(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Silatech, the international development nonprofit non-government
organisation that works on connecting Arab youth, has issued its annual
report for 2016-17 in which it provided a general view of its programmes
and initiatives, the main local, regional and international strategic
partnerships, and the achievements and results that it accomplished for
Arab youths in its countries of operation.
In the opening remarks of the report, Silatech Chairperson of the Board
of Trustees Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser said that it is 'vital
to give all young people the tools to make their societies flourish,
stressing that 'it is imperative that we provide them with chances to
become active and productive members of their communities.
'Silatech was conceived from the region, by the region, for the region,
with a vision to unleash this potential, Her Highness Sheikha Moza
said, adding: 'Our name and our mission are all about connection;
connecting needs with skills; connecting employers with job seekers;
connecting young people with opportunities.
'The social and economic upheavals that have rocked the Arab world in
recent years have compounded my conviction that now, more than ever, it
is vital to give all young people the tools to make their societies
flourish, she said.
'Only when we connect the hopes and dreams of our youth with the tools
to realise them will we build the strong Arab economies of tomorrow,
Her Highness Sheikha Moza said as she concluded her remarks.
The report said that the organisation aims to provide 2mn job
opportunities by 2020 in 16 countries in collaboration with 150 local,
regional and international partners.
The report added that the State of Qatar contributed $148mn out of $237mn collected to fund the organisation's projects.
Silatech said that it collaborates with governmental, educational and
private sector partners to develop effective employment and training
mechanisms and programmes.
It also provides young people with access to career guidance, training
and jobs through innovative technological platforms, builds the capacity
of local institutions, and direct connection between employers and
young jobseekers.
In the field of enterprise development, the organisation said it funded
146,000 youth projects, trained 42,000 young men and women in
entrepreneurship, built the capacity of more than 30 financial
institutions, and designed and launched 29 existing financial products
for youth.
As for employment, 65,000 young people received training to enter the
labour market, over 57,000 professional consultations were offered, 250
vocational centres were launched in the Arab world and 900 certified
professional counsellors were provided.
In the field of policy and research, Silatech offered more than 50
research papers on policies and programmes that support Arab youth, and
organised over 30 international conferences and workshops on youth
issues.
The report reviewed the progress of some of Silatech's major ventures
such as the development, independence and sustainability of Narwi
Platform, which was established by Silatech in 2014, 'Hope programme
that aims to reintegrate and rehabilitate a number of Sudanese youths,
'Smart Tunisia and 'Bedaya - Enda programmes in Tunisia, 'Bodour
programme in Morocco, 'Decent Living programme in Syria, enhancing the
role of Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Guidance,
developing 'Tamheed programme for career guidance, and building the
capacity of independent secondary school career advisers.
The projects also include establishing localised portals in Arabic,
English and French for 'Ta3mal platform in the eight countries of
Qatar, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt,
supporting the employment of Syrian refugees in Turkey, supporting the
career guidance and employment centre in Oman, establishing a career
centre to support the employment of women in Saudi Arabia, and
developing the capacities of young Palestinian women in the field of
manufacturing and packaging food products.
In addition, the report featured a number of personal experiments of
some beneficiaries of Silatech programmes and ventures and how the
support that they received from the organisation changed their lives.
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