Interning at TYO was by far the best (and most rewarding) work experience I've ever had. TYO is an NGO that is making a sustainable impact among the women and youth from the nearby refugee camps the poorest neighborhoods in Nablus. TYO's multi-generational approach is unique - when a child learns about proper nutrition or hygiene in TYO's non-formal educational classes, their mothers also have the opportunity to learn about diet, exercise, and hygiene in their classes so that changes can be made within the home. During my time at TYO, I learned so much about how to effectively use psychosocial interventions in my classes (I taught a sports class for refugee children ages 9-10) to help my students really understand who they are, where they are from, and why they are important. In just a few weeks I was able to witness profound behavioral changes in my classes by using these interventions - the students were no longer hitting each other or calling each other names; they were beginning to hold hands and make lasting friendships. TYO is exceptional because it considers all the social factors that impact the health of their beneficiaries - for example, the women and children are provided transportation to and from TYO's center, they are given healthy snacks (hummus and wheat pita with carrot sticks and cucumbers), and most of all, they are provided with a safe, enriching center where they can come in and actually be themselves. I would go back and work for TYO in a heartbeat!
This is an NGO that really makes a difference on the ground. The results are evident in the obvious development of the children and from the services that are offered to women. I had the pleasure of volunteering for the women's business incubation program as well as teaching some IT classes for women and could see very clearly the confidence boost women gained from learning new skills and learning to develop and market their businesses. Immeasurable. TYO is genuinely investing in the future of its beneficiaries and is one of the few NGOs in the region that I would support without reservation.
TYO is a stellar organization with a truly special staff and group of volunteers. They are making a difference on so many levels, both in the long-term and on a daily basis. It's a place where kids can let go of everything else and play, learn, laugh and just be kids. This is an organization that gets it; they know what it takes to improve the lives of the people they serve, and they show up every day to accomplish that mission with enthusiasm, perseverance and positivity. Keep it up, TYO!
TYO is special because everyone there genuinely cares about being a positive place for the kids and the women-not about trying to impress donors or follow industry trends. The focus and the resources are devoted 100% to their beneficiaries.
I think that what makes TYO unique is that if the American staff left Nablus today, there is such an amazing group of local volunteers and staff that the organization would continue to make real change through the variety of program it offers. TYO educates the program's participants, but also implements sustainable projects due to its ability to build a strong foundation of community support and participation. My experience in Nablus gave the the opportunity to understand how an efficient INGO is run, work with experienced staff who wanted to share their knowledge and experience, as well as the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the at-risk youth and women of Nablus. TYO is an amazing organization and I think the work they do will be fully realized when the youth they work with grow up and become the leaders of their own community.
TYO is a truly amazing organization that empowers women and children in some of the most underserved areas in the West Bank. Every child at TYO is valued and loved and it's refreshing to see how transformative their work is.
TYO takes a multi-generational approach to supporting Palestinian refugees, working with pre-school aged youth through middle school aged, providing volunteer and professional development opportunities for adolescents and young adults, and educational opportunities for women. Programs focus on developing psychosocial skills, critical thinking, English, and technology skills, as well as on supporting women entrepreneurs in their businesses. The programs are designed to be responsive to community needs and interests, and provide a safe space for youth and adults alike to play and learn.
TYO provides women and children in an otherwise unpredictable environment stability in the form of psychosocial non-religious, non-political educational programming. I doubt anyone could find a more structured, efficient and effective NGO than TYO in Palestine or elsewhere. The wait list to get into the program is enough evidence of the wonderful things TYO is providing to the community. This is an organization that earned mine and my co-intern's respect by pushing us to connect with our students and the neighborhood. Support TYO, they deserve it!!
TYO is an incredibly special organization that works tirelessly to serve the Nablus and surrounding communities at a time when the critical needs of women and children in Palestine are often underrepresented and even ignored. I have seen firsthand the holistic and deeply thoughtful approach that everyone at TYO uses to best take on current challenges in the community, and the results are inspiring. On a personal level, my experience at TYO was a turning point in deciding to pursue studies, living and work in the region. More than any other place I have worked or volunteered, TYO changes the lives of those both in the community it serves and all those, like me, that have been fortunate enough to take part in it.
In a place where there are few safe public spaces for children to learn through play, TYO offers such an arena. I spent 8 months at TYO in Nablus – 3 months as a volunteer intern and 5 months as a projector coordinator. TYO is an asset to the local community it serves, and a focal point for Nabulsis - especially children and women - to get together and develop skills and confidence through education.
