The high rate of unemployment among the fast-growing cohort of young people in the Middle East–North Africa (MENA) region threatens both economic and political progress. The Middle East Youth Initiative estimates that unemployment among youths (ages 15 to 24) in the Middle East is as high as 25 percent.

The brain drain from MENA is of particular concern: a 2003 Arab Human Development Report found that 450,000 graduates of universities in Arab countries had left the region and were living and working in Europe. Moreover, many youths do not have the knowledge and skills required to land a steady job. Illiteracy rates remain high in several areas, especially among girls. A 2007 report by the Population Reference Bureau estimated the number of illiterate youths in the region at 10 million, two-thirds of them female.

Education, Collaboration, Understanding

In early 2007 the Mediterranean Youth Technology Club (MYTecC) educational initiative was formed as a partnership among Cisco, ICT for Development in the Arab Region (ICTDAR), and Teachers Without Borders. MYTecC is aimed at providing 9th and 10th grade (ages 15 to 18) students in the MENA region with the skills they need to become self-supporting members of their communities, and eventually take their places as future business and government leaders. Cisco has initially committed $500,000 to the effort.

MYTecC is geared toward alleviating the digital divide in the Mediterranean part of the MENA region, preparing students for jobs in the knowledge-based economy, and creating a spirit of tolerance and understanding. The program, now in its second year, incorporates Cisco Networking Academy curricula together with useful nontechnology content, such as English language, leadership, and basic business skills. It is based on the successful Net@ program in Israel that currently involves more than 2000 students in 24 towns. The long-term vision for MYTecC is to create a lasting virtual community in the Mediterranean and some adjoining countries by encouraging personal ties that cross national, religious, and socioeconomic boundaries, eventually helping to bring greater prosperity and peace to the region.

As members of MYTecC, young people use web 2.0 technology to communicate, share ideas, and gain an understanding of each other, at the same time acquiring valuable job skills. Upon completion of the program, students receive a professional certification that gives them a valuable entrée into the job market or leads to more advanced study in designing, building, and maintaining networks.

Progress So Far

Thirty instructors have been recruited from Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, the Palestinian territories, Portugal, Turkey, and Yemen. Each of them will train 10 more instructors, who will join them in teaching a second round of classes beginning in September 2009. The instructors have developed a web 2.0-based platform modeled on the Teachers Without Borders tool, and will transfer the knowledge they gain to other instructors and, eventually, to students as well. The goal is to make the program completely sustainable so other countries can work with local NGOs to develop their own social networking sites. Approximately 320 students are attending courses in Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the Palestine territories, Portugal, Turkey, and Yemen. Students in Jordan will start classes in October 2008.

See a video about Teachers Without Borders