On May 31, 2016 Islamic Relief along with Belgian Agency for Development held the first TVET boot camp in Palestine which targeted 120 graduates of vocational and technical training centers in the Gaza Strip for short term professional courses, with the presence of a group of international institutions, partners and professionals, in the sectors of construction (plastering, painting, and tiling) and information technology (phone applications, websites applications, and graphic design)
The aim of the camp, which lasts for three days, is to integrate graduates into entrepreneurship and self-employment; and networking with private sector companies in the Palestinian labor market.
Muneeb Abu Ghazalah , Country Director of IRPAL, initiated the first day of the camp welcoming the attendees and stressing the role of Islamic Relief partners and their cooperation in achieving a considerable step in vocational training centers and technical education centers.
Abu Ghazalah confirmed the importance of TVET boot camp for students of vocational training centers and technical training centers by saying, “This camp came to confirm that our concerns as Islamic Relief are not only limited to the development of vocational training and technical education, but rather providing suitable environment for the trainees’ acquisition of skills and experiences which will enable them to become business leaders in the near future”.
Bart Horemans, Representative of the Belgian Agency for Development, also expressed his gladness for the partnership with Islamic Relief in holding the camp activities. He pointed that the Belgian Development Agency is keen on joint cooperation with concerned institutions in order to fight poverty and the increasing unemployment in Palestine and always seeks to develop the Palestinian economy by providing support for education programs and vocational and technical training. And he said, “We are pleased to continue working with Islamic Relief in order to achieve our common goal.”
Education and Vocational Training Officer in the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Saeed Jad Alhaq, said, “We are proud for participating in the first camp, which targeted a group of our students who graduated from short term courses held by Islamic Relief.” In addition, he called the Islamic Relief and the Belgian Agency for Development to continue their efforts in developing vocational and technical education sector in Gaza.
Talaat Abu Maliq, Deputy of Education and vocational training Director in the Ministry of Labor said, “We assure that we are ready for unlimited cooperation with Islamic Relief and Belgian Agency in order to generate new ideas and projects which will serve the vocational and technical education sector.”
From his part, President of Consolidated Contractors, Osama Kuhail, stressed the need of providing technicians and professionals with leading practical and educational experiences to enable them to innovate in the areas of their business, noting that labour market in the Gaza Strip needs highly qualified owners of professions and trades.
Nahed Eid from Beta institution said, “We feel extreme happiness when we see Islamic Relief and the Belgian Agency working side by side in improving vocational training and technical education in Palestine.” He also stressed the need to focus on the leading side of the graduates.
The conference covered a number of themes including: the needs and problems of the labor market in construction and information technology sectors, the concept of entrepreneurship and work plan, life skills, building models for business plans, and preparing for interviews with operators.
At the end of the camp, the results of networking with labor market and employment with private companies were announced, where temporary job opportunities were provided to 14 graduates of the construction sector and to 25 graduates of the IT sector. And the total number of the construction projects that received the highest ratings in the evaluation is 4, as well as 5 other projects in the information technology sector.
It is worth mentioning that the vocational leading camp is a project aims to enhance job opportunities for youth and is implemented by Islamic Relief since three years ago. The project includes several phases contributing to the development of education and vocational sectors and technical training in Palestine; including developing curriculum, training the working staff, and developing the training centers.