A stepping stone to success. Vocational training gives youth the skills to enter the job market

The protracted crisis in Syria continues to have a dramatic impact on the Syrian economy. Livelihood interventions are critical to increase the resilience of Palestine refugees in Syria, who continue to face multiple shocks, including exposure to armed violence, lack of income and prolonged displacement. In order to help Palestine refugees obtain jobs in a severely-hit economy, UNRWA offers 31 different trade and professional training courses. There are currently over 1,000 students enrolled in both short and long term vocational training courses at four UNRWA centres across Syria. The majority of graduates find jobs upon graduation, often after having been linked to employers by UNRWA. The courses provide a substantial contribution to the welfare of the refugee community but also encourage self-reliance, innovation and initiative. The European Union has been a strong and continuous supporter of this work, enabling UNRWA to provide more than humanitarian assistance to Palestine refugee youth and help strengthen their resilience to cope with the devastations wrought by the crisis.