Editor’s note: As part of our ongoing series with the Alliance for Middle East Peace, we’ve been featuring the voices of peacebuilders in the region over the past few weeks. Media and peacebuilders face similar challenges when reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There is an overwhelming focus on the political situation and acts of violence, but very little focus on the people actually involved.
This series addresses this issue by focusing on those who have to live the realities of this conflict every day: Israelis and Palestinians who are actively working to build peace and understanding between both communities. I’m trying to deal with it. Many organizations, including the Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (MEET), are making a real-world impact, forging bonds between Israeli and Palestinian youth and contributing to building a more inclusive society. MEET’s focus on entrepreneurship and leadership training and involving both communities equally is critical given the current state and current situation in the region. economic exclusion and hardship Many Israelis of Arab and Palestinian descent face the dire situation faced by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. As a general note, Peace News does not receive compensation from any organization for this series. In addition, each article, including the sentences below, is written by an author involved in the activities of that organization.
October 7 marked the beginning of one of the most violent periods in our region and a very difficult period for Israeli-Palestinian relations in Israel. Now, more than ever, the Middle East Association of Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs (MEET) reiterates its unwavering commitment to the vision of a common, peaceful future that young Israeli and Palestinian leaders can envision together in our shared society. We reiterate our commitment to resilience and as a fundamental pillar of society. strength. Youth and young adults, who are most vulnerable to the long-term effects of violence, make up a growing part of society and play an important role within it. Cultivate and build a bilateral network of young leaders who can identify, innovate, and collaborate to address pressing social, economic, and political challenges for a sustainable future in the very realities of today. There is an urgent need to do so.
Founded in 2004 in partnership with MIT, MEET is a preeminent educational program for high-potential Israeli and Palestinian youth (ages 15-17) that connects them to the promising future that will shape our common future. We are nurturing young change makers. MEET educates and empowers students, teaching them computer science, entrepreneurship, leadership skills, and most importantly, how to collaborate and solve complex problems from an early age. Every year, 300 talented high school students from different parts of the region, half Israeli and half Palestinian by gender and nationality, participate in his three-year intensive program at MEET. At MEET, you will learn how to leverage technology innovation to collaborate, build resilient, democratic societies, impact communities, and shape our common future.
Our response to the events of October 7th immediately centered on two critically important objectives: ensuring the safety of our students, alumni, and team, and maintaining community cohesion and the quality of our programs. Ta. Additionally, MEET has focused on fostering an inclusive environment where community members feel able to voice their concerns and needs. The organization has also strived to maintain a flexible approach to best meet individual and collective needs during this period. Above all, MEET believes that this situation further highlights its important role in upholding its mission of safeguarding the strong bonds between Palestinians and Israelis.
Within the first 72 hours, MEET conducted safety check-ins for staff, 215 students and alumni, ensuring their well-being and providing critical support. Additionally, the organization held training workshops for diverse teams to encourage open dialogue and collaboration. MEET actively engaged with parents and alumni via Zoom calls to continue meaningful discussions during these difficult times. The organization facilitated a platform where students and alumni could participate in weekly dialogue groups, fostering collaboration while addressing individual and collective emotional needs.
Since then, MEET’s binational team has worked tirelessly and taken essential steps to support our community. Despite the challenges, MEET started his one-year program online and he achieved 90% attendance in bilateral sessions. Leveraging its expertise in hybrid learning, the organization adopted a project-based learning approach and smoothly transitioned to a fully online model.
Additionally, MEET recently provided an educational experience using KIBO, a robot kit for children, to Israeli and Palestinian children (ages 6-8) from northern and southern communities who have been displaced by the current regional unrest. We have started offering. Our binational graduates volunteer to teach children their native languages ​​(Arabic and Hebrew) in local temporary schools and centers. Our primary focus will be on geographic areas known to host large numbers of displaced families, such as Nazareth, Tel Aviv, and Herziliha, and will also extend to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Tiberias, and Eilat.
The organization also shares its experiences with multinational organizations, provides guidance for organizations facing similar challenges, and emphasizes its commitment to the broader ecosystem.
The MEET community includes a diverse range of people and perspectives. During this time, the organization has had many difficult and complex discussions. However, this is MEET’s strength, not its weakness. Throughout this difficult time, the organization is grateful to all those who have felt that MEET has been important enough in their lives to share their perspectives. The MEET community (team, students, parents, and alumni) has consistently steadfastly rejected hatred and violence and been committed to a common vision of unity.
In the face of difficult circumstances, MEET’s team remains a symbol of resilience, embodying unity and dedication to a bright future amidst the region’s turmoil. The organization would like to express its deep gratitude to everyone who has contributed to its efforts.
