RAMALLAH, February 19, 2012 (WAFA) - The Youth Entrepreneurship Development Program, implemented by the International Youth Foundation in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission to the West Bank and Gaza, has awarded grants to four Palestinian organizations to enhance career prospects for Palestinian youth, Sunday said a press release.

It added the grants aim to provide training and support to nearly 1,500 Palestinian youth in the coming year to develop their entrepreneurship and employability skills, whereas the Youth Entrepreneurship Development program works to strengthen employment, entrepreneurship and service learning opportunities for young Palestinians between the ages of 14 - 29.

The four partners: Palestine Polytechnic University; the Palestine Information and Communications Technology Incubator (PICTI); Sharek Youth Forum; and Leaders Organization will implement carefully designed programs, based on international best practices.

“These programs will develop young Palestinians’ job preparation skills, organize activities such as job fairs and internship opportunities with private sector companies to facilitate job opportunities, and train young unemployed graduates on entrepreneurship concepts and skills that would allow them to establish their own enterprises,” said the press release.

“Building on our successful experience in strengthening the capacity of youth-serving organizations in the West Bank during the past year, I am very pleased to see the start of four additional programs providing much needed employability and entrepreneurship skills to young Palestinians, including a large number of youth who live in remote and marginalized areas,” said Mohammad AlMbaid, Chief of Party for the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Program.

USAID’s Mission Director Michael Harvey said that USAID’s support for youth development is critical and spans different sectors, including governance, civic participation, enterprise development, health, infrastructure and education.

“Our long-term goal is to inspire and equip young Palestinian men and women to become agents of positive change in civil society, in economic development and in their communities,” he added.

R.Q./F.R.