Mar Elias Educational Institute – a light on a hill

Situated in the Arab village of Ibillin in Galilee, MEEI educates children of all ages from all over Israel and has a very clear philosphy behind its educational work.

Beginning at the Myriam Bawardi Kindergarten and Elementary School, through to the High School and High Tech College and on into Mar Elias University, MEEI's central ethos is pluralism, reconciliation and a respect for one another's differences, whether cultural or religious. Muslim, Jew, Druze and Christian have always worked together on the staff at MEEI. Largely for language reasons, pupils are predominantly from among the arab citizens of Israel, Muslim, Druze and Christian, but special exchange projects with local Jewish schools are a high priority.

Founded by Father (Abuna) Elias Chacour, who arrived in Ibillin in 1965 as the new priest of its Melkite community, the school grew out of his quick realisation that education would be key to restoring his people's lost sense of dignity and self worth. In fact it would be, he believed, the most important tool in equipping his fellow Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel for future equality and leadership alongside their Jewish neighbours.

In the face of considerable opposition, Abuna Chacour opened a high school in 1982 on the steep hillside across from Ibillin village – renaming it The Mount of Light – and it's here today that the extensive campus of MEEI is based. Evicted from his family home along with thousands of other Arabs in 1948, Father Chacour knows he is a refugee in his own land, yet he has chosen not to hate but instead to spend a lifetime building bridges of peace, justice and reconcilliation – an essential combination of aims, he believes.

Today he presides over a large, well respected educational institution, teaching the youth of Galilee to live by the same values. The Elijah Trust has endeavored for years to highlight MEEI's work and to support Father Chacour as he passes on his heart to a new generation.

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