Over 200 Syrians graduate from continuing education programme

AMMAN — More than 200 young Syrians on Thursday graduated from a continuing education programme run by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in the Zaatari Refugee Camp.

At the graduation ceremony for the fourth batch of students from the Zaatari Youth Training Centre, graduates received certificates from Education Ministry representative Faisal Al Suhaiba, First Counsellor of the European Union Delegation to Jordan Ibrahim Laafia, UNICEF Deputy Representative Michele Servadei and NRC Director Petr Kostohryz.

Supported by the EU and UNICEF, the Zaatari training centre provides young people aged 15-24 years living in the camp with a three-month continuing education course, according to a joint statement from programme organisers.

“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,” the statement quoted Kostohryz as saying.

Based on a comprehensive training package of literacy, numeracy, life and practical skills, the course provides meaningful learning opportunities in safe spaces for young Syrians. 

The EU-funded programme enables young people to continue some form of education and increases engagement with their peers and the wider community, and helps them participate meaningfully in camp development discussions, the statement said.

Thanking the Education Ministry, NRC and UNICEF “for their commitment and professionalism”, Laafia reiterated the EU delegation’s “commitment to further support the education for Syrian children in Jordan”.

Starting with a pilot project in Zaatari in early 2013, youth training centres expanded to the Azraq and Mreijeb Al Fhoud camps. Until September 2014, more than 2,500 young Syrians have registered for the NRC Youth Programme, the statement said.

 “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 youths 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,” Servadei said. 

“Courses offered in the youth centres include tailoring, barbering, beautician arts, mechanics, electrical wiring, welding, office management and the only certified ICDL in Zaatari,” the statement said.  

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, students receive a kit or access to a workshop that helps them continue their learning and mentoring programmes, it added.

“To date, close to 90 per cent of... students have passed their final exams and graduated.  Interest in the programmes is rapidly growing with more than 700 youths in Zaatari alone having approached NRC to register for the next cycle of training,” NRC Youth Project Manager Emma Bonar noted.