Life called me to TYO as I finished up my experience working with Peace Corps in China. I was drawn to the fellowship position as it combined both of my passions: education and experiencing the cultures of the world. As the taxi brought me into Nablus for my first time the wind was blowing into the car and the call to prayer began as it was 5:00 in the morning. All I can remember is an overwhelming feeling that once again life had brought me to the exact place I needed to be.
Read MoreTYO has been a staple in the Nablus community since its onset in 2008 and many children have grown up as beneficiaries of our multilevel programming. In order to learn about the long-term impact(s) of TYO programming on development, we must take the time so speak with our most senior program recipients. This week we had the opportunity to meet with Jenan and her son Salim, who have both been involved with TYO since the beginning, to hear about their experiences.
Read MoreIn my English classes, I am using the language to talk about my family and my community, and also to learn about important musicians from the United States and Europe. As a singer and guitar player, it is great to be able to understand what they are saying. I’m sure that my time at TYO improving my English and meeting new people will be important for me in order to achieve my goal.
Read MoreObaida is from Tammoun, a village between Jenin and Nablus. She is a recent graduate from Al Quds Open University in Tubas where she studied finance and banking administration. She has been a volunteer with the After-School Academic Support program and a student in the STEP! II EFL program since October 2016. Obaida is enjoying the experience greatly and is sad she did not learn about the organization before fall 2016.
Read MoreAs poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke says, “Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”
Read MoreThe After-school Academic Support for Kids program provides students between the ages of 9-14 with classroom instruction in English, Arabic, math, and homework assistance. TYO’s multidisciplinary approach to education allows students to learn through play in contrast to the traditional methods of teaching widely practiced in the local school system.
Read MoreEducation is so important. We need education so that we can develop ourselves and develop our country, and also because education really helps people. I love working with the little children, but it can be hard. In the beginning, they always started to cry, and it can be hard to control them, but we try. We try to hold them and be soft to them. And we succeed! My best memory of playing with them is when we went outside with another class and played football with my class against his. My team won!
Read MoreTYO’s Academic Support Services Program has just begun and is already promising to be a rewarding session. This program provides students between the ages of 9-14 with educational lessons in English, math, and Arabic, as well as homework support. We have many return students and are welcoming new faces to program this fall. Take a look at how TYO’s holistic approach to education can impact entire families and improve relationships in this week’s interview with Wafa, who has two daughters enrolled at TYO, Reem and Aya.
Read MorePeople often say that jokes are the most difficult thing to translate. While this can sometimes be true, joking can actually transcend language barriers. It’s also a good way to trick people into learning a language. Comedy is a great way to learn a language, or really anything for that matter.
Read MoreTYO is gearing up to start the Fall Session of the Academic Support Program for students between ages 9-14. What started out as a pilot project for the residents of the Khallet El Amoud neighborhood, the Academic Support Program has been scaled up with incredible success to welcome children from the wider Nablus community, including all four of the refugee camps in the city.
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