COVID19: Education & Food for Palestinian Children

Sonia, is the mother of Malak (5 years old) who is entering her 3rd session in TYO’s Core early childhood education program. Sonia has four children, Moath, Mina, Malak, and Moatez, and lives in Balata refugee camp. She studied Sociology at An-Najah University and she first learned about Tomorrow’s Youth Organization eight years ago at an outreach event, which occurred in Balata’s Yafa Cultural Center.

Sonia, can you tell me about any changes you have seen in your daughter Malak since she joined TYO’s Core early childhood program? How was she before, during, and after?

Malak has had the pleasure of participating in two Core Early Childhood Programsessions and this summer will be entering her third. Before joining TYO, she was very shy, would run away from strangers, and refused to talk to anyone who was not in our immediate family. She was afraid of most people and if someone came to our door, she would run and hide. She was also very sensitive—simple questions would make her run away and cry. Now she loves to sing and dance in front of anyone and is just a ball of energy and enthusiasm! We didn’t see much of a difference after her first session with TYO, but following her second session, we began to see incredible changes in her behavior and personality. She began to make friends in class, talk about those friends at home, and still asks me if she can invite them to our house to play. She also speaks in a loud voice, she explains and defends herself more, and has more overall confidence. As her mother, it is important that my daughter have the confidence to make friends in school and engage with people in our community with confidence and without fear. The ways in which Malak has developed at TYO will carry her throughout the rest of her childhood, adolescence, and adulthood and I could not be more grateful. Malak has begun to find her voice.

What do you think Malak enjoys most about  her classes at TYO? What does she talk to you about at home?

I am incredibly proud of the progress my daughter has made. Malak loves sports and art classes. She was never able to properly hold a crayon to draw and color until coming to TYO. When TYO was in session, she would come home and tell her siblings what she had learned that day. She likes to announce when she is going to wash her hands before mealtime, she proudly puts her toys away, and she makes sure the entire family knows she learned these habits from her TYO teacher Fawz. Right now, she constantly asks me when she is going to come back for a third session and says that she misses the TYO community, her friends, and the delicious meal she is always fed.

Are there other centers in Nablus that offer similar Early Childhood programming? What do you find unique about this program?    

Personally, I love the energy here. I love the beautiful building and the sunshine that streams through the windows. My family has a long-standing and positive relationship with TYO—my older children attended TYO and now Malak and I are both actively involved. I have not sent my children to any other organization as my family is seeing countless positive outcomes.  When my older son Moath started with the organization, he had similar problems as Malak— he was very shy and unable to speak up and defend himself. Moath used to only walk close to our house and wouldn’t confidently walk in the street like the rest of the boys his age. The longer he stayed at TYO, the more confident he became. As I saw positive outcomes in my children, I decided not only to keep them at the organization but to also join TYO myself. We live in Balata refugee camp, which is not a safe place for our children. TYO offers them a safe space to play, to breathe and to be who they are: children.

Have you noticed a change in your children's academic performance? Have you noticed a change in their attitude towards school or behavior in their school environment? 

Malak has not yet started school but I undoubtedly saw an improvement in my son Moath’s academic performance. Moath is more confident, earns better grades, and looks forward to school. Before starting at TYO, he hardly had any friends. Soon after, he developed relationships with his school classmates at TYO. TYO allowed him to develop relationships with his classmates he had known for years but never befriended.  TYO teaches the importance of friendship, relationship-building, and respect; my children have greatly benefitted from these lessons. I always speak positively about TYO and encourage all of my friends, neighbors, and family members to register themselves and their children. I tell them about the TYO approach of “learning through play” and the positive impact it has had on my family. I also encourage young mothers to join the Women’s Group and tell them all about the amazing seminars and educational classes I participate in and how beneficial they are for me.

What have you learned in TYO's Women's Group that has impacted the way you engage with you children? How has it impacted your relationship with your children?

I really enjoyed the educational parenting seminars with Suhad Jabi-Masri, TYO’s family therapist. By attending her sessions, I learned that I got very angry, very quickly and that my anger outbursts were negatively impacting my family in a serious way. Suhad taught me and the other participants that the first step to addressing negative family dynamics was to take responsibility for our role in perpetuating them. One time, my youngest daughter was imitating me and she acted like she was angry and resentful. Seeing myself reflected in my daughter’s imitation was such an important wake up call. Suhad’s sessions provided me with the tools to help me begin to change my behavior as a mother.

I also learned that I must take time for myself in order to be a better mother and better person overall. Now, I take my children to my parents’ house occasionally and either go out alone or relax at home alone. I am now more social, have strengthened my relationships with my friends, and am a more patient and loving mother. 

