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Tomorrow’s Youth Organization
(TYO) Center – Nablus, Palestine
TYO is an American, non-governmental organization
that works in disadvantaged areas of the Middle East,
enabling children, youth and parents to realize their
potential as healthy, active and responsible family and
community members. TYO is tax-exempt under section
501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Contributions
to TYO are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
The TYO Journey
The TYO journey started in 2007 when a few young American women traveled to Nablus, Palestine—
one of the largest cities in the West Bank and among the oldest in the world. At that time, Nablus
was affected by long-standing conflict and isolated by surrounding checkpoints. These women,
together with colleagues at An-Najah National University, built a team in pursuit of
TYO’s mission to make life better for children and women suffering from poverty and
violence. We are deeply grateful to the Zafer Masri Foundation, which provided a
warm home for TYO from day one.
We entered Nablus successfully during a difficult time because we came with
the genuine goal of bringing the best possible programs to the community’s
most underserved families. During TYO’s first summer, five American interns
came to lead summer camps. They were received with open arms and
their classes engaged more than 500 children.
As mothers noticed the positive changes in their children, they
asked for educational and recreational programming of their own.
In response to these requests, we expanded our programming to
include English, computer, and fitness classes for mothers and
entrepreneurship training for women. Since opening its doors in
March 2008, TYO Nablus has become a place for all generations
to gather, reaching more than 10,000 community members.
The lessons learned from our flagship center in Nablus
demonstrate the power of a functional approach to community
revitalization and inform the next steps on our journey.
In 2011, we will proudly open a new center in Cairo with
generous support from Dr. Ayman Kandeel. We also look
forward to replicating our women’s entrepreneurship programs
in Lebanon in continued cooperation with the Cherie Blair
Foundation for Women and establishing a TYO presence
in Rawabi, the first planned, sustainable Palestinian city.
TYO is dedicated to serving the most needy communities
throughout the Middle East and will continue to empower the
region’s children, youth, and women through our proven and
innovative programs. We hope you will join us in engaging with these atrisk populations that are essential to global well-being and security.
Thank you for your interest in our work.
— The TYO Team
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The TYO Approach
Hands-on Involvement
A functional approach to development is the most effective
TYO employs this functional and comprehensive
means of achieving societal change and greater stability
approach in the pursuit of four strategic objectives:
in the Middle East. At TYO, qualified American interns and
staff work side-by-side with local staff, volunteers, and
l Offer high-quality early childhood programs
community members to implement programs, matching
to enrich children’s social, intellectual and physical
international best practices with on-the-ground realities
development as creative and engaged citizens
and needs. This direct cooperation between Americans
and people from the most at-risk communities in the
l Impart knowledge and skills to guide young
Middle East is integral to the success of TYO programs,
people’s development as professionals, community
and also promotes invaluable cultural understanding:
leaders and parents
an important catalyst of social change within our global
community.
Comprehensive Development
Economic prosperity and community revitalization cannot
l Create safe spaces within which all community
members, especially the most disadvantaged,
enjoy varied programs based on local needs
and interests
be achieved without quality basic education, which in
turn relies on healthy social and physical development.
l Facilitate awareness,
TYO is committed to offering well-rounded educational
communication and cooperation
programming for children, including health, English,
across local and international divides
computer, and art classes. Through this comprehensive
to improve mutual understanding
approach, TYO participants acquire tangible skills for
life and work, while also becoming healthier, more selfconfident and hopeful about their potential to contribute to
their community’s brighter future.
TYO recognizes that to best support children we must
also empower their support networks. Inasmuch,
TYO’s training programs in economic, personal,
and parenting skills engage current and
future parents. Since our programs
are multi-generational, they target
many strategic groups within the
community, multiplying the impact
and sustainability of TYO‘s efforts.
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TYO’s programming targets three groups:
Young children have their first institutional educational
Women are a crucial target group for TYO because of
experience at TYO. The lasting impact of quality
their central role in the family and potential leadership in
intervention at this age is well documented, particularly as
community change. Basic knowledge about health and
an antidote to challenging circumstances such as violence
child development, combined with self-confidence and
or poverty.
other life skills, represents huge value added for these
women and their children and families. Further, since on
Youth populations are one of the greatest risks
average, women invest far more of their earned revenue
and opportunities in the Middle East. TYO facilitates
in their families’ well being than men, TYO has developed
young people’s development as engaged citizens and
various programs that foster the entrepreneurial spirit and
professionals to favor positive outcomes for these
endeavors of women.
individuals and society more broadly.
