Supporting AMIDEAST's Programs to Educate
Americans about the Arab World
| Conveying
an accurate image
|
Most Americans, especially young people, base
their views of the Arab world on the TV news
and Hollywood movies. Their exposure to the
Middle East and North Africa is limited to a
few scenes of armed struggle, camels, and veils.
What is the result of such limited exposure
and distorted images? The ancient history and
rich artistic traditions of the Middle East
and North Africa are missing. The influence
of Arab and Islamic civilization on the Western
world is lost. The shared heritage of Islam
with Judaism and Christianity is overlooked.
The diversity of contemporary Arab society is
unknown.
To achieve the level of understanding necessary,
Americans must be exposed to more comprehensive,
honest and accurate depictions of the region
and its people.
 AMIDEAST's
half century of experience indicates that the
most effective way to improve Americans' understanding
of the Arab world is through the educational
system. Yet while a growing number of resources
about the Arab world are available in the United
States, most educators do not know enough about
the region to select those of the greatest quality
and accuracy.
AMIDEAST has become a vital resource for American
educators and librarians who seek quality educational
materials about the Arab world. By producing
and distributing accurate and appropriate resources
to U.S. schools and libraries, AMIDEAST has
the potential to help millions of youth better
understand Arab history, culture and society.
AMIDEAST currently distributes more than 125
books, videos, posters, hands-on classroom activities
and lesson plans to thousands of American schools.
These resources focus on Islam, Arab culture,
historical figures and events, regional geography,
and Arab literature. AMIDEAST continuously searches
for additional quality educational resources
about the Arab world that are suitable for use
in American schools. Our network of field offices
throughout the Middle East and North Africa
enables us to identify and import materials
produced abroad that would otherwise be unavailable
to American teachers. AMIDEAST experts critically
assess and select resources based on accuracy
and relevance to curriculum requirements.
| Outreach
to U.S. educators |
AMIDEAST works with thousands of educators
in the United States. We exhibit educational
materials and make presentations about the Arab
world at the national conferences of teacher
associations and at local teacher workshops
across the country. As a respected resource
provider, AMIDEAST is able to help American
educators enrich student learning with honest
portrayals and accurate information about the
Arab people and their culture.
 In
addition to identifying and distributing the
best in Arab educational materials to U.S. educators,
AMIDEAST produces appropriate and original books,
videos, and posters to meet the need for basic
information about the Middle East and North
Africa. AMIDEAST has produced acclaimed resources,
including our ever-popular poster of the Arabic
alphabet. The award-winning AMIDEAST video Introduction
to the Arab World has reached an estimated 2.5
million American students and educators. Another
award-winning video, Young Voices from the Arab
World: The Lives and Times of Five Teenagers,
portrays Arab society and culture through the
personal experiences of young people from different
countries.
* Resources can be ordered via a paper or online
catalogue. Some free materials are also
available on our website.
| The Arab
Heritage Fund needs your support |
The Arab Heritage Fund was established with
seed grants from a few generous contributors
who share AMIDEAST's mission to improve understanding
between Americans and Arabs. Our goal is to
raise an endowment of $1.5 million that would
ensure continuation and expansion of AMIDEAST's
programs to educate Americans about the Arab
world. Donations to the Arab Heritage Fund support
staff, research, the evaluation and acquisition
of educational materials, the development and
production of original resources, and travel
and exhibit expenses for conferences and workshops.
Your donation will make it possible for AMIDEAST
to bring the Arab world to more American classrooms.
In the long run, it may well contribute to improved
political and economic relations between Arab
countries and the United States.
AMIDEAST seeks contributions if any size to
the Arab Heritage Fund from individuals, organizations,
and corporations who share its commitment to
building bridges of understanding. Donors will
be gratefully acknowledged in AMIDEAST's annual
report. All contributions are tax deductible.
Checks may be made payable to AMIDEAST/Arab
Heritage Fund, and mailed to:
External Affairs
AMIDEAST
1730 M Street, NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036
Please direct transfers to:
BB&T Bank
1730 Rhode Island Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
AMIDEAST, Inc.
DBA Arab Heritage Fund
Account #5160063345
AMIDEAST
1730 M Street, NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036-4505
Telephone: (202) 776-9600
Fax: (202) 776-7000
E-Mail: inquiries@amideast.org
Internet: www.amideast.org |
