Launch of EU-funded ‘Skills4Sports’ project in Palestine
Palestine: Sports for Life (PS4L) launched an info and press day on the 29th of June, 2021 at Carmel hotel, Ramallah to promote ‘Skills4Sports’ project funded by the European Union under the ENI CBC Med Programme. PS4L invited Palestinian key stakeholders and policy makers in the sports sector, press and thematic journalists to present key information about Skills4Sports project, which aims to increase the employability of youth not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEETs) of the Mediterranean area in the sports sector, by developing new professionals, reducing the mismatch of skills and involving key stakeholders.
The Skills4Sports project will enhance key transferable skills and market-related knowledge corresponding to new/niche professions. It will also create a support network for the development of sports professionals, involving the quadruple helix stakeholders (government, society, education/academia, private sector) of the region such as themselves. Ms. Tamara Awartani from PS4L highlighted the importance of the project for Palestine as there is a high unemployment rate amongst youth reaching 35% (source Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics) , since the project aims to bridge the gap of skills needed in the sports sector involving key stakeholders and providing employment opportunities for NEETs. As a result, 1200 NEETs will be trained in professional skills for the sports sector, 9 new curricula for sports professionals and 3 electronic tools for e-learning and gamification will be developed.
Within the press and info day, PS4L team led round table discussions on the Palestinian sports sector, with different key stakeholders representing the government: Ministry of Education – Students Activities department and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) department, Higher Council of Youth and Sports, Palestinian Olympic Committee, Universities: Arab American University, Polytechnic University - Hebron, UN Agencies: UNRWA, UNODC, Civil society organizations, Sports Journalists, and private sector.
The discussions were fruitful bringing different views and ideas from the different stakeholders, and a great start for Skills4Sports project on how it will bridge the skills gap and increase the employment of NEETs.
- “The info day gave us an insight about sports opportunities and the importance of building the skills for NEETs. Our role will be in strengthening the partnerships with the civil society organisations and universities, reinforce the sports culture in new specialties that meets the needs of the local sports labor market.” - Dr. Usama Abu Baha, Area Education Officer/ Jerusalem and Jericho Area
- “The activities and vision of the project will benefit the Palestinian Sports Sector in general and will strengthen the sports role on a bigger scale on a national level to become a priority, to be supported on a local and international level, bringing Palestinian sports skills on a higher level on a technical and managerial level.” - Mr. Basheer Mahameed, Sports Department Director, Higher Council of Youth and Sports
- “A very important day that we need to build on and invest in with all partners in training sector and in the labor market. We are the largest sector in the labor market to take in NEETs and fresh graduates, we also aim to create a Sports Activities teacher center to create further job opportunities be able to receive a higher number of NEETs.” - Mr. Aref Asayrah, Director of Sports Activities Department, Ministry of Education
PS4L is one of the partners of the Skills4Sports project to increase the employability of NEETs (young people who neither study nor work) by addressing the skills gap in the sports sector. Under the umbrella of the European Union ‘ENI CBC MED’ program and with a total of eight organizations involved, the project has a duration of two and a half years and a budget of almost 3 million euros, 2.6 million of which are granted by the EU.
Contact Person
Tamara Awartani, tamara.awartani@ps4l.org
For more information (self-read): http://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/skills4sports
Watch press day and info day dicussion on Palestine TV Sport & Youth Report
DISCLAIMER: This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union under the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of PS4L and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or the Programme management structures.