Update

Bethlehem, West Bank – On July 19th, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented with Save the Children US in partnership with Mercy Corps, held a closeout ceremony in celebration of completion of its four year support for Dar al Kalima College in Bethlehem.

USAID’s vocational education program provided support to Dar al Kalima College to develop its Photography and Film Production course to meet the most up-to-date standards for training and support the increased employability of its graduates. The program also helped enhance the overall capacity of the institution, particularly in the areas of IT training, provided support for administrative staff, and equipped youth with important life skills that support employability in the labor market. USAID funding for these activities was just short of 350,000 (348,757) US Dollars.

The event included screening of a documentary film entitled “I Am Not Just a Number” by Dar al Kalima graduate Thaer Al Azzeh. After the screening, Mr. Al Azzeh shared his experience in making this film. He stressed the importance of creative specialties such as documentary film production, and underscored the need to focus on developing and enhancing such specialties and courses, which are very powerful tools that give voice to the needs of the society, particularly youth, and tackle many important and controversial issues with the right use of a camera lens. During the event, the people in attendance toured the five story building of the Dar al Kalima College, and the inauguration of the USAID funded Graphic Design and Entertainment Creation computer lab was followed with a visit to the Documentary Film Production course at the second basement floor which USAID supported. The ceremony also included exhibiting of graduation projects by the students of Dar al Kalima.

The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented by Save the Children US in partnership with Mercy Corps. The program aims to strengthen and diversify the skills of young Palestinians through developing the Palestinian TVET sector so that Palestinians may better support their families and contribute greater productivity to the Palestinian economy.

Since 1994, USAID has provided more than $3.4 billion in US economic assistance to Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza through projects designed to reduce poverty, improve health and education, build infrastructure, create jobs, and promote democracy and good governance.