Palestine 2016 - Flagship Project

Palestine 2016: Supporting vocational training in the occupied Palestinian Territories

In June 2016, Clive Bailey joined Adam Leach (then director of Y Care International) and Terry Waite (Y Care founder & patron) to learn how the YMCA is finding productive livelihoods for young people, mainly women, in a context where graduate unemployment exceeds 80%

Jericho YMCA

150 students on two-year vocational training course studying accountancy, air-conditioning and auto maintenance, home electrics and plumbing with second-year secondment to local employers

(Below from right) Azhar studied accounting and is on secondment to the police; Ahmad studied home electronics and now has his own business; Omar and Mohassan, trained as auto mechanics and both employed. All are able to send money home to their families each week

Wajanat and Fatima studied graphic design hoping to get jobs in advertising and start supporting their families

Ramallah YMCA

Mina (second from right), and members of the Women’s Employment and Advocacy Group, told how less than half their graduates find employment but the training is as much about building self-confidence and esteem. One young woman, forced into early marriage, described the elation on learning she had a right to work

Mohamed (below) had been shot and seriously wounded by Israeli police. He is rebuilding his life with counselling and help from the YMCA to start a small corner shop. Without this Mohamed would have been stranded at home without support, rehabilitation or the prospect of a livelihood

Al Raboud Village

Village elders were unable to tackle the 80% unemployment rate. YMCA sponsored a group of youngsters to explore options for themselves and results include private sector approaches for employing young people, improved communication skills, English language training and enrolment on YMCA vocational training courses

Ala’a (14) was arrested by police on his way to school and only released from prison after two months after signing a partial confession. The YMCA counsellor encouraged Ala’a to return to school. Terry Waite spoke of his own incarceration and urged Ala’a and the young people to not give up hope or hold on to hatred