
| Two Month Option | |
| A | June 19 — August 14 |
| One Month Options | |
| B | June 19 — July 17 |
| C | July 17 — August 14 |
| Deadlines: The deadline to register for the Damascus Summer Encounter program is May 12th, 2008. The final deadline for payments is May 20th, 2008. We strongly recommend that you apply well before the deadline so as to save yourself additional airfare costs and leave you breathing room to prepare for your journey. |
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Arab International Univeristy
(formerly: Arab European University)
Volunteer Supervisor: TBA

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Volunteer Project: Teaching/Tutoring
Description: The Arab International University is a new private University in Damascus. Classes are taught exclusively in English. Primary disciplines of study include: Business Administration, Pharmacy, Computer/IT, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Fine Arts. They are also pursuing the possibility of opening up an International Relations Department. The semester ends in mid-July but 60% of students remain on campus for the voluntary summer semester.
Volunteer Activities:
English Teacher/Tutor This is probably one of the most valuable contributions a native English speaker can make. Students at AIU are seeking to master their English oral and written skills. There are many opportunities for a participant to teach or tutor English on campus.
Teacher/Tutor in any relevant field Participants, particularly those with a background in one of the main disciplines offered, may be able to teach or assistant teach an actual class.
Web Designer/Graphic Designer A talented grpahic designer or web designer could be very helpful to the University in the creation of department websites and promotional materials.
St. Gregory Orthodox Society for Orphans and the Elderly
Volunteer Supervisor: TBA

More Photos from St. Gregory Greek Orthodox Society
Volunteer Project: Working with kids/the elderly
Description: St. Gregory Orthodox Society is home to a number of local orphans (age ranges from early childhood to adolescence) and the elderly. There are many tasks volunteers can perform in relation to basic care of both groups. The oprhans, additionally, have classes at the oprhanage and could benefit from interaction in small groups, particularly focusing on building their English skills.
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
Volunteer Supervisor: Samer Laham

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Volunteer Project: Iraqi Refugee Assistance
Volunteer Activities:
Web Designer: web designer to arrange and update Iraqi refugee program portion of website and/or to work on the Patriarchate's main site.
English Editor: editor to polish English documents and help compose letters, proposals and informational material about the program to assist refugees. Writer of reports and updates on the program.
Project Assistant: Project assistant to accompany delivery of supplies and school kits to Iraqi refugees and refugee families.
Accountant: Accountant to help with finances and bookkeeping on project.
Middle East Fellowship
Volunteer Supervisor: Peter Ryan

Volunteer Project: Multimedia and Program Management
Description: Middle East Fellowship needs several volunteers on the ground to perform a number of critical functions, including: helping us film video interviews with key contacts; helping us with articles and photos for our online magazine, Middle East Window (www.middleeastwindow.com); updating the program website with information and both blogs and photos from participants; helping lead debriefing and evaluation sessions; etc.
More Volunteer Opportunities
Middle East Fellowship is continuing to expand its list of partners in Damascus and broaden its volunteer placements based on the interests and talents of our participants. Additional volunteer assignments will be added to this page as more opportunities develop.
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More Questions? Refer to the frequently asked questions page
Return to the Damscus Summer Encounter Main Page.
More photos of St. Elias and surrounding area| Register Now! |
Berlitz is a language method created by a German linguist in America in the late 1800's. There are now 600 Berlitz language centers throughout the world. The Berlitz headquarters is located in Princeton, New Jersey.
Damascus Summer Encounter participants will take Arabic classes at the Syrian Berlitz Center four times a week, Monday through Thursday, in the mornings. The course will culminate in a final exam and result in a certificate from the center.

The Berlitz method focuses on imitation and repitition, allowing students to learn a new language the same way they learned their first language as a child.
In the classroom, we will focus on colloquial Arabic (rather than classical), and no English or translation will be used. Instead, students will put Arabic into immediate practice and communicate in the terms that they learn. Through this method, Berlitz has earned a reputation as one of the most effective language aquistion programs in the world. Dozens of foreign ministries and large corporations, such as Coca-Cola, have used Berlitz as a preferred method to train their international staff.
In order to ensure small class sizes and maximum student-teacher interaction, no more than ten students will be enrolled in each class, so we may have several classes run similtaneously.

