The Compass – The Government of the Republic of Korea donated, on Friday, one million US dollars to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to enhance access to livelihood opportunities for young Palestine refugees in Jordan.

This donation comes as part of the overall contribution announced by the Government of the Republic of Korea under which the Jordan Field Office will be able to use this financial support to enhance the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Program for young Palestine refugees in the UNRWA Vocational Training and Education Centers.

In honor of this vital contribution to the Agency’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training Programme, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Jordan, Marta Lorenzo, received a delegation headed by the Korean Ambassador to Jordan Lee Jae-wan at Wadi Al-Seer Training College, where a signing ceremony was held and the terms of the support agreement were discussed in accordance with the project submitted to enhance technical education and vocational training in Jordan. Jordan.

The $1 million contribution aims to modernize the curricula for vocational courses offered to UNRWA students to meet the changing competency needs and qualification requirements of the labor market and industry, thus equipping students with the skills needed after graduation.

According to the World Bank, the unemployment rate among young people in Jordan in the first quarter of 2022 was 47.7%.

It is noteworthy that young Palestine refugees have an increasing need for new and innovative professional skills that can increase their potential to find work in a constantly evolving and increasingly competitive professional world.

Thanks to South Korea’s recent contribution, the Agency’s Vocational Training and Technical Education Centers in Jordan will be supported by providing modern training curricula, special training laboratories, training courses for trainers, modern examination equipment, modern Korean equipment, and new spare parts.

Under the terms of this contribution, the various learning facilities will be repaired, old furniture and worn out equipment replaced.

Furthermore, the capacity of teachers will be enhanced so that they can provide career guidance to TVET students. These outputs represent the main objective of this contribution, which will ensure the safety and security of students and educational staff.

At the signing ceremony, Lorenzo said: “In my meetings with young Palestine refugees in the camps and in Agency facilities, they have always expressed that getting jobs is their biggest concern, and thus this contribution from the South Korean government indicates our commitment to working with our partners to develop the skills and capabilities of young refugees. Palestine to enable them to access jobs in the local and regional labor markets, in line with the TVET strategies of Jordan and UNRWA. UNRWA Jordan Field Office expresses its gratitude to South Korea for its support to refugee youth and hopes for further cooperation in the future.”

Jae-Wan said: “As I share your concern about the constantly deteriorating conditions of Palestine refugees, I am pleased to make this contribution to this professional project. The Republic of Korea sincerely hopes that its donation of $1 million will contribute to empowering young refugees in Jordan to lead a dignified life, and to engage more effectively in the labor market and industry.”

It should be noted that the Republic of Korea is one of the important donors to UNRWA from East Asia.

With the enduring support of donors such as the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Agency is able to provide vital services to Palestine refugees throughout the Middle East in the face of its continuing challenges.