BUILDING PEACE ON THE DESKTOPS OF STUDENTS

Each year in its fall meeting, the Board of Directors of Pilgrims of Ibillin goes through a rigorous planning process to develop an annual Operating Plan which outlines Pilgrims’ goals for fundraising and programming over the coming year.  

Since 1995 we have sent more than $2,500,000 to peacemaking organizations in the Holy Land.  Funding from Pilgrims of Ibillin has helped provide financial aid for needy, worthy students; construction of buildings; purchase of equipment such as computers; and other special programs and projects.   Your contributions will help Pilgrims continue to make this kind of difference. 

Goals for 2011  

Scholarships ...The Ministry of Education of Israel provides some subsidy for each student to pay for

teachers-salaries but those funds have been reduced by 50% in the past three years. It is necessary for families to pay a modest tuition. Due to the present economic situation in Israel, parents of many of the students are unemployed or under-employed.  In fact, 60% of Arabic children within the state of Israel live below the official poverty level.  Therefore, it is imperative to provide some scholarship aid to needy families.  Sixty-five% of MEEI families receive some financial assistance for their students' enrollment.  No family receives 100% tuition assistance. All families contribute to the support of educating their children.   Goal: $70,00

Gifted Students Program ....  2007-2008 is the first year Mar Elias High School has had an independent class for talented and gifted pupils.  Having such a class requires additional financial support, but this offering also helps MEEI maintain its place at the educational peak among schools in Israel.  Goal: $15,000

High School Expansion

Computer labs constantly need to be upgraded and added to, as sophisticated software has made new computers with expanded capacity a necessity, not a luxury. In 2011, $10,00 is earmarked for a new server and new computers to serve the MEEI library. 

Advanced Training for Teachers and Extra Coaching for Students

Several new SMARTboard presentation rooms at MEEI make new teaching methods possible, and also make advanced training for teachers necessary!  In addition, teachers are being hired for expanded hours to allow the school to break several 44-student Gifted Classes into smaller groups. The result of extra coaching will be higher graduation test scores and increased opportunities for many Mar Elias High School Students.

Renovation of the Original High School Building, Now Serving as Home for the 7th and 8th Graders ... and for 120 Kindergarten Students 

Since Mar Elias High School's founding in 1982, financial resources have been directed to providing for an excellent education of all MEEI students, while deferred maintenance needs took their toll on the school's buildings.  More than 25 years later, the original building is weather-damaged and much of the interior needs to be updated.  A renovation plan for 2011 and 2012 will include covering the entire exterior of the high school with Hebron Stone, giving the high school excellent protection and renewed life for many years to come.  In addition, tiles will be replaced and the building will be repainted. When it is finished, it will become a new home for the expanding junior high classes from Mariam Bawardi Elementary School.  Goal:  $250,000.

New Computers for an Elementary School Technology Resource Center ... There are presently two computer rooms serving almost 900 students:  one serving the 7th and 8th graders and one serving the first 6 grades.  Each room has 20 computers, but every elementary class has 40 students.   Therefore an additional room is highly needed so that all pupils in one class can learn at the same time.  During 2008 Pilgrims of Ibillin will provide funding for an additional 40 computers at $600/ea.  Goal:  $24,000

Funding for Peace-Building Projects throughout the Holy Land ... 

1. We will give Peace-building grants to support Palestinian Christians’ efforts to provide meaningful jobs and livable circumstances so that members of this community can remain and thrive in their homeland.
2. We will use our diversification grants for unique projects where Pilgrims’ contribution clearly makes a key difference. We prefer that our funding will help something happen on its own, rather than being “one drop in a large bucket” of funding.

$33,000 total

Visit our Peace-Building programs page for more detail about each of these projects!  

Become a partner in support of Pilgrims of Ibillin by: 

• Praying for the faculty and students of schools working for peace in the Holy Land.
• Making a contribution to the Annual Fund.
• Hosting a fund raising event in your home.
• Inviting the Mission Committee of your church to sponsor a fund raiser and/or designate mission funds.