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UNRWA Damascus training centre: a stepping stone towards a successful career

Maya al-Qaseer and Bilal Shaker, both Palestine Refugees in Syria, graduated respectively from UNRWA’s graphic design and refrigeration system maintenance courses in 2023. They are convinced of the impact their education at the Damascus Training Centre (DTC) has had on their current employment with well-known companies and attest to the effectiveness of the programme in preparing them for the job market.

“Graduates of the UNRWA vocational and technical training programme at the Damascus Training Centre are job-ready, as they have already obtained the practical skills and experience, they will use throughout their career,” said Maya.

With funding from the European Union, UNRWA’s vocational and technical education and training programme (TVET), enables students to pursue their passions and interests in a focused manner, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in today’s competitive job market, thereby increasing their chances of securing employment. It also gives young Palestine Refugees like Maya and Bilal the right tools and the best support to their future.

Maya and Bilal emphasize the significance of the DTC in shaping their futures by focusing on practical training tailored to market demands and laying the foundations of a productive and fruitful life. The centre is one of four vocational training centres run by UNRWA in Syria and attended by more than 1,000 Palestine Refugees every year. Over 90 per cent of graduates go on to find employment.

With a reputation for quality education and a curriculum emphasizing practical experience over theoretical concepts, the centre attracted Maya's interest in graphic design, allowing her to explore her passion for visual communication. “Graphic design is essential for effective communication. It is a visual tool to quickly present information. I decided to study graphic design because I have such a deep passion for creating and painting which gives me an outlet to explore my own thoughts and creations,” the 21-year-old explained. Similarly, 19-year-old Bilal recognized the potential of a career in refrigeration system maintenance due to the high demand for skilled technicians in society.

Their time at the DTC was marked by personal and academic growth opportunities, with training geared toward career development offering practical experience before graduation. The courses provided Maya and Bilal with comprehensive training and practical skills that are highly valued by employers. They were trained by instructors who are experts within their industry, offering them an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge. Completing the various aspects of the two-year graphic design, including animation, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and 3D modelling significantly enhanced Maya’s employability and made her stand out from other candidates.

After completing the one-year refrigeration maintenance system course, Bilal is now able to take the machines apart and put them back together, install, maintain, and repair heating, cooling and refrigeration systems. “I learnt everything in the field of cooling and heating systems,” he proudly said. Dreaming of establishing his own workshop, Bilal acknowledges the importance of business savvy alongside technical expertise.

With its comprehensive approach that combines education, practical skills, and networking, and financial support from the EU, UNRWA prepares youth for the challenges of the modern world. The TVET programme fosters talent development and promising job prospects, helping youth to thrive and ultimately improving the livelihoods of Palestine Refugees by facilitating access to employment opportunities.

In addition to serving 1,000 Palestine Refugee youth through its TVET programming, UNRWA aims to ensure that 50,500 Palestine Refugee students in Syria achieve their full potential. UNRWA also provides health, education, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance to 438,000 registered Palestine Refugees.