JERUSALEM/WINNIPEG, Canada/GENEVA
12.01.2021.
The LWF in Jerusalem offers vocational training and the provision of economic opportunities
Increasing women’s employment in the Palestinian territories and improving their access to technical and vocational education programmes: a project in the Lutheran World Federation’s Jerusalem programme seeks to empower women by supporting their economic independence.
“In the Palestinian territories, unemployment is the main cause of poverty,” notes LWF project manager Suhad Kasbari. Women have fewer opportunities to find work than men, and the opportunities that do exist are hard to access. This situation exacerbates the existing economic and social barriers, thereby further aggravating already existing problems. For women with disabilities, the situation is even more difficult.”
In cooperation with Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR), the Lutheran World Federation’s (LWF) Jerusalem programme recently launched a project to improve the education, training and employment opportunities of Palestinian women in non-traditional fields. The project, funded by the Government of Canada through “Global Affairs Canada”, will run for five years.
“Normalising” women’s employment
The new project, entitled “Gender-Sensitive and Inclusive Technical Education and Training”, will improve women’s access to technical and vocational education programmes that are tailored to their needs, interests and market demands. They will gain suitable jobs and financial independence.
“The project will open new doors for women, providing greater economic freedom and self-confidence within families and communities,” notes Kasbari.
The LWF has run a successful vocational education programme in the Palestinian territories in Ramallah and Beit Hanina since 1949. Over the past ten years, the LWF set the goal of attracting women. With the help of various measures, the initial goal has been reached — 25% of graduates are women.
It is now possible to expand the existing programmes and introduce new courses for women in various fields, including those usually attended by men. The aim of the project is thus to normalise women’s involvement in various community roles.
Women’s economic opportunities are essential for the realisation of women’s rights and gender equality. Economic opportunities include women’s ability to participate equally in the labour market, to access decent work, and to voice their opinions and participate meaningfully in economic decision-making, including at the household level. Women’s economic opportunities are a key factor in delivering the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Creating an environment favourable to women
“The new initiative builds on the LWF’s experience of providing vocational training in the West Bank, where we have been long-standing partners,” notes CLWR Executive Director Karin Achtelstetter. “Every year we are inspired by the talented young people who graduate from the programme and find work in their fields. By placing greater emphasis on women’s education, we will achieve significant impact, and hundreds of women who face barriers to education, employment and equality will receive help.
By placing greater emphasis on women’s education, we will help hundreds of women who face barriers to education, employment and equality. Karin Achtelstetter, Canadian Lutheran World Relief
“We know that the gender differences in the division of labour in the Palestinian territories are linked to a number of factors. They are economic, social and cultural in nature, and women’s entrepreneurship lacks a supportive environment,” says Caroline Tveoy, LWF regional programme coordinator for the Middle East and representative of the World Service Gender Justice Coordination Centre.
“With this project, the LWF offers women non-traditional vocational and technical training. “By offering non-traditional vocational and technical training and working with a network of VTCs and employers across the West Bank, the LWF supports gender-sensitive policy and practice in the region,” adds Tveoy.
Megan Redmond/CLWR. Ed. LWF/C. Kästner
The LWF in Jerusalem has provided vocational training for more than 70 years. The training centres are geared towards reaching Palestinian youth with limited opportunities due to unstable economic and social conditions as well as disability. Over the past decade, the goal has been to increase the number of women and female graduates in the training programme. This is linked to efforts to increase the number of professions available to women in the local market.
Canadian Lutheran World Relief is an international relief and development agency that addresses problems and responds to the injustice that causes human suffering and poverty. As the agency of Canadian Lutheran communities, Canadian Lutheran World Relief enables Canadians to respond to national and international needs.
Source: The Lutheran World Federation
Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert