About Us

The Middle East Children's Institute or MECI has developed an innovative, unique pilot program that is transforming two communities in the West Bank and Jordan through a three-pillared approach: children's education, women's empowerment, and economic development.

MECI's comprehensive after school program for elementary school age children addresses severe health issues through a nourishing food program, builds skills through academic tutoring, and provides psychosocial support through art therapy programs in music, fine arts, drama and athletics. In addition, local women are organized and employed through a women's association, which stimulates the distressed local economy through purchases from local farmers and suppliers.

MECI was founded in 2005 and is 501c3 tax-exempt organization.

Fondation Middle East Children's Institute International, a Swiss charity, was established in 2011 and funds MECI programs along with its USA partner, the Middle East Children's Institute or MECI, a tax-exempt public charity, which was established in 2005. The mission is to address the educational psychosocial health and other basic humanitarian needs of Middle Eastern children and women in both war-torn and impoverished areas. READ MORE

MECI's innovative, unique holistic community development model has transformed communities in the Middle East through a three-pillared approach: children's education, women's empowerment, and economic development. MECI's comprehensive after school program for elementary school age children addresses severe health issues through a nourishing food program, builds skills through academic tutoring, and provides psychosocial support through art therapy programs in music, fine arts, drama and athletics. In addition, local women are organized and employed through a women's association, the program also stimulates the distressed local economy through purchases from local farmers and suppliers.

First implemented in 2007 by MECI, the model comprehensive community development program has grown from an after school program for 175 elementary girls to a program now delivering services to over 550 elementary aged boys and girls as well as a municipality of some 6,000 residents in which it operates. In the fall of 2011, Fondation MECI funded its inaugural project, "girls' club". This new program was established for over 200 secondary school girls who graduated from the elementary MECI program since 2007. These girls were in need of continued support to maintain the foundation for academic performance and leadership training that they received through MECI in grades 1-4.

Through MECI, children and women are given a safe-space, coping mechanisms to develop and thrive as well as tools towards building a strong future civil society and working towards peace.