(MENAFN- Alghad Newspaper) Over 200 girls and boys received certificates today for successfully completing a continuing education programme run by the Norwegian Refugee Council in Za'atari refugee camp, according to the organizers.
At the graduation event for the fourth cohort of students from the Za'atari Youth Training Centre, certificates were handed out to the youth by the Ministry of Education representative Faisal Al Suhaiba, the First Counsellor of the European Union Delegation to Jordan Ibrahim Laafia, UNICEF Deputy Representative Michele Servadei, and the NRC Director Petr Kostohryz.
"The main objective of NRC youth activities is to return some structure and normalcy in the lives of Syrian youth and engage them in creative processes," NRC Jordan Country Director, Petr Kostohryz said in the statement.
Supported by the European Union and UNICEF, the Za'atari Youth Training Centre provides young people aged 15-24 years living in the camp with three-month continuing education programme course. Based on a comprehensive package of literacy, numeracy, life skills and practical skills training, the course provides meaningful learning opportunities in safe spaces for Syrian youth.
The programme enables young people to continue some form of education, and increases their engagement with peers, with the wider community, and helps them participate meaningfully in camp development discussions, according to the statement.
"The EU Delegation would like to express its praise and gratitude to the Ministry of Education, NRC and UNICEF, especially the Youth Training Centre team, for their commitment and professionalism. We would like to reiterate our commitment to further support the education for Syrian children in Jordan," said the First Counsellor of the European Union Delegation to Jordan Ibrahim Laafia.
Youth training centres started with a pilot project in Zaatari in early 2013, and soon expanded to both Azraq and the Emirati-Jordanian camps. While the courses are not formally certified, they offer young people a place to learn and receive support, and are the only youth-focused technical education programmes offered in the camps. As of September 2014, more than 2,500 Syrian youth have registered for the NRC Youth Programme.
"Young people's needs are too often overlooked by donors and humanitarian and development actors. Therefore, UNICEF's partnership with the European Union is very important in enabling us to support projects such as this one run by NRC. They provide youth with the chance to be productive, to direct their energy to the benefit of their family and community; and to be the builders of their own future. I would like to congratulate all the students as well as the trainers for a job well done," said the UNICEF Deputy Representative Michele Servadei.
Courses offered across the youth centres include tailoring, barbering, beautician arts, mechanics, electrical wiring, welding, office management and the only certified ICDL (IT course) in Za'atari.
In addition, comprehensive courses in Arabic, Maths and English are mandatory for all students, and a range of sports activities are offered to students. Upon graduation, the students receive a kit or access to a workshop that helps them continue their learning and mentoring programmes.
"To date, close to 90% of youth students have passed their final exams and graduated. Interest in the programmes is rapidly growing with more than 700 youth in Zaatari alone having approached NRC to register for the next cycle of training" said Emma Bonar, NRC Youth Project Manager.
The continuing education programme at the Za'atari Youth Training Centre is funded by the European Union.
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