mehope.org

We divided the Middle East region into different chapters. Here you will explore the chapters we are currently focused on as well as all the projects being developed. Each chapter is unique and works independently in the region, however they all send the same message. We are bringing hope to all children in the Middle East. You can either join a chapter, or volunteer to help all. We strongly believe in team work to bring about change. In each chapter, you will be working closely with a diverse team, and will learn about the needs of each community.

Syria

According to the OpenNet Initiative, the telecommunication market in Syria is one of the most regulated and is among the least developed in the Middle East. Although internet usage reached 18% in 2009 the higher cost of computers and internet connections can dampen potential progr ession. For residential users, broadband services are expensive and difficult of access and ADSL connections are reported to be the least affordable in the region. Even slower dial-up services can cost up to $100 per month while the average income is estimated at $200 to $300 a month. A brand new computer with a remotely up-to-date system can be extremely expensive in relation to the monthly income, costing approximately $500 and $100 for the printer. Despite the current situation, Syria remains a market with a great potential for expansion.

The country is taking action to reinforce computer literacy by making it compulsory at the high school level and the English and French languages are now being taught in elementary schools. Syria’s overall illiteracy rate stands at approximately 20%.

Egypt

According to Alexandria University, a shocking 94% of the Egyptian population is computer illiterate. Microsoft speculates about 10% of Egyptians routinely access the Internet either at home or in Internet cafes. Microsoft has also implemented the Home PC Initiative, which will ultimately put 10,000 computers into low-income Egyptian homes at the cost of LE 50 (less than 10 USD) a month. The spread of computer hardware, computer literacy, and broadband would not only aid in Egypt’s development and the overall technical capacity of its workforce in the increasingly global economy, but would also assist in almost all other development efforts by facilitating technology transfer and communication.

Iraq

From 1970 to 1984, Iraq was globally known for its outstanding and entirely free education system.

Major achievements included:
• Gross Enrollment Rates rising to 100%
• Almost complete gender parity in enrollment
• Illiteracy among 15-45 age group declined to less than 10%
• Dropout/Repetition rates were the lowest in the Middle East and North Africa region
• Spending in Education reached 6% of Gross National Product [GNP] and 20% of Iraq’s total government budget
• The average government spending per student for education was approximately $620

Unfortunately, because of the wars, the education system has suffered greatly. For example government spending has dropped to $47 per student. Much effort is being invested into restoring Iraq's education system to its glorious days.

Jordan

According to recent United Nations statistics, there are only approximately 6 personal computers per 100 of the Jordanian population and a 6% internet penetration rate.  Despite having a highly advanced education system and becoming a model in the region, Jordan still struggles with overcoming the ‘digital divide’, the disempowerment of people who cannot afford to buy the equipment needed for computer technology use and Internet access. One of the important factors that limit widespread use of the computers in Jordan and other Arab countries is illiteracy. The Jordanian Ministry of Education is now making it mandatory for students to be computer literate and many ministries are working to build the necessary infrastructure to further computer access. Developments in information technology are seen as a means to alleviate enduring economic crisis in the country and to bring the increasingly young population closer to the outside world.

Lebanon

Lebanon’s literacy rate is slightly higher than 87% and the country has been assigned an Education Index of 0.84 in the UN Human Development Report of 2007/2008. In addition, Lebanon has 41 nationally-accredited universities, some of which are internationally recognized.

In 2008, Lebanon had an internet subscription rate of approximately 7.5%, and an approximate 22.5% internet usage among its population. 11.6% of the Lebanese residents owned a computer in 2006 and the BMI estimates state that overall sales have grown by 10% in 2008. Despite this increase in computer sales, most users access internet through internet cafés due to the higher costs of internet subscription which can reach 50$/month in the poor southern areas. The country witnessed several initiatives to further facilitate the access to information technology. For example, the “Computer for Every Student and Teacher” project aims at providing each student and teacher with the opportunity of acquiring affordable computers with internet access for a period of three years.

Palestine

According to the World Internet Usage Internet Usage Statistics: 355,500 Internet users as of March/08, 13.6% of the population, according to ITU.

Palestine Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (PALTEL) is pleased to participate in upgrading the living standards among the Palestinian institutions and individuals by making Internet part of the daily life of the Palestinians. PALTEL is proud to offer High-speed Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) Internet access service in Palestine, which marks the start of providing the Broad Band service.  The ADSL technology offers customers a consistent, fast, and cost-effective way to optimize usage of the Internet and all its facets including multimedia, data, voice, and video services. DSL technology allows simultaneous analog voice or fax and DSL data transmission over the same telephone line.

Ma'an - On the Occasion of International Illiteracy day on 8 September, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) released a report on illiteracy rates throughout Palestine.  The rate of illiteracy in Palestine has decreased by 61%, said a report from PCBS on Sunday. According to the report, however, 124,000 Palestinians are still illiterate, 77% of them women.