Young Qataris Film Youth Perspectives on National Issues

 
January 10, 2010 - As part of a MEPI local grant project, thirteen students from Qatar ranging in age from 16 to 25 took part in a two-month set of training workshops where, for the first time, youth living in Qatar were able to produce films reflecting their perspectives on national issues.  The workshop - the creation of the award winning film maker, critic and workshop director Abdulrahman Najdi – was held at the Doha Youth Center in August 2009.  (complete text) (photo gallery) (video)

Applications Being Accepted for MEPI Student Leaders Program

The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), in coordination with United States Embassies in the region, is pleased to invite young applicants from the Middle East North Africa  (MENA) region to apply for the MEPI-sponsored Student Leaders program, a fully-funded five-week intensive leadership training program in the U.S. for university students. During the program, scheduled to begin on June 29, 2010, participants develop leadership and collective problem-solving skills, and explore U.S. history and culture to expand their leadership skills and knowledge.  (more text)

Yemeni Youth Engage in Civic Development and Political Participation

Under a MEPI local grant program, more than 600 Yemeni high school students, aged 16-18 (grades 10-12) from both sexes, engaged in civic activism opportunities vital to growth of a successful democracy through a civic education program organized by the Civil Development Foundation (CDF), a Sana’a-based NGO.

The program is part of MEPI and CDF’s continued efforts to stimulate youths’ interests and prepare them to be active and engaged citizens in a democratic system of governance.  (complete text)

Journalists and bloggers train on promoting human rights protection

Around 30 journalists and bloggers from Arab countries participated in a five day regional workshop on human rights that started on Saturday December 12, 2009 in Beirut.  The participants came from Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunis, Sudan, UAE, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon and Yemen.

The workshop was organized by the Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRITC), in cooperation with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) on a Civil Society Grant to enhance the role of the media in educating societies on human rights issues. (complete text)

MEPI Welcomes New Deputy Assistant Secretary Tamara Cofman Wittes

The Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative is delighted to welcome the new Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Tamara Cofman Wittes. DAS Wittes will lead the Bureau’s efforts in creating constructive partnerships between organizations and citizens in the U.S. and the Middle East and North Africa. She joins the State Department from the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. MEPI looks forward to continuing and expanding its work promoting political and economic opportunities throughout the region and building local and sustainable partnerships under the leadership of DAS Wittes.

Young Yemeni Activists Energetically Engage with Government Officials

November 23, 2009

On October 15, 2009, the Democracy School in Yemen, a Sana’a-based civic NGO, completed  a series of training activities designed to enhance the civic engagement and political empowerment of Yemeni youth.  Supported by the MEPI Civil Society Grants program, ninety young Yemeni activists took part in a series of workshops, organized by the School, on concepts of successful independent leadership and public involvement.  The majority of participants were drawn from members of the Children’s Parliament of 2004 and 2006, in addition to youth representatives  of Yemeni NGOs. (complete text)

MEPI Project Becomes Model for Domestic Violence Shelters in Region

Children’s kites and other art projects at the Queen Rania Family and Child Center

What started as a MEPI project in Jordan to build links between the public and private sectors to support victims of domestic violence has become a regional model for providing co-located services (a one-stop shop model) at the Dar Al-Wefaq center.  The center celebrated the launch of its co-located services November 9 under the patronage of Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi, becoming the first of its kind in the Middle East region. Now domestic violence victims can receive a wide range of services, from psycological counseling and legal services to career advising and family support services, all in one place.

This public-private partnership model was discussed in the “Working Toward Co-Location:  A Regional Training Workshop” organized by Vital Voices November 16-18 in Amman.  Participants from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen learned from the Jordanian experience and toured Dar Al-Wefaq as well as the Queen Rania Family and Child Center in Amman.