TYO is pleased to announce the newest addition to its programming for school-aged children. Academic instruction in public schools in Nablus is very weak and there is a great need for additional academic support.The education system, from primary to higher education, stresses rote learning and educators are often ill equipped and unable to provide additional support outside the classroom. To increase our support to children, this spring we launched a pilot after-school academic tutoring program for students in grades 4, 5 and 6. Focusing on math, English and Arabic, the children’s’ commitment has been remarkably high. Led by a group of 51 university youth volunteers, over 100 students attend the TYO Center four days a week for our academic tutoring program. The students have voiced that the program has helped them tremendously. We interviewed Mariam, Abudl Aziz and Shahd, to learn more about how the program has benefitted them.

Mariam, 5^th grade:

I registered for this program because I want to be better in English. I was so happy when this class was being offered because I know TYO is a safe place to learn. My teacher yells at me at school and I am scared to raise my hand or ask questions. At home, my mom has no time to help me study because she’s busy helping my younger brothers and sisters. I felt that I want somebody to help me. At TYO I have Khaltu Malak to help me understand what I’m reading and to teach me how to write correctly. She also has a lot of vocabulary. I feel excellent now because I learned new words and my handwriting is better. But I’m still scared of my tough teacher at school.

I really recommend this program to other kids! I have encouraged a lot of girls in my school to register because there are many who need help and who are always being sent to the principal’s office at school for not understanding assignments. If they get help at TYO, they don’t have to be punished at school, they develop their English and they will feel better about themselves. And my mom is very grateful because she feels that because of this program, I’ve gotten better at school. Please don’t stop this program. It should be continued because we’re doing better at school!

Abdul Aziz, 5^th grade:

I like this program because of the academic focus. I feel like I’m good in Arabic and math but English is my struggle. I can read English but I don’t understand what I’m reading. I feel that I’m getting a bit better, but I wish the program would never end. I want to be better and smarter. At home they help me but here at TYO, I feel that I have more individual attention. My family is very happy to have me in this program because they see progress in me. I want to be a surgeon when I grow up and I heard that if you want to be a surgeon you need to read and write English. Also if there’s a group of foreigners visiting me in the hospital, I should be able to speak with them. I like the program because I’m learning but I’m a fast learner and so I also like helping other kids learn too. I like the volunteer teachers at TYO very much because they respect me a lot.

Shahd, 4^th grade:

The academic program is very nice. I learned things I never learned at school. I’m getting better and smarter. The teachers at school are surprised when I answer questions correctly and one teacher was so proud and surprised, she asked the other students to clap for me. I like to come here every day and TYO has become part of my family. Last week when I get home after TYO, my mom asked me if I studied at TYO, and I said yes. She asked me if I understood what was being taught and then reviewed the material with me. When she found out that I have learned the material, she said, “TYO is really is great!” I’m so happy because I’m young and still in 4^th grade and that means I can still keep coming for academic support next year when I’m in the 5^th grade.

Last July, we shared with you some exciting news! We finalized our curricula - the first non-formal education curriculum designed specifically for children in Palestine. Our curricula was developed through The Student Training and Employment Program (STEP!), working in coordination with Columbia University’s School of Social Work.

Our curricula for children emphasizes two main themes of communication and community, building a sense of security, trust, and self-confidence. In our last report, we explained how we integrate community-building into our curricula for children ages 4-5 years old in weeks 1-6. Now, take a glimpse into how TYO implements activities that build communication skills in the final six weeks of programming (see week seven's photo above):

We had such an exciting summer here at TYO! We offered summer camp for youth in the Khallet Al Amood neighborhood, where our center is located, for boys and girls ages 9-14. The classes at summer camp included pyschosocial classes that fostered identity, communication, creativity and team building skills. And thanks to the generous support of donors like you, we were also able to offer karate, "dabke" (traditional Palestinian dance), swimming, and chorus classes - see the final performance of our fantastic singers. We were also honored to welcome Palestinian-American comedian Maysoon Zayid for a day full of fun, laughter, and reflection with TYO's kids on their greatest strengths, fears, and dreams.

We would not be able to offer such enriching programming to our children and youth if it weren't for our donors - we appreciate you all so much. Thank you for making the summer in Nablus absolutely fabulous!

We are very excited to announce a major progress update at TYO! Through The Student Training and Employment Program (STEP!), working in coordination with Columbia University’s School of Social Work, we completed the first non-formal education curriculum designed specifically for children in Palestine (ages 4-5, 6-8 and 9-15). In striving to create world-class development programs, we also finalized the TYO Youth Service Learning (YSL) training guide. Our curricula for children emphasizes two main themes of communication and community, building a sense of security, trust, and self-confidence. Developing these life skills empowers children with hope for the future and the skills to lead change in Palestinian society. As a part of the curriculum, integrating psychosocial interventions supports children dealing with conflict, isolation and poverty by strengthening their resilience in the face of challenging circumstances, and in turn contributing to the overall stability of an entire affected community. 

For children ages 4-5 years old, we spend six weeks learning about the themes of identity and community. Take a glimpse into how TYO's curricula comes to life in the classroom (see week one's photo above):