Our Story – Keys Foundation

A message from the founder

As a mother of 3 I lost my UN job in 2018 after a political crises that caused severe loss of funding for UN agencies supporting Palestine refugees. I had a language barrier living in Jerusalem and due to the need for Arabic I was not able to secure a job so I started studying online Arabic and with the UN to update my knowledge on sustainability and human rights. After studying with the OHCHR and UPEACE on the course called ‘operationalising the right to development through implementing the UN-SDGs’ I realised that we need to work from the bottom up to build a culture that is aware of human rights and how this links to un-sdgs and how they can be leaders of change and peace through their own actions and not waiting for someone to act for them.

So I decided to pilot a human rights session with kids in Jerusalem. When I walked into the classroom their attitude was ‘what’s the point of studying if a bomb can come through the window and we can die any minute’ at the end of the session their eyes opened and thinking changed and a student said ‘we need people like you to help us acheive peace’ and I said ‘no we need kids and youth like you to learn the skills and acheive your own peace’. So I decided to setup this organisation bringing experts in the field together to building an all in one service and alumni that supports capacity building through learning, ideation, research and experience with an ongoing support service through an Alumni which will be our online community of leaders of change

Our Mission at the Keys Foundation

Focus on Local Communities

By creating innovative and tailored curriculums, based on both our areas of expertise and the community in question, we aim to help develop skills for local people from different cultures. We focus on providing opportunities for all; including vulnerable and marginalised women, youth and kids. Our high-quality educational courses can also be adapted for public schools that are wanting to meet a skills gap within schools.

Build Networks

Our partnerships include those local in the Palestine and Jerusalem area, all with the transparency and knowledge of first-hand experience working in the marginalised area. We are developing an online platform to be used by other organisations and our local and international partners. WYK Empower is based in the UK, and wants to build connections within organisations that support rights for women, youth and children. We hope in the future our research centre will be a fountain of knowledge for our students and partners that will help create new work and opportunities.

Provide Care

Through the various struggles of late, including the travesty in Ukraine and the pandemics, we need to look out for one another more than ever. At WYK Empower, we provide support for both our students and beneficiaries; from the start of their learning journey, all the way through to making their own decisions on how to change. We provide care throughout local communities and help support their mental health and other mindfulness services.

Tailor our learning

Our specialists have created empowering and unique curriculums to help educate women, youth and kids on subjects such as human rights and gender inequality. We want to help sow the seeds for change. No matter the background, we can all help. Our courses, through the E-learning online portal, will help build confidence and the experience, creating their ideas on how to help the local community.

Strengthen the World

Throughout the world, there is a skills gap when it comes to important subjects like basic human rights and conflict resolution. And that’s where WYK wants to help. By focusing on these topics, and nurturing these skills in vulnerable groups, we can all have a better understanding of the right approach for this problem. Though it might seem like a dark subject for young children, everybody should know what is happening around the world and what we can do to help.

Consult For Life

When you join us, you join us for life! We continually support our alumni and past partners to ensure empowerment beyond the programme. At WYK, we strive to become a lifetime companion for women, youth and kids alike and aid them through health, fitness and mental health. Our research development continues to develop skills and levels of support within local, national and international communities. No matter your culture, religion or background, we are here to help!