MEET aims to break the long-held misconceptions Israelis and Palestinians have of each other in order to foster cooperation and understanding among the youth that are likely future leaders of our region. Here’s why our approach is unique:

		• MEET harnesses the students’ interests in technology creating a process in which mutual respect and understanding comes from working together and accomplishing tangible real-world goals. • MEET uses technology to create a common language between Israelis and Palestinians that can be translated into future cooperation between the communities. • MEET is an environment in which the pursuit of excellence and creative thinking are paramount. • MEET works to sustain participant relationships over long periods of time. The controlled atmosphere of a summer program is an excellent place to start building these relationships, but it is out in the realities of their region in which they must thrive. MEET mentors continue working throughout the year with the students continuing to develop their projects and build on their relationships with one another.

Vision
Middle East Education through Technology (MEET), is founded on the belief that Israeli and Palestinian youth need to develop common ground between them, where they can meet and discover their cultures, their similarities, their differences — their humanity. Though only a few miles separate most Israelis and Palestinians, their views of each other are largely based on propaganda, politics, and tragedy — rarely through personal interaction. MEET facilitates that common ground through an innovative educational environment, for Israeli and Palestinian high school students to learn to look at one another not only as fellow individuals, but even as potential partners.

The MEET model is one that is encountered in business around the world, where every day professionals work together to advance goals within culturally and politically diverse environments. Identities are reframed around professional interests rather than political ideologies, and stereotypes gradually begin to take a back seat to cooperation and relationship building. Participants will be attracted to MEET for the tangible skills it will instil in them: computer science, leadership and entrepreneurship. But they will leave MEET with those skills as well as something much more powerful: the tools to make a difference in their communities and beyond, together.