3 April 2012
East Jerusalem, West Bank
UNRWA West Bank and PalTel launched two workshops in mobile phone maintenance and information technology (IT) at the Kalandia Training Centre today, an activity that falls in line with the comprehensive tertiary education reform implemented by UNRWA in the West Bank “towards a confident and self-reliant youth”. Present at the launch were Felipe Sanchez, Director of UNRWA Operations in the West Bank, and Mr. Ammar Akder, PalTel CEO.
During the ceremony, Sanchez took the opportunity to thank PalTel for their contribution, consisting of rehabilitation of workshops, provision of furniture and equipment, capacity-building for instructors, curriculum development, and on-the-job training for trainers. “Youth represent the future human capital of society, and investment in youth is an investment in the future”, he added. Mr. Aker explained that this contribution falls within the PalTel Foundation’s corporate responsibility towards Palestinian society, adding: “It is important to invest in education and to rehabilitate youth to face the challenges of the labour market”.
The overall objective of the tertiary education reform is to equip young refugees with vocational skills which enhance their employment opportunities. Vocational training is seen as an important youth development and poverty alleviation tool, delivered under the human development goal of allowing refugees to achieve “a decent standard of living”. The two workshops will target 180 students over three years, who will benefit from trade courses in mobile phone maintenance, telecommunications, English, and entrepreneurship skills, as well as improved curriculum and enhanced on-the-job-training for trainees through placements with PalTel group companies.
Background information
UNRWA provides assistance, protection and advocacy for nearly 5 million registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, pending a solution to their plight. The Agency’s services encompass education, health care, social safety-net, camp infrastructure and improvement, community support, microfinance and emergency response, including in times of armed conflict.
For more information please contact:
Ilona Kassissieh
Public Information Officer
Mobile: 054 216 8717
Cell: 02 589 0408
InterTech 
