Pilgrims of Ibillin Mar Elias Educational Institutions

Friday, August 5, 16 Mar Elias schools in Ibillin,

• Kindergarten founded by Abuna Elias Chacour in 1970 with help of Nuns from . • Father Chacour is a Melkite Catholic priest assigned to village of Ibillin in 1965. • Melkite: speakers in Syria, Palestine, and Egypt; Catholics who keep Communion with Rome. • Chacour grew up in Biram; left with family in 1948, when Israelis destroyed their village.

Friday, August 5, 16 Fr. Chacour’s Vision rooted in Biram

Friday, August 5, 16 Four schools and one program = MEEI

Kindergarten (1970) 300 3-5 year olds High School (1982) 1200 students in grades 9-12 Elementary School (1997) 650 students in grades 1-6 Middle School 450 students in grades 7-8

Gifted Program: Fridays, enrichment in arts, humanities and STEM, Students from MEEI and other schools around Galilee. 150 students. Grades 4-8. A Jewish teacher and several MEEI teachers. Founded in 2000.

Total Students 2750

Largest Arab high School in , and perhaps the largest Arab elementary school as well.

Friday, August 5, 16 Mar Elias Campus from the top of the Elementary School and Guest house

Friday, August 5, 16 Demographics:

MEEI students today are Arab. Open to Jewish students, but don’t attend.

61% Muslim 1% 38% Christian

55% Girls. This is significant in a male dominated culture.

65% of the students need some financial aid.

High School students are from 45 Galilean villages, from as far away as Jerusalem.

Teachers: Muslim 44% Jewish 3 % Christian 53%

47 Christian Schools in Israel with 33,000 students. The only places within Israel society where Muslims, , Druze and even Jews meet as peers.

Friday, August 5, 16 Israeli government schools for are underfunded and thus inferior to the schools for Jewish children. Friday, August 5, 16 Jewish Teacher & Arab Colleague

Friday, August 5, 16 High School Students & Teacher

Friday, August 5, 16 Elias Chacour: “Christian, Muslims, and Jews are BLOOD BROTHERS, children of Abraham.”

Teach truths that provide principles that last a lifetime; educate the young in the ways of peace, reconciliation and justice.

From 3rd grade on, students are taught formal Arabic, Hebrew and English

There are waiting lists for elementary schools and high school.

Graduates are academically well prepared for advanced studies and careers.

MEEI high school students continually place at the TOP of Israeli educational tests.

MEEI graduates are professionals and community leaders in the Galilee and Arab communities of Israel and Palestine.

Friday, August 5, 16 MEEI students have contact with Jewish schools and programs.

International Peace studies program: 8-10 each from MEEI and from the Jewish village of Sasa visit Italy annually for a conference. Italian students visit Ibillin/Sasa.

Mar Elias 4th grade exchange experience with nearby kibbutz. Visit each other one day a week for a semester.

MEEI high school classes have regular exchanges with a high school in Jerusalem. Exchanges focus on STEM.

Jewish teacher from Sasa produces an MEEI drama project.

Jewish/Arab music project: MEEI and Leo Baeck School in . Middle school students learn to play steel drums.

Building skills of Forgiveness. Based on experiences in Northern Ireland.

Friday, August 5, 16 Elementary English Class & Library

Friday, August 5, 16 Church & Baptismal Fount

Friday, August 5, 16 MEEI budget about $8 Million, according to the Israeli Ministry of Education, Tuition is paid by families and scholarships. 65 % of the students need tuition assistance.

Pilgrims of Ibillin funds for MEEI go to a separate bank account in Israel.

2015 Grants from Pilgrims of Ibillin:

$80,000 for tuition scholarships. Half high school, half elementary. $80,000 Furnishings and Equipment. Elementary music room equipment. 21 projectors and screens for high school classrooms. Movable Sun shade for elementary playground. Fitness center equipment. $21,000 Grants to six Peacemaking Partner Organizations. $35,000 for student trips to the US (23 students); Strategic Planning trips to Israel. $10,000 for travel of Father Chacour to the US and printing of MEEI books. Staff costs in US; under $50,000.

Total: $226,000

Friday, August 5, 16 In 2014, MEEI became a stand alone NON-Governmental Organization, no longer officially tied to the Melkite Church.

MEEI Board was empowered to make all school decisions. They developed a Strategic Plan in 2012.

Strategic Planning assistance was provided by Pilgrims of Ibillin 2012-2016, Rev. Joan Deming and Rev Dr. Duncan Ferguson.

Pilgrims provided the leadership and guidance to develop the framework for the Strategic Plan. MEEI Board and faculty provided 100% of the content of the Strategic Plan.

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