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My daughter has become
independent. She is supportive
and helpful at home. She used
to be spoiled and cry—she lacked
confidence. Now, it is clear
there has been a lot of positive
change in her.
—Mother discussing her daughter’s participation
in the TYO Core Program, spring 2009.
Core Program
Investing in Early Childhood Education
A healthy and stimulating early childhood is vital to cognitive and emotional development. Only with a strong foundation can
we hope that future citizens will seek and lead social and economic transformation. Thus, TYO is committed to providing
world-class educational programming for young children in a safe and inspiring environment. To reinforce this strategic
investment, TYO strengthens children’s support networks by providing programming for mothers and fathers related to
personal, professional, and parental development. All of these programs increase awareness of and commitment to early
education among the greater community, benefitting
all children, even those not currently
enrolled in TYO programs.
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Learning through Play
TYO’s Core Program was designed for children aged 4-8 from
the most underprivileged areas. Our structured, non-formal
educational program gives children a safe space to learn and
experience the joys of childhood. TYO services don’t stop
there, though: our staff also works directly with participants
and their families on an individual basis to address the serious
psychosocial challenges they face.
TYO’s innovative programming includes classes in art,
computer, health and sports. The primary goal of the
Core Program is to promote healthy emotional and
cognitive development, in pursuit of the proven
health, academic, and economic benefits of
quality early childhood programming. Fulltime TYO teachers develop the curricula with
input from local and international experts.
All activities are designed to teach children
self-expression, social skills and coping
The significance of the
TYO Core Program goes beyond
providing children from deprived
communities with opportunities
to learn through play; it gives
the Palestinian educational
community an example of
how to use limited resources
to move away from the
rote-based system into
more appropriate
child-centered approaches
to teaching and learning.
— Dr. Jacqueline Sfeir,
MaDad Program Director
strategies to counteract their stressful
backgrounds. Youth volunteers are trained
to support teachers in the classroom, where
they serve as positive role models and gain
beneficial practical experience.
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I applaud TYO’s programs and
partnerships, and I salute Hani, the
TYO team, and all its partners for their
vision and effort. Working together, they
are fostering the right kind of leaders
for tomorrow—citizens who strive for
peace, respect diversity, and cherish all
of humanity.
—William Jefferson Clinton
s TYO Founder, Hani Masri, and Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation
for Women sign a commitment to work together on women’s entrepreneurial training
at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2009.
Friends of TYO
I am thrilled to have visited TYO’s Nablus Center and witness
the change they are making firsthand. I’m also proud that my
oldest son, Jack, volunteered at TYO during the summer of 2010
– sharing his love for sports and fair play with the young
people of Nablus, and I’m appreciative of the
experience he gained and shared from such
grassroots cultural exchange. I’m
committed to what TYO stands
for, and the way in which it
pursues these goals. I have
great hopes for what TYO can
accomplish in the Middle East
and look forward to helping the
organization grow.
— Terry McAuliffe
s
T
erry McAuliffe and son, Jack—TYO International
Intern—at the TYO Center in Nablus, July 2010.
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British Artist, Banksy, funds TYO Public Art Program
s Children, volunteers, and TYO staff work together
s
on painted and mosaic murals in Nablus.
Supermodel, Petra Nemcova, visits TYO Nablus in 2009.
That’s why I’m so excited about my Foundation’s
partnership with TYO. Together we’re enabling women to
develop and build on their business talents, and thus,
to help themselves, their families and wider society.
s
—Cherie Blair, Founder, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
Cherie Blair (far right), Nell Derick Debevoise, TYO Director (second from right),
and Henriette Kolb, CEO of Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (second from
left) meet with Palestinian TYO volunteers at Nablus Center, April 2009.
