Learn More About MEECC-RI

Founded and helmed by Ms. Nagwa Saed, the Middle Eastern Education and Cultural Center of Rhode Island provides aid to local Middle Eastern individuals while showcasing the beauty of Middle Eastern culture to all the people of Rhode Island.

With more than a decade of experience working with non-profits in the state of Rhode Island, Ms. Saed became intimately aware of the struggles our Middle Eastern community faces: difficulty with learning English, social isolation, and homesickness. The Center addresses these struggles by providing benefits to the local Middle Eastern population as well as the Host Rhode Island Population.

The Center provides immediate relief through English language courses aimed at Middle Eastern individuals taught by an instructor that speaks their language. We have found that the greatest barrier to English language retention has been the instructor’s inability to speak Arabic. If the student only speaks Arabic and the instructor only speaks English, no meaningful exchange of language can occur. To remedy this, the Center will host instructors with a grasp of many different Middle Eastern languages so that they may relate to the students through their native language.

The Center will further support the community by hosting Arabic language courses for native Rhode Islanders. Even a basic understanding of the Arabic language would empower individuals to explore the rich tapestry of culture and history the Arab world has. Such exploration would foster cultural understanding in Rhode Island as Arab and Middle Eastern individuals are no longer viewed as an unknown “other” but a descendant of a long and rich history.

The Center further collaborates with Brown University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies to host Middle Eastern cultural showcases including music, dance, poetry and cuisine. In conjunction with Arabic language education, we expect these two programs to greatly drive interest in Middle Eastern culture and greatly increase cultural cohesion.