The Middle East Children’s Institute (MECI) is a non-for-profit organization founded in 2005 in the United States and registered in Switzerland in 2011 as an association d’utilite publique. It was founded by Lola Nashashibi Grace, a member of Giving Women,as a result of a 2-year research study focusing on Palestinian women’s and children’s critical needs.
MECI developed a comprehensive model after school program with a holistic community approach. It is implemented in partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Mercy Corps in the Palestinian village of Beit Rima in the West Bank.
Focusing on 3 main pillars (education, women’s empowerment, economic development), it serves over 450 children aged 5 to 10 per year. MECI gives children the opportunity to heal and develop through programs in arts and music, academic support, health and nutrition, daily meals and life skills training. Meals are prepared by an association of local women who purchase and process local products boosting the economy of the whole community.
In addition the program organizes workshops on parenting skills for mothers and supports the local production and the business development of the local association.
Mission: MECI addresses the educational, psychosocial, health and other basic humanitarian needs of Middle Eastern women and children living in war-torn and impoverished areas.
Goals:
1 – Provide educational and economic development to resolve conflict and contribute to global peace, prosperity and security;
2 – Dignify women and children whose life and self worth have been affected by years of war;
3 - Instill hope in children and women through education and community development
Impact to date: Since 2005 MECI has impacted 1,500 children and their families. In the West Bank village, it has reduced student absenteeism by 36%, improved academic performance in math by 26% and in English by 19% and helped 71% of student to achieve 90+ grades. The MECI’s program served 150,000 meals to children reducing anemia from 20% to 0.5% and improving health and psychosocial well being. 150+ local women are employed supporting the financial security of their family and the village economy.
Sustainability: The MECI programs are supported by a trusted network of private donors. However it aims to increase the diversification of donations by expanding in Switzerland and approaching corporate donors and national or international foundations.
In 2011, Stanford University and Al Quds University in Jerusalem will design a new assessment and monitoring model to measure the impact of the overall program.
MECI’s operating costs are covered by the project’s founder; therefore 100% of donations support directly the program’s activities and are tax exempt.
The project presented to Giving Women: The Girls' Club Program
MECI has provided Giving Women with the opportunity to support the new Girls’ Club Program. The project aims to expand the after school program to 200+ girls aged 10 to 15 and to increase the potential of girls after they graduated from the 4th grade since there is no mechanism in place to maintain their development at this very vulnerable age.
The program will offer:
• Life skills: communication, conflict resolution & leadership;
• Arts and crafts training;
• Community service opportunities;
• Psychosocial /group counseling;
• Health and nutrition counseling;
• A women speaker program to discuss role models, health, career options.
As a result girls will be more inclined to move toward positive decisions about their future and have opportunities to serve as possible role models.
Specific needs expressed to Giving Women Members:
1) Short-Medium term: Identify list of contacts to approach for funding and raise the first year Girls’ annual budget of the Girl’s Club Program budget of CHF 16,000);
2) Long Term: Develop fundraising and communication strategies to secure long term sustainable funding of MECI.
How can Giving Women members support the Girls’ Club Program?
1) Providing expertise in communication and fundraising (long and short term) strategy ;
2) Identify contacts in private foundations and individual donors who are interested in girl’s education, women’s empowerment and conflict resolution programs;
3) Provide financial support to the Girls’ Club Program;
4) Support the Project Circle effort in raising CHF 16,000+.