With your presence and support, Hani and his TYO team will be able to reach
other dark corners of the Middle East. And you can trust that their presence
in those tough spots will make things better for all of us.
— Quincy Jones
TYO at the National Children’s Museum (NCM)
s The yearlong exhibit “Taste of Nablus” at NCM in
Washington, DC (pictured above) provides a window into
Nabulsi children’s daily lives and their experience at TYO.
s Public hip-hop concert at TYO Nablus sponsored
by the United States Consulate in Jerusalem.
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Women’s Programs
Women in the Middle East have great potential as a lever
for the social change that the region so sorely needs to
TYO promotes women’s economic development
through entrepreneurship programs with support from
overcome its current challenges. In order to effectively
the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and other leading
leverage this opportunity, women need comprehensive
organizations. These programs provide customized
support that is appropriate and relevant for their context.
business development training, coaching, and confidence-
Accordingly, TYO promotes entrepreneurship among
building activities for high-potential young women to
women to facilitate their economic independence while
develop viable business plans based on their skills,
also addressing their needs for childcare and personal
education, and motivation to work. Implementing these
development.
plans will enable participants to generate income for
themselves and other female employees thus improving
the economic situation of families and the greater
community.
Spotlight on Female Entrepreneurs in Nablus
Fostering Women’s Entrepreneurship in Nablus (FWEN), implemented
by TYO with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, supports and
empowers nascent female entrepreneurs in Nablus, Palestine.
Haifa, FWEN Participant
Business Plan: Waste Paper Recycling Plant
Joining the FWEN program offered me a
chance to change my destiny. I’m from a
simple and poor family in Balata Refugee
Camp in Nablus. We live in a small home
with two rooms – we all sleep in one
room and the other is a kitchen, living
room and bathroom. Since my family
didn’t have money for my education or
the social network to help me find
work, I took loans from the Ministry
of Education to get a degree. I studied
Chemical Engineering at An Najah University
in Nablus.
When I heard about TYO’s
entrepreneurship program, I hoped to
have the chance to build skills and
connections that I couldn’t have on my
own and that I need to have in order to
support myself. Through this experience
I have learned that people who achieve
their dreams work very hard! I have also
learned that life is not only for men.
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Women can
have the same
opportunities
to participate
in business and
social life.
At the beginning of
FWEN, I was alone
dreaming of my business.
But now, thank goodness,
my family is supporting me to go
forward and open my recycling
plant! Starting this business
will provide me with social
and economic independence. I
will be able contribute more
to my family and then to
our community. People will
look at me differently: not
as a poor girl from a refugee
camp, but a successful and
creative businesswoman working
to make our society better. They
will respect me.
Heba, FWEN Participant
Business Plan: H2 Fashion (Palestinian
embroidery on modern clothing)
When I applied for FWEN, the first thing
I thought of was my daughter, Aya. I
don’t want her to have a childhood as
I did: I was married at 14 to a 30-yearold, with no chance to take part in this
decision. I got pregnant immediately, and
was divorced after just three months. I
fought my community for my rights, but
in order to get a divorce, I had to agree
not to see my daughter ever again. I want
her life to be different, with a chance to
get an education and have control over her
life.
After my divorce, I worked in many jobs
as a secretary and assistant but never
found real satisfaction or independence.
I applied for FWEN in order to have the
chance to make a living independently,
without being controlled by anyone.
The FWEN
program
gave me the
education that
I missed out
on, since I had to
drop out of school
when I married. Now
I’m stronger, more educated.
I learned to organize my thoughts and
analyze a complicated situation. I have
developed creativity. I also became
stronger and braver to face my family
and community. No one would dare force
anything on me now.
Teaching practical and parenting skills to
mothers – children’s first and most enduring teachers
– has a significant and sustained impact on children’s
well-being, reaches large numbers of children, and is an
essential aspect of TYO’s work.
Through ongoing community outreach, TYO has
understood women’s need and desire for activities
that improve them first as people, and consequently as
parents. In response to these needs, TYO offers mothers
the opportunity to learn practical skills like English and IT
training that will help them to find employment or support
their children’s learning.
Women also partake in parenting and First Aid
classes that teach skills directly related to child
development as well as fitness classes that
provide a healthy escape from everyday stress.
