provides a refuge for those with nowhere to go.<\/p>\n

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The heatwave knocks you out, says Ciss\u00e9 Amour, a homeless man attending the Agora since November 2021, \u201cYou get knocked out. And you just need a refuge somewhere cool, where you can shower, where you can quench your thirst, or maybe have a snack, and that’s the main objective. Because it’s difficult to live, you know. For us, it’s quite difficult, “<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Between 200 and 300 homeless people can enjoy a shower at the centre every day. They have access to clean drinking water and can stay cool, but they can also meet with social workers and take part in activities.<\/p>\n

Abdel Bemra, a homeless man attending the Agora since 2019, is grateful. \u201cWe feel good with them. They welcome us very well, very calmly. We have showers, activities, cinema, football, and p\u00e9tanque. We are very good here, that’s why we come here every day, we are calm, there is air-conditioning, there is everything we need.”<\/p>\n

Emmaus Solidarity also organises daily patrols to direct homeless people to their reception centres, particularly during very hot weather.<\/p>\n

2. The music festival stage powered by bikes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Summer is the festival season. No matter where you are, you can be sure to find a spot where you can swing to the music of your favourite artist, or discover some new obscure bands.<\/p>\n

This week, we take you to the Newport Folk Festival in the US, known for creating electrifying musical moments. A new addition in 2022 is a small outdoor stage that is powered in part by festival-goers on stationary bicycles.<\/p>\n

The stage is equipped with solar panels that will provide most of the power to the amps and other equipment, whereas the bikes are providing the rest.<\/p>\n

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The music festival stage powered by bikes<\/span>AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When the show begins, fans jump onto six collapsible bicycles next to the stage. Their pedalling then generates electricity, and in exchange, they get a front-row seat. Of sorts.<\/p>\n

Sarah Gaines, a festival attendee, loves bicycles and the bike-powered stage idea, \u201cI love riding bikes. First of all, we rode our bikes here today, so any opportunity to ride a bicycle in a different way, I would be there for that probably,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Gaines also thinks it’s time for everyone to be more proactive, \u201cand come up with some solutions that aren’t reliant on traditional energy sources. So I was really excited they were doing this here. I also really love Madi Diaz, and it was a front row seat for five minutes, which was really a pleasure.”<\/p>\n

3. The beach made accessible to blind people in Egypt<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Mediterranean city of Alexandria has allocated a spot for blind and visually impaired people, as part of an initiative started last year to dedicate part of the beach to people with special needs.<\/p>\n

The access to the sea is marked with floating ropes that swimmers can hold on to while they are in the water.<\/p>\n

For Ahmed Yasser, it has revolutionised his days at the beach, “I have never been as happy about anything as I am about this beach because having a beach for people with special needs to swim and enjoy their time is a wonderful thing,” he says.<\/p>\n

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The beach made accessible to blind people in Egypt<\/span>AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Going into the water without a guide would normally leave Yasser exhausted and disoriented, so this changes everything.<\/p>\n

Lifeguards and assistants are also present to help the swimmers and give them whistles to use in case they get into sticky situations.<\/p>\n

4. Colombia\u2019s first sustainable school<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colombia has inaugurated the first sustainable school in the country and the fourth in Latin America.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Una Escuela Sustentable (@somostagma)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n