Both the international and local Palestinian staff work hard to ensure that TYO is efficiently run and effective in its psychosocial strategies for improving the lives of the local community.
TYO's holistic approach to community empowerment sets it apart from the many nonprofits working in Palestine. Not only do TYO programs directly benefit children at critical stages in the developmental period (early childhood education), but families and the Nablus community at large are also beneficiaries of TYO activities. It is a truly unique organization, one that exemplifies sustainable community development.
Tomorrow’s Youth Organization embodies community to its core, at TYO you’ll find children, families, and friends gathering to learn, express themselves in healthy ways, and receive much needed professional and personal support. I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to experience everything TYO has to offer. For me, TYO stands as symbol of global collaboration and hope. At TYO, international and local staff, interns, and volunteers work tirelessly to meet the needs of some of the most forgotten voices of Palestine. It's still my experiences in Nablus, interning with TYO, that guide me to this day. Check out TYO, it's the kind of place you won’t be able to forget!!!
TYO is a truly unique nonprofit. It is a model to other nonprofits from its programs grounded in the community's needs to it efforts to constantly monitor and evaluate its child-centered and cultural attuned pedagogy and curricula. I am very impressed with its work.
TYO is doing crucial work in Nablus, a city where few NGOs have programs. TYO is dedicated to serving Palestine's most vulnerable youth, and it has played an integral role in fostering positive, sustainable development. In addition to its youth educational programs, TYO engages parents, local volunteers, international interns, and female entrepreneurs. This inclusive network contributes to the organization's holistic approach to community and youth development. As an intern, I have witnessed first-hand the tangible impact that TYO has had on the Nabulsi community, and I look forward to supporting this organization as it continues to grow.
TYO is an amazing organization dedicated to serving the most at-risk youth populations in Nablus. Through engaging programs, events, and a genuine sense of community, TYO creates spaces where kids can be kids. Additionally, its STEP! program and women's entrepreneurship ventures empower community members to take on leadership roles in Palestine. All in all, I feel very fortunate to have worked with this organization and look forward to what it will accomplish in the future!
TYO is an extraordinary organization that is truly dedicated to providing education and resources to the disadvantaged youth of Palestine. TYO meets these challenges with innovative concepts and exceptional execution. My visit to the TYO center in Nablus only further cemented my admiration and respect for this organization. The TYO staff and interns are focused and determined in their dedication to the core mission of TYO. The contributions TYO has made will significantly impact the Palestinian people for many years to come.
TYO is an extremely important NGO that provides
hope and opportunity for underserved Palestinian youth who are also
unfortunately refugees. As a donor working in the
youth employability field in the MENA region, initiatives
such as that being undertaken by TYO build the foundations for
more promising opportunities in the future. Further, the
operational model employed by TYO is creative and more importantly
sustainable, allowing for the continuity of hope for
underserved Palestinian children.
TYO is a valuable and important organization providing very much needed educational services to refugees in Palestine. TYO provides a place for children to escape the reality of a brutal occupation. TYO gives children hope and an alternative option to violence.
My internship at TYO fundamentally changed my life and as an organization it MUST be recognized for the incredible work it does. If I could I would return every summer to work with the children, women and community at large I would! In my time in Nablus, I taught arts to 13-14 palestinian refugee children and fitness and nutrition to women. I recognize now, I have never worked harder than I did in those 2 months, but for not one second would I take it back. TYO is more than a great nonprofit it is an incredible one.
I worked as an intern at TYO for two summers. They bring together a wonderful group of Palestinian university volunteers, Palestinian staff, American interns and children & women from the refugee camps with their community-based model. All benefit from the unique two-generational programming provided by the organization.
I spent 3 months teaching as a volunteer at TYO in Nablus, and I couldn't have been more impressed by the work that they do in that community. The difference they make in the lives of children and women from the refugee camps around Nablus is truly amazing - the kids love it and are just so happy there. It is a peaceful, neutral, positive space where they can enjoy their childhood (a rare occurrence there) and develop their psychosocial skills. TYO is also impressive in their impartiality, professionalism, and responsiveness to the needs of beneficiaries (rather than being donor-driven like so many organizations out there). I continue to support TYO many years later and believe in their direct impact on community members' lives.
TYO does incredible work in serving a host of communities so often forgotten in development. They recognize that there are no quick fixes, that ribbon cutting and photo shoots are more about pleasing donors than actually helping people. They commit to the long term, day in day out endeavor that is necessary to change lives. It is an amazing organization.
