Meet Tamer Shaheen
If you’ve been to Seeds of Hope during our annual Summer Camp, you may already know him. He’s now our official Summer Camp photographer and videographer and a prominent leader in our community, but it didn’t start that way.
Almost a decade ago, when Tamer was just 14, he tagged along with his older brother and sister to volunteer at Seeds of Hope Summer Camp for the first time. His brother Simon was just getting our Cultural Center activities going and welcomed all the help he could get.
As Simon was stepping into the role of Cultural Center Director and the camp was growing, he didn’t have as much time to take photos and videos during camp, so he asked Tamer to give it a try. With no prior experience, Tamer took Simon’s old camera and unknowingly discovered his deep passion for photography, videography, and creativity.
From then on, Tamer came to more and more events. His love for videography grew, but there was another unintended effect. Spending time with the volunteers and project teams that visited Seeds of Hope started to change his outlook.
A teenage boy in Jericho could spend his time on any number of things—some good, some not as good. But because of Seeds of Hope’s fun and positive atmosphere, Tamer started spending more and more time at the Cultural Center making videos, taking pictures, and volunteering.
Not only did his skills increase, he started to see the value of investing in the next generation. He realized that he could be a leader, too. Coming from one of the few Christian families in Jericho can be difficult. But at Seeds of Hope, Tamer interacted with a broader community of believers—from all over the world—who encouraged and inspired him.
“I’ve known Tamer for close to 10 years,” shared Jonah German. Jonah has been visiting Seeds of Hope for many years and now partners with us through his nonprofit, The Athlete’s Table.
“When I met him, he was just a kid who loved playing sports, making jokes, and picking on his sister. From the first time he started volunteering at summer camp, you could see his passion for the youth and his desire to make sure they stayed happy and excited.
“Tamer is supremely talented and good at pretty much whatever he tries. As he got older, he always found ways to be creative and engage the next generation,” Jonah remembers.
In the last few years, Tamer has done just that. After graduating from university, he continues to pursue his passion for photography and videography. He’s also begun leading Seeds of Hope “Mini Games” to help children grow in their fitness and confidence.
“Tamer presented the idea to me, and it aligned with our values of opening the door for the next generation,” said Simon, Tamer’s brother and Director of the Seeds of Hope Cultural Center. “I was surprised by how prepared he was in his planning. He’s grown the program and introduced it to local schools.”
VIDEO: Check out an example of Tamer’s Mini Games at a local school. Plus, Tamer shot and edited this video!
Now, Tamer is taking everything he’s learned from years of involvement at Seeds of Hope and sharing it with children across the West Bank. He’s learned how to run an effective sports program for children and how to encourage and equip them with values that will serve them well in life.
Tamer is just a small example of the exponential impact of the project teams that visit Jericho. While it’s just a few days of your time, your investment in children like Tamer changes who they are. It helps shape their future. And now Tamer is shaping the future of countless more young children!
“I’m so excited to watch the next chapter of Tamer’s life,” Jonah told us. “I’m honored to call him a friend and brother. I look forward to continuing to work alongside him and his family!”
We’re so grateful for the project teams and volunteers who invest in young people like Tamer. You’ll never know the generational impact of your time and encouragement. Thank you for partnering with us to spread hope and light in the Middle East and beyond!
