It’s already been a busy year at AMEL Institute’s Regional program, with more than 300 young changemakers from over 47 countries across the Middle East & Africa (MEA) trained in the Spring program!
““The AMEL Institute has helped me sharpen my approach by offering structured knowledge on genocide prevention, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy, all taught through a participatory and human-centered pedagogy. It provided a space to reflect on my own experiences, connect with global peers, and renew my commitment to building peace from the grassroots up.””
The program took place from late March through the end of May, filling critical knowledge and skill gaps among 309 young MEA leaders (aged 18-36). Trainees were young activists from all over the MEA region who are working towards positive and inclusive change in their communities. At AMEL Institute, they learned about peaceful and nonviolent changemaking, with an emphasis on dignity and rights for all, building allyship across differences, and genocide prevention, including Holocaust education. The interactive learning experience built their knowledge, skills, and connections - vital boosts as they continue along their leadership journeys.
““AMEL Institute helped me expand my knowledge about human rights, discrimination, genocide prevention, and the importance of active citizenship. The program strengthened my critical thinking skills and encouraged me to reflect on how individuals can contribute to creating more inclusive and respectful communities. I have already used what I learned by becoming more aware of the importance of respect, empathy, and inclusion in my daily interactions with others.” ”
The Spring 2026 program was highly impactful, achieving similar results as the programs in previous years. An independent evaluation was recently conducted by Metra of the 2025 regional programs of AMEL Institute and found that "[t]he program produced substantial and statistically significant improvements in knowledge across all measured educational domains." See more impact highlights here, or the full evaluator report here.
Scaling up to bring these deeply-felt impacts to a larger audience, the Spring program is being followed by a Summer program, which in turn will be followed by a first-ever Fall program, bringing the total trained by AMEL Institute’s Regional program to 1,000 by the end of the year. By that time, more than 70 AMEL Alumni from dozens of countries will have served as volunteer mentors to this year's trainees, thereby enriching the program, while further building their skills and experience. Stay tuned for more updates as AMEL continues its critical work to help build a new generation of leaders across the Middle East and Africa!