ActionAid Palestine to Launch INTERNISA Offline Spot in partnership with Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Bethlehem-West Bank -ActionAid Palestine (AAP) launched offline spot in partnership with Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry((BCCI) in the center of BCCI. The opening ceremony took place in the presence of Bethlehem governorate, head of BCCI, Mr.Sameer Hazboun and head of programs in AAP,Wisam Al-Shewiki in addition to representatives of relevant organizations and media outlets. This offline spot is part of the activities of INTERNISA project- is a network of Synergies to increase the number of digitally skilled women employed in the ENI CBC MED Territories via matching demand and supply in the Labor Market. INTERNISA is implemented in Greece, Jordan, Spain, Tunisia,Lebanon ,Palestine and Italy.
Offline spot which is a space equipped with digital tools and equipment in chambers of commerce aims to engage women and businesses and public stakeholders in its activities to facilitate their access to equipment and information. Both women and businesspeople will be able to use the equipment to acquire knowledge about existing technologies and learn how to search and gather information. Participants in the offline spots will be able to draft their resume (CV), learn how to use job platforms, search for a job or post job offers. The offline spots will operate, in this case, as the space connecting beneficiaries to the digital world which is growing constantly. The offline spots will benefit participants in that respect by enabling the practice and development of personal skills through interpersonal interaction. Participants in the offline spots will also be able to receive training on digital tools and apps that will help further improve their access to information regarding employment in the sectors of their interest. In addition, it will match demand and supply in the Labor Market. People lacking internet services or having low internet skills can visit offline spot to gather information , acquire skills, receive trainings on professional guidance and interact with their peers searching for job opportunities.
The methodology of the offline spots enables through learning, face -to- face interaction and communication of employers and employees to assess the level of convergence between supply and demand and match businesspeople with women. Gathering and meeting in one place facilitates connecting businessmen with job seekers strengthening social bonds. As part of the offline spots, participants will have the chance to engage in supporting their peers and sharing their experience, either as women who are trying to enter the labour market or as businesspeople who are actively trying to improve their business and move on the digital era. The offline spots will enable the creation of a network which will facilitate matching women and employers. Having experienced the positive effect of the offline spots, participants will act as multiplies, attracting more people of the local community to participate in the offline spots and the created network. The model of cooperation within the context of offline spots can function as the basis for future networking, cooperation and civic engagement. Consequently, the positive impact of the offline spots is expected to be sustained after the completion of the project activities benefiting the local communities.
The head of BCCI,Mr.Sameer Hazboun welcome the attendees and praised the role of AAP in supporting youth groups particularly women. He also highlighted the importance of selected location for implementing this project which is the permanent exhibition that BCCI established in 2004 for presenting local products and national industries. He stressed the necessity of empowering women and creating job opportunities for them to decrease unemployment rate among women.
The head of the programs in AAP, Mr. Wisam Al-Shewiki said: “first of all, we express our thanks and appreciation for the partnership with BCCI in establishing this offline digital platform. The establishment of this platform reflects the importance of integration, partnership, and joint effort between local, international and governmental institutions to support and empower young Palestinian women and facilitate their entry into the labor market by providing them with digital tools and enabling them to use these tools. INTERNISA project is one of several projects and initiatives that AAP has continually implemented to improve the conditions of Palestinian women and promote their rights. We work with many local and international partners to support the provision of protection services, economic empowerment activities, and vocational training that will help women overcome these conditions and facilitate their entry into the labor market, both in the border areas of the Gaza Strip and the southern West Bank. We always strive to promote the rights of Palestinian women and young women through many advocacy campaigns at the local and international levels.
Background Information
ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of global federation working for social justice and gender equality and eradicate poverty in more than 45 countries around the world. AAP started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.
For more information, please contact
Riham Jafari
Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication in Palestine
Mobile:
+972 (0) 595242890
Office:
+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137
Email: Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org