Secretary Clinton Announces Global Partnerships to Advance Cairo's "New Beginning"

Secretary Clinton delivered a major speech on November 3 in Marrakesh, Morocco at the Forum for the Future, an initiative of the countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa region (BMENA), the G8 countries, and civil society and private sector groups. She reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to broad engagement with Muslim communities around the world and outlined concrete steps the United States is taking to follow up on the "New Beginning" that President Obama launched in Cairo. (more)

The U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative Announces the Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship Program - Deadline December 15

Qatar University Female Students Bring out the Leader in Themselves

Given the proper tools to support their endless ambition, women, worldwide, can excel and rise to – or above - the expectations of their societies.  They are capable of absorbing and utilizing information that would make them better engaged citizens who confidently address publics and governments.  In Qatar, female students from Qatar University (QU) enjoyed a one-month Leadership Academy, organized by QU staff and led by regional and international experts.  Supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) local grants program, students from diverse majors at QU attended leadership and civic engagement workshops and sessions that resulted in the selection of community issues for which the students would advocate. (more)

Jordanian Youth Build Competent and Responsible Citizenship

The Jordan Center for Civic Education Studies (JCCES) successfully concluded its civic activities as part of the “Project Citizen”, funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) local grants program.  Through non-traditional teaching methodology that relied on delivering information through group team work and interaction, Project Citizen managed to inculcate concepts of civic engagement to hundreds of government secondary school students (aged 12-16) southern of Jordan, and develop public-minded young citizens who will act as a powerful force for social change in the country.  With support from the Jordanian Ministry of Education (MOE), JCCES worked with teachers to create a quality teaching/learning environment that nurtured community participation for students as they effortlessly engaged in the research and evaluation of public issues of societal concern. The students' devotion resulted in 24 project proposals that concern the inhabitants of Jordan’s southern region. (more)

Bahraini Non-Governmental Organizations Debut PSAs

On May 3, representatives from seven women's organizations in Bahrain screened nine Public Service Announcements (PSAs), each seconds in length, in an effort to bring issues affecting women to the attention of the Bahraini public. The PSAs are the end result of a three-week workshop in which fourteen women and one youth learned how to use the latest “prosumer” gear, and to write, film and edit video messages in response to social challenges such as: access to technology, women’s participation in public life (2010 elections), domestic abuse, illiteracy, youth development and the rights of Bahraini children to access citizenship through their mothers.  “We are pleased to be a part of the first efforts to bring this knowledge and training to the public, beginning with women who already demonstrate leadership capacity,” commented Alison Fast, Program Director at Barefoot Workshops and project implementer. The PSAs can be found on on MEPI Abu Dhabi YouTube channel. (more)

Jordan Embraces Volunteerism as Essential Part of its Culture

Twelve civil society organizations (CSOs) in Jordan’s different governorates have successfully planted the seed of volunteerism in their institutions and throughout their regions, kudos to the Jordanian East and West Center for Human Resources Development (We Center) that took the lead in equipping these CSOs with tools to institutionalize voluntary work.  The WE Center is proud to successfully complete its Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funded project, with 500 new volunteers, 25 voluntary initiatives, and Memorandums of Understanding with 12 non-governmental organizations. “The purpose of the project was to prove that volunteerism will contribute to a vibrant civil society and encourage partnership between citizens and CSOs,” commented project director Mahmoud Hishmeh. (more)

Human Rights NGOs in Yemen: Informed and Cooperative Action

Collaborative efforts always supersede individual ones, and achieve the intended outcome more effectively.  If non-governmental organizations (NGOs) join forces and work as a group, they will be able to address the government with a solid and powerful voice demanding change.  Yemeni NGOs dedicated to the promotion of human rights are improving their capacity and understanding of their role in affecting government policy, and learning how to work cooperatively and use the media in affecting public opinion.  Supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the Yemen Polling Center (YPC) organized a series of roundtable discussions, followed by a three-day workshop for participants from twenty-two Yemeni NGOs.  Participants engaged in an interactive discussion and training on building the capacity and advocacy efforts of these NGOs that would enable them to influence government legislative decisions. (more)

