Mazen Issa looks up from his work in the AMIDEAST office in Gaza

In November, YES alumni joined the English Access Microscholarship Program students and Fulbright students in meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Education and Cultural Affairs Dina Powell at the AMIDEAST office in Ramallah. The students and Ms. Powell discussed the programs, their experiences and their alumni activities. "It was interesting for us as YES students to meet Dina Powell, especially here in Palestine, and especially now that we know she has an Arab background," Diana Alzeer '05 said. "She was very interested in knowing about our experience in the United States and our opinions on how the program might be improved. On our side, we were interested to hear how the American government views the program and also to learn more about Ms. Powell's role in the government".

(left to right) Majdal Nijim, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Education and Cultural Affairs Dina Powell and Diana Alzeer discuss the YES program

Farah Abu Qasem '05 and Mazin Issa '05 have been developing their professional skills by volunteering in the AMIDEAST/Gaza office during their school breaks. Farah helped at the front desk by welcoming visitors and responding to inquires. Additionally, she used her leadership skills by helping work with English Access Microscholarship students and by participating in the interviews for the '07 YES applicants. Mazen worked with AMIDEAST staff to organize books and enter data to help the office's testing program run smoothly.