A Celebration of Life: Honoring Michael's Legacy
In his posthumous letter written in July 2022, Michael expressed a simple and moving wish:
"...And if you want to mark my departure, I prefer that it be with a small party: beautiful songs, dances, jokes... rather than sadness."
This wish was granted.
On October 24, 2024, the Enda Group and Essma Ben Hamida, Michael's wife and co-founder of Enda, organized a ceremony that brought together close friends, family members, colleagues, and partners to pay a final tribute to him.
The event was attended by dignitaries such as Mr. Mohamed Ennaceur, former Interim President of the Republic, Ms. Faiza Kéfi, former Minister, ambassadors from the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Switzerland, as well as representatives from international and national institutions.
Essma opened the evening by paying tribute to the man who had shared her life for over 40 years, including 35 years of service to Enda and Tunisia. She praised his values, tireless commitment, discretion, and altruism.
Michael worked to improve Enda's services for the most vulnerable, empower young people, and preserve the environment, particularly our natural resources. Humble and modest, he dedicated himself to the cause of the underprivileged, seeking neither honors nor distinctions.
Other vibrant testimonies were shared by close friends, including Mohamed Khaled from Palestine and Ajay Bhandoola from India, as well as members of the Enda family, including Slah Kooli, a member of the Enda Tamweel Board, Fethia Gueblaoui, a client representing the 1.5 million clients served by the organization, and Khmaies Rezgui, the first employee of Enda, who was long supported and guided by Michael.
Mounir Hentati, a long-time friend, imagined Michael in heaven, working towards "celestial sustainable development" and "inclusive celestial microfinance."
All the testimonies highlighted Michael's human qualities, respect for others, rigor, and unwavering commitment to Tunisia and the vulnerable populations served by Enda. We will share several of these testimonies on our social media channels.
In a celestial setting and an emotional atmosphere, the evening, hosted by Wassim Belarbi, a well-known figure in Tunisian media, offered a glimpse into Michael's life through videos and photos. The reading of Michael's posthumous letter, in his own voice recreated through artificial intelligence, was a particularly moving moment.
In accordance with Michael's wishes, the evening ended with music and dance. Scott Johnson and Mehdi Youssef, two of his friends, performed some of his favorite songs, including Frank Sinatra classics.
A piece of good news was announced during the tribute: the upcoming creation of the "Michael Cracknell Foundation," a project unveiled by Essma Ben Hamida, which will come to life in the coming months. Michael will continue to inspire young and old to protect the environment and the planet, and to disseminate the values that are dear to him.
Rest in peace, Michael! Your family, friends, and colleagues are committed to continuing your work.