University Students in the UAE Actively Engage their Legislative Branch

Developing the civic literacy of the younger generation should be a priority goal for government officials and community leaders in all countries.  It is an important goal for the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).  The civic values taught to youth are the groundwork for their future contribution to their societies. Today, officials and educators in the UAE are placing a strong emphasis on youth development and engagement in civic affairs, and in return, Emirati youth have shown tremendous efforts in proactively contributing to their communities and seeking civic participation.  Supported by the MEPI local grants program, Dr. Ray La Bonte, Dean of Ras Al Khaimah Men’s College, incorporated the examination of legislative processes into his 16-week English Academic course.  During the course, his students learned about the lawmaking processes in the UAE and the United States and gained a detailed understanding of the functions of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) and its role and impact on UAE education policy. (more)

Gulf Journalists Discuss Democracy and Media Issues

Forty journalists from four Gulf Countries, including women journalists, gathered to discuss democratic transition in the Arab World and how to transform democracy into a cultural concept.  The two-day workshop, which was organised by the Network of Democrats in the Arab World (NDAW), was hosted by the Al-Wasat Newspaper and took place in Bahrain from the 25th to 26th of January 2009. The MEPI funded project aims at enhancing the capacity of Arab journalists to monitor media violations, combat restrictions on independent media, and protect journalists.  Participants discussed steps that journalists need to take in order to create a network that gathers them together, allows them to communicate, and unites them in facing obstacles. (more)

Promoting Yemeni Women’s Political Participation through Media Tools

Yemeni women have been successful in removing many legal obstacles to their political advancement.  However, they still have a long way to go in terms of overcoming social barriers that pose a serious challenge to their integration in the public sphere.  Moreover, gender stereotyping often undermines women’s capacity to lead by misrepresenting their genuine talents and aptitudes.  In Yemen, the burden often lies on civic groups to collaborate and deliver information that breaks down cultural biases against women and eradicates discriminatory practices.  One such group in Yemen, the Awam Development and Cultural Institution, a non-governmental not-for-profit organization, organized a media awareness campaign, supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) local grants program.  The project used audio and audiovisual tools to alleviate misguided perceptions on women and encourage their representation in upcoming parliamentary elections. (more)

Omani Women En Route to Economic Independence

In Oman, small businesses are considered a critical factor for economic growth and recovery.  Assisting women in attaining professional entrepreneurial skills to maximize small business potential is a driving force for many countries economic growth.  Supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) local grants program, Dar Al Atta, a leading charitable organization in Oman, started a program to encourage small and medium business ownership for economically disadvantaged women from different regions in Oman.  To improve and enhance the economic climate for women’s entrepreneurship, Dar Al Atta conducted training for 65 women from low income families throughout the country in January and February 2009.  Participants learned how to launch a business, achieve professional success and climb the entrepreneurship ladder. (more)

Partnership for Sustainable Social Responsibility

This week Jordanian NGO Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center (UJRC) held their Corporate Social Market Expo as part of their MEPI Local Grant project supporting corporate social responsibility (CSR), "Partnership for Sustainable Social Responsibility."  The Expo marked the launch of a new national "Forum for Social Responsibility" in Jordan.  The attendees represented major Jordanian businesses, international corporations doing business in Jordan, government entities, and civil society groups.  Representatives from several large businesses spoke about their contributions in the field of CSR, and important NGOs shared their experience working with the private sector  to serve the community, the poor, youth groups, the underprivileged, and students at schools and universities through scholarships and renovations of old schools. (more)

Women Political Leaders in Yemen Develop Advocacy Aptitude

Women political activists in Yemen will soon be equipped with effective advocacy tools that will increase their influence in addressing the Parliament, as well as their abilities to harness public support on legislative issues.  Supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) local grants program, the Democracy School has so far trained about 60 out of 120 former women parliamentary and municipal council candidates on campaigning, advocacy skills, community outreach, and support for women's issues.  This interactive workshop, held in February 2009, is part of the School’s "Women’s Shadow Parliament" project, and is the second in a series of four workshops to build women’s advocacy competence. (more)