Bridging the economic gap and building social capital and trust among young Palestinians and Israelis through hybrid STEM education.
31.771959, 35.217018
4
of ~134 Arab/Palestinian localities in Israel rank in the upper median of Israel’s National Economic Index.[1]
21%
Although 21% of Israelis are Arabs, they represent only 1-2% of workers in tech.[2]
65%
Arab/Palestinian income in Israel is only 65% that of an Israeli Jew with the same level of education.[3]
MEET introduced me to the worlds of technology, entrepreneurship and business that are at the core of what I do today. But most importantly, in MEET I had the first real chat with a Jewish-Israeli person, a first Jewish-Israeli friend, and it was the first time I worked with Jewish-Israelis on projects I genuinely cared about
Our Commitment
In partnership with the Julius Baer Foundation MEET (Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow) will:
- develop a recruitment plan to ensure equal representation (50/50) for residents of central areas and those hailing from underserved communities, with a total of 120 individuals attending MEET's STEM education programmes annually.
- provide participants with a high-quality computer science and entrepreneurial education.
- inspire them to use their innovation and leadership skills for positive social change.
- design and implement a new ‘tech ethics' curriculum to cultivate personal and professional integrity and tackle inequalities of wealth and opportunity.
MEET (Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow) reduces wealth inequality between Israeli and Palestinian youth while inspiring them to find common ground.
Since 2004, MEET has partnered with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to teach computer science, entrepreneurialism and leadership to Israeli and Palestinian high schoolers in integrated classrooms. Participants develop personal and professional connections, shared skill sets, values and a capacity for tech innovation.
Language, culture and geography separate Arab/Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank from their more prosperous neighbours in central areas.
STEM education and career opportunities are limited in marginalised communities, which has led to a near absence of Palestinians in tech and entrepreneurialism and a growing wealth gap.
Mutual distrust, an absence of intercultural familiarity, and political strife are common.
In the past, MEET’s focus for recruiting was on the gender and ethnic backgrounds of the students. With the support of the Julius Baer Foundation, MEET will add a third axis in its recruitment strategy to address the gap between students from opposite geographical and socio-economic backgrounds.
Expected outcomes include:
- 50% of MEET’s student body consists of teenagers hailing from underserved communities and peripheral areas
- All graduates design tech-innovative projects and solutions that strive to reduce inequalities
- Over 85% of participants express interest in working with people from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
- Over 85% of participants report increased confidence, knowledge in computer science and entrepreneurship
[1] Source: Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2010 Census
[2] Source: Al Monitor 8 April 2022 https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/04/israels-tech-future-lies-arab-entrepreneurs
[3] Source: https://www.davar1.co.il/26586/
Become a Changemaker
Make an impact that lasts a lifetime — discover opportunities at MEET to donate, volunteer, work, and learn.
