
Together, UNRWA, the European Union and the Lebanese Universities Union are working to increase the exposure of young Palestine refugees to career and networking opportunities and help them make sound decisions about their future.
The 6th Academic Fair was launched on Monday 25 November to support the future educational choices of young Palestine refugees, either for higher academic studies in universities or for vocational studies at UNRWA Vocational Training Centres or other private vocational schools. Exclusively this year, Technical and Vocational Education and Training Programme (TVET) providers were present and provided students with the needed information about vocational streams and professions.
This event is funded by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument, which provides Education, Training and Employment Support for young Palestine Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
The Fair provided information and assistance to around 1,000 Grade 12 students from different UNRWA secondary schools, to help them choose their future careers. In addition to them, 100 Lebanese and Syrian Grade 12 students attended the fair and were provided with the needed information and assistance. This event is considered a step forward towards improving social cohesion, interaction andthe Lebanese-Palestinian togetherness.
At the fair, students were given advice on programmes provided by Lebanese and foreign universities, admission processes, available majors and scholarships, in addition to the programmes offered at the vocational centres.
“Before the fair, I was confused about the major I want to do,” said Palestine refugee student Israa Nabani. “The Fair introduced me to the different choices that I have and now I have a clearer idea of what to major in.”
Students were given a comprehensive overview of educational programmes offered in Lebanon and abroad, by public and private institutes, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The European Union has supported the UNRWA scholarships programme allowing more than 600 Palestine refugees to continue their studies at university. In addition, Palestine refugees are provided with career guidance and counselling with EU support.
That EU offers scholarships and mobility opportunities for students through Erasmus +.
EU AND UNRWA: TOGETHER FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES
Since 1971, the European Union and UNRWA have maintained a strategic partnership governed by the shared objective to support the human development, humanitarian and protection needs of Palestine refugees and promote stability in the Middle East. Today, the European Union is the largest multilateral provider of international assistance to Palestine refugees. This reliable and predictable support from the European Union enables UNRWA to provide core services to more than 5 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza, including quality education for roughly half a million children and primary health care for more than 3.5 million patients. Collectively, the EU and its Member States are also among the largest contributors to the Agency’s humanitarian emergency appeals and projects in response to various crises and specific needs across the region. The partnership between the European Union and UNRWA has allowed millions of Palestine refugees to be better educated, live healthier lives, access employment opportunities and improve their living conditions, thus contributing to the development of the entire region.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.
For more information, please contact:
Huda Samra
Communications Advisor – Lebanon (Arabic and Francophone)
Mobile: +961 81 666 134
h.samra@unrwa.org