As an Israeli adult, it is difficult not to give up hope that our kids can grow up and live in peace. I may be naive, but I did not lose hope. I am a believer that our region can be more peaceful, especially when it comes to Palestinians and Israelis.
And so at the end of 2015, I’m asking you to be believers as well and choose hope together with me and two generous donors who will each match your donation.
I want your help supporting the Israeli and Palestinian youth of MEET: Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, where I am very proud to be a supporter and board member. We want 400+ young Israelis and Palestinians to overcome fear, prejudice and physical barriers to learn and work together in teams and create technology projects that have a positive impact next year. I'm asking your help to support 80 of these new students - the 2016 class.
Why?
Because someday my kids will ask me if I did everything I could to make their home safe, just and peaceful. I can’t guarantee that future - we all know how daunting the challenges are. But I don’t believe in giving up. So I’m taking action to make that future more likely.
You are my friends. You are accomplished, talented, and know what it means to stand up for what you believe when others call you crazy. What I ask of you is supporting the 2016 class of Israeli and Palestinian students.
Any amount you donate will send a message of hope - and we have 2 generous donors who pledged to match twice whatever we raise - so your donation has a double impact! So - every $ you give actually means $3 for MEET!
I truly encourage you to watch the videos in this campaign to better understand the impact such a program has on Israelis and Palestinians youth. It's truly remarkable.
About MEET and our impact
Recently mentioned by President Obama as “an example of how innovation is reshaping the Middle East,” MEET brings together the most promising Israeli and Palestinian young leaders to educate and empower them to create positive social and political change, through technology and entrepreneurship. For 11 years we’ve partnered with MIT, Google, HP, Hebrew University, Facebook and others. Recent alumni have launched projects like Groupic, a mobile app that aims to counter media bias, and SideGuide, a site that helps users discover the daily life of the “other” nationality.
When you mix youth, technology and entrepreneurship amazing things can happen.
Learn more at All ThingsD, WIRED, Fast Company & MIT President Reif.
What your help will accomplish
This year, I am trying to raise $10k to sponsor 80 Israeli and Palestinian 15-year olds to learn technology, entrepreneurship and leadership together as new MEET students from MIT instructors. They come from Israel and the West Bank to work in bi-national, mixed gender teams. Together, they build website prototypes, create a business plan, and pitch it to professionals like Adi Soffer Teeni, GM of Facebook Israel, and her team who were impressed and inspired to see MEET students pitch their projects this summer.
Each $ raised up to $10,000 will be matched by two donors, so your help will have a 3-times impact!
MEET’s impact since 2004
Scaled to work in 11 cities in the West Bank and within Israel, with two hubs in Jerusalem and Nazareth
Achieved 72% of alumni being actively involved with each other and MEET despite social pressures and the demands of the army, university, etc (the oldest alumni are in their early 20s)
Launched a Venture Lab with Google and a 3DayStartup hackathon for 20+ teams of MEET alumni to develop their own social and business ventures to impact the region (see video below)
- Impacted hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis, and 100+ MIT students, alumni and faculty who spent time in the Middle East learning about the region and how they can contribute