TYO believes firmly in the power of collaboration.
TYO is committed to working with like-minded organizations and individuals to best serve our target community and fulfill our mission. We are proud to cooperate with the illustrious organizations described here and are eager to build additional relationships as we expand.
TYO collaborates with the Abraham’s Path Initiative to facilitate intercultural connections as well as economic development. We co-host delegations of Palestinian and international youth and high-level visitors on the Path, beginning in Nablus and throughout the West Bank.
An Najah University has been a strategic partner since the earliest stages of TYO Nablus. An Najah University has offered a great deal of assistance in the establishment of TYO Nablus and their students have been an invaluable addition to the TYO Team. Its professors play an important role in the development of TYO curricula, and An Najah students make up the majority of TYO’s Youth Volunteer corps. We are grateful for An Najah’s ongoing support of and active participation in TYO’s work.
Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (CBFW)
Beginning with Cherie Blair’s visit to Nablus, TYO teamed with her Foundation to promote entrepreneurship among young women. The first project in Nablus is entering its second phase, with ten women-run businesses being incubated. TYO and CBFW are piloting the model honed in Nablus in Lebanon starting in Spring 2011 and look forward to expanding throughout the region.
Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
TYO Founder Hani Masri has been a member of the Clinton Global Initiative since its inauguration. He established TYO as a CGI commitment in 2007 and TYO has been showcased at the annual meeting each September since then. TYO is proud of our CGI commitments and grateful for their support.
The National Children’s Museum (NCM)
TYO and the National Children’s Museum (NCM) in Washington DC share a passion for engaging and empowering children. NCM, like TYO, offers educational and recreational activities for children and families that inspire children to care about and improve the world. Through its interactive exhibits, online community, and unique national programs and partnerships, NCM is transforming the concept of a traditional museum by becoming a catalyst to inspire and empower kids to speak up, take action, and get engaged in their communities. Through 2013, NCM is operating as a Museum without Walls, participating in a variety of community events and working with other arts and cultural organizations to develop creative partnerships that benefit kids and families. This spring, NCM opened the Launch Zone, where kids and families can prototype and test exhibit and program concepts. Read more about the partnership and watch for developments on our blog.
Middle East Partnership Initiative, US Department of State (MEPI)
TYO fully shares in MEPI’s mission to create vibrant partnerships between America and the citizens of the Middle East and North Africa in order to empower them to build more pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies throughout the region. Beginning in spring 2011 with support from the MEPI Local Grants Program, TYO’s “Enriching our Community: Learning to Serve, Serving to Read” program will use Scholastic’s My Arabic Library to teach nearly 400 children in Nablus how to read. TYO is proud to be a part of the Initiative and looks forward to growing the partnership in the future.
The Mohamed S. Farsi Foundation (MSFF)
Founded in 2009, MSFF is active internationally and recognizes no barriers of race, religion or culture. Although ecumenical in scope and reach, the Mohamed S. Farsi Foundation is active in three core areas: the improvement of healthcare; the advancement of education and the protection of our global heritage.
TYO works with RMF, a Lebanese non-profit and non-governmental organization, on the Women Entrepreneurs in Lebanon project supported by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.
Right to Play (RtP) has led numerous trainings for TYO teachers and volunteers. TYO sports teacher Haitham Okeh uses the activities and methods of the training on a regular basis. TYO volunteers frequently express their appreciation for the behavior management skills and activities they learned. What’s more, teachers comment on the difference between volunteers who had the RtP training and those who didn’t. We work regularly with RtP staff in Ramallah and Nablus to continue and expand this collaboration. Keep an eye on our blog for updates.
TYO has been working closely with SEC on its Fostering Women Entreprenuers in Nablus program since 2009. Based in Ramallah, SEC provides targeting training for budding female entrepreneurs participating in the program.
TYO has teamed with SoukTel SMS services since our inception and is excited about expanding our cooperation in the context of our women’s entrepreneurship program. This new collaboration between TYO, SoukTel, and CBFW will expand the use of mobile technology to provide young women and mothers with useful information about financial management, parenting, and health.
Students of the World (SOW) is a nonprofit production company that creates original media content through collaboration between teams of college students, experienced storytellers and production professionals. TYO has been collaborating with SOW since a documentary team visited Nablus in 2009. We look forward to the SOW National Team returning to Nablus in the summer of 2011 to film, photograph, and document our programs!
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)
UNRWA provides assistance, protection and advocacy for some 4.8 million registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, pending a solution to their plight. The camps are extremely overcrowded, with a lack of space, particularly parks and playgrounds, for children to play. TYO works closely with local UNRWA staff in Nablus to ensure that these challenges are being addressed.
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAoC)
In 2009, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Youth Fund awarded TYO a grant for its “Speaking for Ourselves: Youth-led Do-plomacy” project. TYO’s project was chosen out of 500+ submissions for this very exciting award. Read more about the Kalimatina Initiative.
As the primary American presence in Nablus, TYO is proud to be a reference point for the US Consulate in Jerusalem. We cooperate regularly, hosting cultural events, business experts, and other high level delegations from the US at the TYO Center in Nablus.