Tomorrows Youth Organization

TOMORROW'S YOUTH ORGANIZATION (TYO) IS A NON-PROFIT, NON-GOVERNMENTAL AMERICAN ORGANIZATION THAT IS WORKING TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY CENTERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST SERVING CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. TYO CENTERS WILL PROVIDE NON-FORMAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE IN COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. BEYOND THE CORE PROGRAM TARGETED AT UNDERPRIVILEGED 2- TO 8-YEAR-OLDS, TYO WILL WELCOME ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL TYO STAFF WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BEFORE OPENING THE CENTER TO ENSURE THAT THE ACTIVITIES OFFERED RESPOND TO LOCAL NEEDS AND INTERESTS, AS WELL AS ADVANCING THE TYO MISSION.

EDUCATIONTYO'S CURRICULUM WAS DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. IT IS THE FIRST PSYCHOSOCIAL, NON-FORMAL CURRICULUM CREATED IN PALESTINE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN CONFLICT. THE FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS ARE:IDENTITY | COMMUNICATION | COLLABORATIONEARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (AGES 2-8)TYO IS COMMITTED TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CREATES STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENTS FOR ACTIVE LEARNING, SELF-DISCOVERY, AND PLAY. EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE RIGHT TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS INVESTMENT IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL FOR THOSE LIVING IN CIRCUMSTANCES OF TRAUMA AND DEPRIVATION. WE KNOW THE GREATEST INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITIES BEGINS WITH CHILDREN.SINCE WE OPENED OUR DOORS, WE HAVE OFFERED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS TO CHILDREN STARTING AT AGE 4 YEARS OLD. HOWEVER, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE QATAR FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT, TYO EXPANDED EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS CHILDREN STARTING AT 2 YEARS OLD. SESSIONS FOCUS ON EARLY COGNITIVE STIMULATION AND ENCOURAGE PEER SOCIALIZATION AND LEARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM PLACES SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON DIAGNOSIS AND EARLY INTERVENTION FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES.NON-FORMAL EDUCATION (AGES 9-14)TYO IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING CHILDREN THROUGH NON-FORMAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. NON-FORMAL EDUCATION GIVES CHILDREN THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO BUILD THEIR COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL SKILLS.CHILDREN COME TO TYO ACCUSTOMED TO DISMISSING THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR EMOTIONS; THE NON-FORMAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP THEM RE-DISCOVER OPEN EXPRESSION AND EXPLORE THEIR EMOTIONS. ISOLATED AND OVERCROWDED REFUGEE CAMPS AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES LACK THE IMAGINATIVE ATMOSPHERE AND OPEN SPACES CHILDREN NEED TO PLAY AND BE CREATIVE. OUR CENTER BECOMES THAT SAFE AND CREATIVE SPACE FOR CHILDREN TO DEVELOP AND GROW. TYO EMPOWERS CHILDREN WHO OTHERWISE LACK THE SPACE NEEDED FOR SELF-REALIZATION.FORMAL EDUCATION SUPPORT (AGES 14-18)BUILDING CHILDREN'S CONFIDENCE THROUGH NON-FORMAL EDUCATION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF TYO'S EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, HOWEVER OVER TIME, IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT CHILDREN WERE STRUGGLING WITH THE LACK OF SUPPORT IN THEIR FORMAL EDUCATION. WE KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING IT CAN BE TO WATCH BRILLIANT YOUNG PEOPLE STRUGGLE IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS AND A LACK OF CONDUCIVE LEARNING TOOLS.THROUGH ADDRESSING THEIR SUPPLEMENTARY EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, WE BEST PREPARE CHILDREN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. OUR ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON EARLY INTERVENTION THROUGH ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ADDRESSING WEAKNESSES IN ADOLESCENTS' EDUCATION EARLY ON IN KEY AREAS SUCH AS ARABIC, ENGLISH, AND MATHEMATICS, AND ENSURING ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN LATER YEARS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL.

WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT:WOMEN PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE FAMILY AND AS LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE EQUIP WOMEN TO BUILD ON THEIR OWN SELF-CARE, SELF-CONFIDENCE, LEARNING AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE TO ACT AS A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR FAMILY AND SOCIETY, AND TO ESTABLISH A SAFE, NURTURING HOME ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.THE WOMEN'S GROUPTHE WOMEN'S GROUP IMPARTS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HEALTH AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OTHER LIFE SKILLS. WE OFFER EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR MOTHERS THAT SUPPORT THEIR PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THIS DIRECTLY IMPROVES EACH FAMILY'S WELFARE AND MULTIPLIES THE IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR EFFORTS.WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ACCREDITED PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE GUEST LECTURED TO THE WOMEN WE SERVE, INCLUDING: THE PALESTINIAN CHARITABLE FAMILY PLANNING AND PROTECTION SOCIETY, THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTER FOR TORTURED VICTIMS, THE PALESTINIAN WORKING WOMAN SOCIETY FOR DEVELOPMENT, THE PALESTINIAN COUNSELING CENTER, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCE CENTER, YMCA NABLUS, AND AN-NAJAH UNIVERSITY.WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT AND PARENTING PROGRAMWITH SUPPORT FROM THE QATAR FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT, WEPP WAS DEVELOPED TO EXPAND OUR SUPPORT EFFORTS FOR MOTHERS; TO OFFER THEM TRAININGS AND SEMINARS ON HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, PARENTING & CHILDREN'S NEEDS, EDUCATION & LITERACY, AND RECOGNIZING WOMEN'S RIGHTS. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, WE HELP ADULT COMMUNITY MEMBERS DEVELOP THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO REACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL AND THEREBY RAISE HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER CHILDREN. TYO HAS PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ACCREDITED PROFESSIONALS TO HELP LEAD THESE DISCUSSIONS, INCLUDING: DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS AND AN-NAJAH UNIVERSITY.MOTHER-CHILD COMMUNICATIONWOMEN REGULARLY ACCOMPANY THEIR CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM TO IMPROVE MOTHER - CHILD COMMUNICATION AND DISCIPLINE SKILLS, USING TECHNIQUES THE MOTHERS HAVE LEARNED UNDER THE TEACHER'S GUIDELINES AND SUPERVISION. WE PROVIDE WOMEN WITH A SAFE SPACE AND PLATFORM TO CANDIDLY DISCUSS THEIR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS. WE ALSO CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THEM IN NEEDS OUTSIDE OF OUR CAPACITY.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP: THE MIDDLE EAST YOUTH POPULATION PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS CHALLENGES. PALESTINE'S POPULATION, A MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15-29, IS NO EXCEPTION. WHILE ACCESS TO EDUCATION IS RELATIVELY HIGHER IN PALESTINE THAN OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, PALESTINIAN YOUTH FACE BARRIERS TO QUALITY AND RELEVANT EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTHY PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND A LACK OF OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. TYO OFFERS YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO CREATE SMALL BUSINESSES AND GENERATE MUCH-NEEDED INCOME; ALTERNATIVES TO A STAGNANT PALESTINIAN ECONOMY.THE PROGRAM RECRUITS GRADUATES FROM DIVERSE FIELDS INCLUDING STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY/IT, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS), AND THOSE IN VOCATIONAL AND OTHER FIELDS WITH DEMONSTRATED ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, TO PARTICIPATE IN A YEAR-LONG BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAM.THE PROGRAM INCORPORATES A HOLISTIC APPROACH. ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS ARE PROVIDED WITH BOTH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND BUSINESS ENGLISH, BUT ALSO COACHING, MENTORING, AND CONFIDENCE-BUILDING ACTIVITIES. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS COMPETE IN A PUBLIC BUSINESS PLAN PITCHING EVENT. A FINAL SELECTION OF ENTREPRENEURS WITH HIGH-POTENTIAL BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL GROWTH PLANS WILL RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING FOR THEIR BUSINESS LAUNCH.EXPERIENCE TO EMPLOYMENTTYO IS COMMITTED TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGING THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AS THEY ARE (QUITE LITERALLY) THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM PROVIDES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A POSITIVE OUTLET FOR THEIR TIME AND ENERGY, WHILE CULTIVATING PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR THEIR FUTURE. HUNDREDS OF YOUNG ADULTS HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY TYO IN CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, WORKING WITH AND MENTORING CHILDREN WITH PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING.

TYO OPERATES A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF THE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO THE PALESTINIAN POPULATION, BOTH THROUGH THE TOMORROW'S YOUTH ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS OTHER AID PROGRAMS AVAILABLE IN THE AREA.