Berlitz defines language knowledge according to a 10-level scale. Beginner speakers who complete one month of the Damascus Summer Encounter program can expect to obtain level 1. The fluency range of level 1 through level 5 students is described below. Because there are Berlitz language centers all over the world, it will be very easy for participants to pick up their studies where they left of once they return to their own countries.
Level 1:
Knowledge of language is sufficient to communicate in a very limited way, with the simplest oral and listening tasks and situations.
Level 2:
At the functional level, users have a basic command of the language needed in a limited range of simple and familar tasks and situations.
Level 3:
Users can handle most uncomplicated communicative tasks and routine social and work situations. They can follow the general meaning of a conversation about familiar subjects.
Level 4:
At the intermediate level, users are able to refashion and combine learned material to meet their immediate communication and learning needs. They are able to comprehend information on familar topics in contextualized settings and produce sustained conversation with others on an expanding variety of general topics.
Level 5:
Users can, to a certain extent, initiate, sustain and conclude most routine communicative tasks for personal and work needs.
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More Questions? Refer to the frequently asked questions page
Return to the Damscus Summer Encounter Main Page.
Middle East Fellowship receives a large volume of inquiries about all of its programs to the Middle East. Our small but energetic staff sometimes struggles to keep up with correspondence. To help you get quick answers to many of your pressing questions, we've prepard a Frequently Asked Questions list:
If you have any questions not answered (or not answered in full) in the FAQ, please do not hesitate to e-mail or phone in inquires to:
Peter Ryan
e-mail: travel [at] mef-la [dot] org
phone: (714) 529-1926
| Register Now! |
More Questions? Refer to the frequently asked questions page
Return to the Damscus Summer Encounter Main Page.
Possible Weekend Trips and Excursions*
During the program we will have the opportunity not just to familiarize ourselves with Damascus but also to explore the many diverse cities and historic monuments of Syria. The cost of these weekend trips (travel and accomodations) are included in the overall cost of the program.
Here are a few of the trips we will take during the program:
1) South of Syria
including Izraat, Bosra city, Kanwat Cathedral, the National Museum in Sweida city. Possible group volunteer project in Sweida over one weekend.
2) Palmyra and Middle of Syria
visiting Homs city, Christian Valley, Crack Des Chevalier, St. George Monastery.
3) Aleppo, Hama and Hassake
Hama City, Apamea, St. Simon citadel, Aleppo city, overnight in Aleppo, Al-Hassake, visiting the Bishopric of the Syrian Orthodox Church, overnight in Al-Hassake.
4) Latakia and Tartous
swimming in Mediterranean sea, overnight in Latakia. Visiting Augarit city, Kassab and Soulonfe resorts.
5) Saydnaya & Mallula Towns and all monasteries existing in that area.
6) Mar Moussa Monastery
Gues Speakers*
Throughout the program we invite a number of guest speakers to address the group on various topics of interest. Some of these topics will include:
1) The Diverse Cultures of Syria
2) Syria's Tourist Treasures
3) Christian and Muslim Relations in Syria
4) Syria's Economic Reforms
5) Political and Social Challenges Facing Syria Today
6) Youth Contributions Towards Peace, Tolerance and Cultural Dialogue
7) Present Challenges within the East-West Dialogue
8) The Role of Religion in Overcoming Violence
9) Visiting Social and Diaconal Activities in Syria
10) Middle East Council of Churches Activities in Syria
Meetings and Discussion Groups*
During the program participants will have the opportunity to meet with a diverse range of religious and cultural groups in order to learn more about Syrian life, faith and culture. Some of these meetings will include:
1) Meetings with nonprofit and humanitarian organizations in Syria.
2) Meetings with different Christian youth groups of various denominations and backgrounds (orthodox, evangelical, catholic).
3) Meetings with Muslim students.
4) Meetings with Iraqi refugees.
5) Meetings with the Sheikh Ahmad Kuftaro Islamic Foundation.
We will also possibly meet with:
1) The Grand Mufti of the Republic
2) The Minster of Tourism, Information and Expatriates
3) The U.S. Ambassador
4) Organizations such as the Red Crescent, Association for Women's Development, Massar, Aghkan Khan, Al Safini, UNCR, etc.
* Please note that all weekend trips, meetings and guest speakers are subject to cancellation or change. Additionally, the above does not represent a comprehensive list. Additional trips and meetings will likely be added.
| Register Now! |
More Questions? Refer to the frequently asked questions page
Return to the Damscus Summer Encounter Main Page.
| 3 Month Option | A | May 22 — August 14 |
| Two Month Options | |
| B | May 22 — July 17 |
| C | June 19 — August 14 |
| One Month Options | |
| D | May 22 — June 19 |
| E | June 19 — July 17 |
| F | July 17 — August 14 |
| Two Month Option | |
| A | June 19 — August 14 |
| One Month Options | |
| B | June 19 — July 17 |
| C | July 17 — August 14 |
| Register Now! |

| Register Now! |