Though these programs, TYO helps adult
community members develop the resources
necessary to reach their individual potential and
thereby raise healthier and happier children.
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International Internship
Program
…At TYO, I was given the
opportunity to work and form
lasting relationships with
the most spirited, determined,
welcoming, and humbling youth
and women I have ever known…
The impact that these individuals
had on me, and the positive
changes I saw in them over
the summer, was overwhelming
and incredibly inspiring.
—Margaret Williams, two-time TYO International
Intern; MA Candidate, Tufts University,
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy,
Class of 2010.
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Creating the Next
Generation of Leaders
Throughout the year, TYO recruits
highly qualified American and other
international students and young
professionals to bring unique and in-demand
skills to TYO’s target community.
Over the course of each 10-week session, TYO interns
work full-time in cooperation with TYO staff to create,
deliver, and monitor enrichment programs for children,
The internship program prioritizes cultural exchange
youth and adults. Programs are driven by local needs as
between international interns and the local community.
well as interns’ expertise. Past programs include sports,
Upon arrival, international interns participate in a robust
Model United Nations, drama, arts and crafts, community
orientation including training not only about TYO’s
project management, and video production.
activities, but also cultural sensitivity and awareness. TYO
encourages interns to engage with the community by
The international internship program enables
TYO to provide expanded programming
at low cost. Unique classes created
sponsoring local travel, admission to cultural events, and
Arabic lessons, as well as hosting social events with local
staff and volunteers.
and implemented by interns provide
safe spaces, positive enrichment,
and valuable attention for
children who have outgrown
the TYO Core Program and
adolescents who often
lack opportunities due to
gaps in programming
elsewhere.
Through the internship program, local university-aged
volunteers collaborate with their international peers,
acting as classroom aids and translators. This experience
represents a valuable opportunity for the youth to
share their culture with international interns and also to
gain practical experience, facilitating
their readiness for a globalized
labor market.
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TYO is the only
breathing space where
I can express what
is inside of me.
—Mohammed Asfour,
TYO volunteer and An-Najah
National University student
Youth Volunteer Program
Learning and Leading Through Service
TYO trains local university students to support TYO
TYO university-aged volunteers are on the verge of
teachers and act as positive role models for children.
entering the work force, and perhaps even more
These volunteers gain access to invaluable opportunities
importantly, they are about to become parents. By
to develop life skills and foster global connections. They
sensitizing them to childhood as a unique phase of life and
earn academic credit and a tuition grant through their
the importance of play for cognitive development, TYO
work at TYO, as well as hard-to-come-by practical
furthers its commitment to improving conditions for future
experience that facilitates their school-to-work transition.
generations of young children in the Middle East. Providing
TYO’s service learning program is an effective way to
opportunities for engagement with international peers
positively engage the region’s large youth population,
through the intern program is another major added value
which otherwise risks frustration that can lead to self-
of TYO programming.
destructive or antisocial choices.
I am from Beita village near Huwwara. I study
Accounting at An-Najah University. Before I
volunteered at TYO I had so much free
time it was killing me. Now, I have
something important to do. I have
a message and I want to deliver
it: we have to care about these
children. If not, maybe after a
while we will see them in the
streets and they won’t be the
positive force for our society
they can be.
— Qayser, 21, Beita village
Qayser plays the drums
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for a crowd at TYO.
Coming 2011!
Tomorrow’s Youth Organization Center – Cairo, Egypt
The use of this customized facility
has been graciously donated
to TYO by Dr. Ayman Kandeel.
TYO is now working to replicate our model and the lessons we’ve learned in Nablus to other
communities in need around the Middle East. Projects in each location will reflect extensive interaction
with the local community and analysis of existing services, unmet needs and local priorities.
We welcome involvement from individuals and organizations interested in joining our journey by
contributing your time, expertise, funding or inspiration. Help us build a better future for the young people
of the Middle East and thereby, our entire global community!
1356 Beverly Road, Suite 200
McLean, VA 22101 USA
703 893 1143 (tel)
703 893 1227 (fax)
[email protected]
www.tomorrowsyouth.org
http://tomorrowsyouth.wordpress.com