Water, Play and Education – Middle East Children's Alliance https://www.mecaforpeace.org Meca for Peace Wed, 23 Aug 2023 07:33:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 Maia Project: Bringing Clean Water to the Children of Palestine https://www.mecaforpeace.org/meca-projects/maia-project-bringing-clean-water-to-the-children-of-palestine/ https://www.mecaforpeace.org/meca-projects/maia-project-bringing-clean-water-to-the-children-of-palestine/#respond Fri, 18 Aug 2017 03:34:27 +0000 https://www.mecaforpeace.org/?post_type=projects&p=12520

Impact

The Water Crisis in Palestine

There is a growing water crisis in Palestine. In Gaza, 97% of water is unfit for human consumption. Numerous military attacks on the Gaza Strip have devastated Gaza’s water infrastructure and the siege of Gaza has created a shortage of pipes, building materials, fuel and electricity. The water in Gaza is polluted with untreated sewage, agricultural chemicals, and it is brackish from seawater. Gaza’s water crisis poses grave health risks to children.

The Maia Project

In September 2009, the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) launched the Maia Project (Arabic for “water”) to provide Palestinian children with clean, safe drinking water. The Maia Project provides safe clean, drinking water for tens of thousands of Palestinian children by installing water purification and desalination units in schools throughout the Gaza Strip.

Project Background

This project began when the Student Parliament at the UN Boys’ School in Bureij Refugee Camp, Gaza were given the opportunity to choose one thing they most wanted for their school: They chose to have clean drinking water. MECA’s partner in Gaza heard about this vote and, after meeting with representatives from the school and the Student Parliament, came to MECA to see if we could respond to the children’s request for drinking water. MECA provided the funds to build a water purification and desalination unit for the school in 2007.

More Info

Maia Education Project

Maia Project Sponsors

Completed Water Purification Units

How can I help?

]]> https://www.mecaforpeace.org/meca-projects/maia-project-bringing-clean-water-to-the-children-of-palestine/feed/ 0 Playgrounds https://www.mecaforpeace.org/meca-projects/playgrounds/ Wed, 16 Aug 2017 02:09:04 +0000 https://www.mecaforpeace.org/project/playgrounds/

“You can find all the kids at the playground in the afternoons.”

—A mother in one of the villages with a new playground

MECA has built playgrounds in major Palestinian cities; in refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine; and — in partnership with Riwaq Center for Architectural Conservation—in revitalized historic villages.

Right to Play

Playing is essential for children’s physical, emotional and mental development.  The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that “Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child.”

There are few public parks or playgrounds in Palestine or the refugee camps in Lebanon. These playgrounds serve as a safe place for children and families to come to play and escape their difficult daily lives.

MECA is excited to announce our 15th playground in Khuza’a Village in Gaza!

INTERACTIVE MAP!
Explore our playgrounds with this interactive map. Click on a location to see a photo and a link to read more.

More Info

Playgrounds

Playground Sponsors (Coming Soon)

 

 

]]> University Scholarships https://www.mecaforpeace.org/meca-projects/university-scholarships/ https://www.mecaforpeace.org/meca-projects/university-scholarships/#respond Thu, 10 Aug 2017 20:10:31 +0000 https://www.mecaforpeace.org/?post_type=projects&p=18268

Impact

One Student at a Time

Each year, MECA provides more than 100 university scholarships at Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza to enable dedicated students to obtain degrees and the skills to make important contributions to their communities and their country.

Overwhelming Obstacles

The Israeli occupation of Palestine, along with the siege of the Gaza Strip, creates multiple obstacles for students pursuing higher education. Getting to and from school is difficult and the economic deterioration makes it very hard for families to afford university tuition. Palestinian students in Gaza, are prevented from leaving the country to attend universities in other parts of the world.

More Info

Applications for next year will open in April 2024

2022-2023 Scholarship Report

Scholarship Profiles

Scholarship Funds

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