Projects Promoting Educational Opportunities:

The mission of the Near East Council of Churches Committee for Refugee Work (NECCCRW) in the Gaza Area is aimed at the empowerment and strengthening of Palestinian individuals and communities to help them secure a better quality of life.  We seek the development of the whole human being by providing education, training and health services that enhance well-being, self-reliance and community participation in decision making and managing their affairs.

NECCCRW provides vocational training to young men and women in the Gaza Governorates in the following fields: carpentry and furniture making, metal/aluminum works and welding, general electrical training and motor/transformer rewinding, dressmaking, secretarial and computer skills.

Participants in each programme pay a contribution to NECCCRW.  The contributions, not fees, are requested as a means to promote participant's ownership of the programmes and ideals of shared responsibility.  Each programme has a different contribution amount that is determined by the staff of the programme and the Committee.  In cases of extreme hardship, NECCCRW "refunds" a portion or in full of the contribution to the family upon regular attendance and successful completion of the course. 

The courses have good reputation amongst employers giving the graduates better chances than others to find work due to the emphasis placed on quality and the good care being given to the trainees.

Aims:

To provide training in a variety of designed skills and professions to qualify both women and men in accordance with the emerging needs of the society and market.

Empower women by providing education to them especially teenagers who drop out from school.  It offers them positive ways to be self-reliant with a sense of hope.

To assist in developing the social and industrial infrastructure of the future independent Palestinian State.

 To provide training opportunities for about 300 adults of whom about 130 will graduate every year.

 To complement training opportunities provided by mainly PNA, UNRWA and others and ensure avoidance of duplication.

Activities:

208 trainees (129 women and 79 men) completed their training in various vocational courses including carpentry, metal/aluminum works, electrical engineering, secretarial studies, community work, computer training and advanced dressmaking.  There are a further 171 trainees (123 women and 48 men) currently continuing their courses.

English language courses attendees included staff from PNA Ministries of Social Affairs and Health in addition to local NGOs.

While the number of applicants exceeded the number of available places in each of the training courses most obviously in the Secretarial Studies, General Electrical course and English Language, it was noticed for the first time that less applications were received for the enrollment at the dressmaking centre.  The case will be monitored and assessed especially in view of the social worker's survey that noticed all graduates in 2001 has been engaged in income generated work either at home or factories.

The drop-out rate of about 4% in both women's and men's training programmes was almost at the same level of last year.  The main causes of drop-out continued to be financial pressure for men whose families badly needed immediate employment to generate income and marriage for women.

The social worker followed up last year's (2001) graduates  and found out that little over 65% of them were employed in the field of their training and about 5% work in a different field despite of the harsh economic condition and the prevailing unprecedented unemployment rate of over 65%.

Advanced Dressmaking                              100%

Electricity & motor rewinding                        77%

Carpentry & Furniture making                      73%

Metal & Aluminum works                              50%

Secretarial studies                                       60%

The 3rd – year trainees have been placed at workshops for external training and exposition to the market.

Meetings held with guardians of trainees mainly at the Gaza VTC attended by the Instructors and Social Worker.

The spraying of furniture has taken place in an appropriate installation prepared within the Boys' VTC in Gaza.

Continuing collaboration with Gaza Strip Red Crescent Society in providing specialists to eradicate illiteracy amongst the trainees of Gaza boys' VTC.

Community Workers

It was possible this year again to organize another 6-month intensive course began on 8/4/2002 for Community Workers when 20 women from Darraj/Tuffah district had been selected out of 29 women to promote their involvement in the society.  They graduated on 10/10/2002.

The topics included Health Education, Environment and Social issues i.e. early marriage, gender, women's rights, early marriage etc.

Part of their training was held at the Family Health Care Centre in Darraj/Tuffah district and the multiple purpose hall at NECC premises when specialized lecturers had been invited.  The practical training was taking place within the Darraj/Tuffah quarter.  The graduates expressed interest to do voluntary work at the centre which was encouraged by our organization in order to promote such a spirit.

Educational Loans

All staff concerned with the collection of "old" loans in collaboration with the Legal Advisor had made their best efforts to ensure the continuity of repayment of the loans in arrears.  There are still 10 out of 12 cases dealt with through the Legal Advisor in addition to 12 out of 21 loanees who pay irregularly despite the constant follow up.  They constitute less than 1% of the total issued loans.  Otherwise, the rate of payment of loans which have been issued during the last four years is 100%.

The Committee had issued 196 interest-free educational loans to 127 students who were able to enroll at Gaza and West Bank/Jerusalem universities in addition to the renewal of 69 loans to the successful students who were upgraded.  This figure included 19 persons who enrolled for MSc and 14 for Ph.D. studies.

It was also noticed this year that while the Gaza Area Committee approved the issue of new loans to 186 eligible students, only 127 were able to meet the conditions in providing the required notary documents and guarantors from 469 new applications had been collected.  Many others among those who received applications have also hesitated to submit them back because of the terms considered by some people as strict, but the Committee on the advise of the legal Adviser retained them.

Difficulties encountered

The activities at the various centers continued with some constraints as a number of the staff and trainees had been confronted with restrictions imposed by the Israeli Army who had blocked the main road leading to the centre in Qararah and prevented the flow of traffic between Gaza and the southern part, and vice versa.  Arrangements for those who reside in the northern districts of Gaza were made to accommodate them temporarily in workshops in Gaza.  They comprised of almost one-fourth of the center's strength in both the first and second-year levels with one assistant instructor and two part-time teachers  who reside in the middle area to compensate part of the lost time.   A smaller number of trainees at other centres were unable to report as well.  The students lost a total number of 2431 days and the staff 225 working days.

The remaining trainees with the Engineer instructor continued to report to the centre in Qararah near Khan Yunis except for those who happened to be in localities which came under fire from the Israeli Army in Khan Yunis and Rafah cities.  

The continued closure has also made it difficult to provide certain materials and equipment which are required for the training.

It was impossible to organize sports, field trips and recreational events for the trainees enrolled at the centres.

Due to the closure, we unfortunately have not yet been able to effect a change in the course structure of the secretarial and office training by prolonging the period and having additional topics.  Attempts will continue to establish a link with Bethlehem University Outreach programme through the good office of Dr. Bernerd Sabella, MECC/DSPR Executive Director.

Unfortunately, we were not able to form a co-operative from a number of our graduates through the issue of a small loan from a fund which was provided by WCC as they were hesitant to provide part of the capital for such a project due to the prevailing situation and inability to secure guarantors.  We shall continue our trials to promote the idea of forming a cooperative.

It was not also possible to employ an instructor for polishing and thankfully one of the instructors at the centre who is performing the work, has continued the training of two others on the job training.

We could not effect the replacement of a number of heavy equipment i.e.  Electrical binding machine, a shear, electrode welding machines and electronic devices.

We did not succeed to employ a full time female engineer to perform the maintenance to the computers and conduct computer courses.

A high percentage of university students who applied for a loan could not meet the terms to provide guarantors.

Activities to be undertaken next year:

The various training courses will continue to be conducted for women in Secretarial Studies and Advanced Dressmaking which will be completed by the end of July 2003, and computing during the year. The training in General Electricity and motors & transformers rewinding will be completed by the end of October 2003.

It is expected that 123 women and 48 men will complete their courses and receive their certificates.

The 94 trainees enrolled in first and second-year of training will continue their training in carpentry, metal & aluminum works and general electricity & motors rewinding defined as follows:

New applications will  be  accepted  for  the  selection  of  196  persons (120 women and 76 men) to enroll at the various courses.