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 $1,700,000 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 2008   At its October 2007 meeting the Board of Directors reviewed a list of projects that were in need of funding for 2008. The following items were selected by the board.  

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: $38,00

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: $10,000

High School Expansion and New Construction ... Two new upper floors are being added to the Mar Elias Science and Technology building to provide 16 brand new rooms for the High School.  In fall 2008 this building became the new home of Mar Elias High School.  Students and faculty moved from scattered classrooms in 4 separate buildings into this new home.  The move allowed MEEI to "retire" several outdated, unattractive rooms which had been used despite concerns about mildew and the discouraging appearance.  Current students are better served in the upgraded educational environment, and prospective students will continue to be attracted to MEEI, despite increasing competition from new high schools in other villages.  Therefore MEEI's blend of top-level pedagogy and emphasis on ethics and values will continue to attract the top students from a 50-mile radius around Ibillin. 

Goal: $515,000      

Generous grants totaling $200,000 have been provided by a donor who visited MEEI in 2007, saw the need and possibilities, and made the gifts that allowed the dream to move toward reality. In addition, a generous grant of $100,000 from the F.I.S.H. Foundation of Plainsboro, New Jersey enabled the high school to move rapidly on completing the new construction so that the new 5th floor could be fully in use for the opening of the 2008-2009 school year.  The new 6th floor is enclosed but must wait for 2009 funding through Pilgrims of Ibillin before being finished.  When it is completed, 250 new students will be able to be admitted to MEEI from the school's long waiting list of eligible students. 

Renovation of the Original High School Building ...

New Computers for a High School Computer Lab ... There are four computer labs in the high school. One of the labs has computers that have 128mb hard drives, which are inadequate for the updated software that is needed. In order to be prepared for higher education in the university or to enter the job market the students must have experience with the latest in computer technology.  Goal: $15,000

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.

$25,000 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.