Why should you continue to invest in women?
Because of their sheer numbers, empowering female entrepreneurs represents a huge boost to local economies. Furthermore, women are statistically more likely to re-invest more of their incomes-almost 90%! This means that by investing in women entrepreneurs, you are not only improving the economy but doing so in a way that has serious impact on families and communities. Investing in women is also beneficial from a social development standpoint- our programs help those who are doubly marginalized because of their gender and social status to become active, empowered community members.
TYO Lebanon is in the middle of a new session more committed than ever to helping the women of Lebanon overcome the challenges they face to take control of their lives. The Women Entrepreneurs in Lebanon (WEL) program is back on track, and our ladies are now focusing on the incubation, corporate branding, and access to finance aspects of their business plans.
TYO is always striving to meet the needs of the women in our WEL program, so after they expressed the desire for stronger IT skills to be able to compete in the business world, we set about helping them attain those skills. With the help of Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) and your support, the WEL women have just completed a six week intensive computer course. The emphasis of the course was basic computer tasks as well as more targeted application, such as keeping business records. These lucky ladies also had some side benefits to their training, including personal awareness, a more honed sense of entrepreneurship, and marketable 21st century work skills. They now have the skills they need to compete in the workforce, giving their families and communities a boost in the process. Our women already have the intelligence, skills, and motivation to do amazing things; they simply lack the resources. By continuing your support, you help us to provide them with these essential resources and give these enterprising women the opportunity they need to change their lives.
We couldn’t do it without you!
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Assessing Refugee Needs to Improve Our Programs
As summer is heating up, so are TYO's efforts to create the best possible programs for disadvantaged women and children in Nablus. One way we are achieving this goal is through our commitment to identifying and meeting the needs of the community.
“I can clearly see in my students’ work the need to create a safe, welcoming space in my classroom where students feel that they can have fun learning and thinking critically about the world around them through artwork. Insh’Allah, I can make this happen.” -Hannah, TYO Intern, Nablus
Last week TYO released its Community Needs Assessment, a yearlong study to assess the needs of the four refugee camps and other underprivileged communities TYO serves. Partners and representatives from the public and private sectors were invited to share and discuss the results, which were compiled from over 400 individuals using diverse methods. These results give TYO teachers and interns insight into the needs of different age groups, such as room to play or better computer literacy, to help them tailor their programs and have an even greater impact. This assessment will help TYO improve its programming, but more importantly, it illustrated the impact we are already having. Our core child program gives children the creative play space they need, and our women’s group programs offer both respite and opportunity for moms. Interns also remarked that the findings emphasized the link between mothers and children, reinforcing the power of TYO’s multigenerational strategy and the impact that its programs have on families throughout Nablus. With your continued support, we can continue to bring these families the best educational and recreational programming to keep them happy and healthy.
Welcome New Interns!
As TYO’s students are getting into the full swing of summer, so are our newest interns! Meet Sarah, Hilary, Jay, Mitch, Mary-Jo, and Hannah! From California to Connecticut, they’ve come from across the country to improve the lives of women and children in Palestine’s most disadvantaged areas. After just a few short weeks, they’ve been adjusting to life in Palestine, studying and integrating our Community Needs Assessment, and realizing first-hand the value of the resources TYO provides. With backgrounds and interests as diverse as the women and children they’ll be working with, we’re sure they’ll be making amazing contributions both to TYO and to the Nablus community. We also recently welcomed three new interns at our administrative headquarters in Washington, DC: Elly, Maddie, and Rachel. Welcome everyone!
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What’s the best way to make a child smile this spring? By making a mother’s day on Mother’s Day! Spread the joys of spring by making a contribution to support disadvantaged children in Palestine and enterprising mothers in Lebanon. With generous donations of $50 and above, you will receive a note card set of five cards featuring gorgeous watercolor scenes from historic Jerusalem!
As quickly as it came, the spring semester is just about behind us. As we prepare for the oncoming heat waves of summer, TYO takes a moment to reflect on the joys of spring in Nablus.
“My students face barriers that seem insurmountable; they have encountered violence, hunger, an indifferent education, and more. They carry burdens too heavy for adults, while they are still children. As such, my moments of greatest triumph this session have been witnessing my students reclaim childhood.”
– Karen Campion, TYO Fellow, Princeton University International ReachOut Fellow
Nothing says spring has sprung like a trip to Beita Amusement Park just outside of Nablus! This year, students celebrated the last day of the spring session with a visit to a fun-filled playland on the outskirts of Nablus. For many, this was their first trip to an amusement park and they were thrilled! It’s not hard to imagine the joy in their eyes as they raced to the locomotives and Ferris wheels and enjoyed frolicking in the fresh mountain air. Trips like this visit to Beita help incentivize attendance and encourage participation by all children in the Core Child Program.
The kids got active and became activists this spring, racing and recycling for TYO’s Racing the Planet challenge! Beginning on May 12, 2012, ultramarathon runner Usama Malik will race a staggering 156-miles across Jordan to raise $50K in 50 Days in support of TYO’s Core Child Program. To get students involved, this spring, TYO held a series of Racing the Planet games aimed at exposing children to physical activity and environment-friendly initiatives in Nablus. From three-legged races to balloon-popping fun, children learned the value of sportsmanship and teamwork with a dose of competition during the games. At the end of the day, every team was a winning team from “best spirit” to “most enthusiastic” to “fastest racers.” Students also learned how to turn trash to treasures, working on ten different projects designed to create things such as flowers from plastic bags, pencil holders from cans, candleholders from milk cartons, and many more. Students practiced resourcefulness, critical thinking, creativity, and patience. Check out more on the $50K in 50 Days campaign challenge with Usama’s video-blogging!
True to spring, blossoms bloom and seeds are planted as TYO bids farewell to spring interns and welcomes new! As all good things come to a close, TYO’s interns, participants in the International Internship Program, wrapped up their time in Nablus with heartfelt reflections. See what they had to say! And don’t forget to check out what TYO’s newest intern Asma had to say about her arrival in Nablus. Asma is a Palestinian-American earning her Masters in Public Policy at Harvard University. Asma will be teaching an Oral History class to 10-12 year olds as well as a Professional Competency class to students at An-Najah University.
“This is what makes TYO special – its unique position to help children discover their strengths and passions.”
- Asma, TYO intern, Masters in Public Policy, Harvard University
This spring, your contribution will go a long way towards brightening the smiles of Palestinian child refugees and Lebanese women entrepreneurs in need. TYO thanks you for your support!
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