JERUSALEM, September 21, 2010 (WAFA)- Members of Young Entrepreneurs Palestine (YEP), representatives of several Palestinian corporations and organizations, and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem honored Tuesday forty university graduates who completed an innovative internship program for young entrepreneurs. 

This job training program, sponsored through a grant to YEP by the U.S. Consulate General, invited recent graduates of various West Bank universities to complete internships with a number of prominent Palestinian businesses in fields such as accounting, finance, information systems management, and business administration.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Hazem Kawasmi, Chairman of YEP, congratulated the interns on completing this rigorous program, thanked the Consulate General for providing financial support, and acknowledged the important role of the Palestinian business community in providing educational and professional opportunities these recent graduates.  The U.S. Consulate General’s Public Affairs Officer Frank J. Finver re-affirmed the U.S. Government and Consulate General’s continued support of the Palestinian people, stating, “The U.S. Government is one of your strongest supporters.  We want to see the Palestinian people succeed; thanks to fruitful partnerships with organizations like YEP, the U.S. Consulate General is proud to be able to support individuals, businesses, and organizations dedicated to building a strong and independent Palestinian economy.” 

YEP has partnered with the Consulate over the years on a number of projects that include several career fairs throughout the West Bank, including one in April 2009 that specifically targeted young Palestinian women.  In August 2009, with the Consulate’s support, YEP organized the First National Palestinian Entrepreneurship Conference.  Prime Minister Salam Fayyad attended and gave the keynote address.  The Consulate also supported the visit of prominent American businesswoman and entrepreneur Karen Kerrigan, who participated in the Conference, leading a panel discussion entitled “Overcoming the Challenges of Entrepreneurship.”