Who we are
Teach for Palestine was founded in 2009 by Sean Canavan and Lana Khalaf. Sean is an American who has lived in Nablus for many years and has been working in the field of education for more than 15 years. Lana is a Palestinian-American who returned to the West Bank for university and has remained since. Both have a profound interest in bringing quality education to children who would otherwise have no such opportunity, as well as in developing the whole student. Today, Benjamin Francis serves as Executive Director with Violet Goncarovs serving as Assistant Director. Our staff members come from numerous English-speaking countries across the globe.
What we do
Teach for Palestine brings internationally trained teachers to the West Bank to work with kids. TFP's holistic, interactive approach has proven effective in mentoring students and developing fluency. The average student at TFP acquires 350 new words and advances slightly more than one grade level in reading each semester. After their initial exposure to international teachers, student's verbal fluency increases exponentially and continues to grow rapidly throughout the program. Moving beyond the classroom, our communicative and compassionate approach draws out and engages children who have suffered from violence, abuse and oppression the better part of their lives.
Why we do it
English is a necessity in the modern Palestinian economy. Foreign aid, trade, and international investment make up 90% of all economic activity in the West Bank. To access any of these sectors in a meaningful way requires the ability to communicate in English. Well paying careers paths that have the greatest potential to expand and develop the Palestinian economy, such as working in medicine, the sciences, and technology require degrees that are taught primarily in English. This means that most Palestinian students are unable to effectively access and contribute to these fields. English language skills are essential if they are going to have a chance to contribute to their country and build a better life for themselves and their children. Teach for Palestine is giving them that chance.
TFP serves the poorest neighborhoods, the Balata and Askar refugee camps and the villages around Nablus. In these areas unemployment is well over 80%. The majority of the information necessary to innovate, invent and create is primarily available in English. By giving our students access to that information, we give them access to opportunity.
