ASSOCIATION NAJDEH

Vocational Training Section

Mid-Annual Report January-June 2010

1. Project Context

Palestinian refugees are prohibited by law from practicing jobs that are subject to

syndicates; this has led to a high rate of unemployment amongst the refugee

populations. In addition, most of Palestinian refugee families are unable to secure

regular income, and with much difficulty gain access to only intermittent employment.

Unemployment is especially high for women. Thus, through the training courses offered

by the developed and properly equipped VT program, the number of school drop outs

decreased, Palestinian refugee women empowered socially as well as economically

since one of the program's aim is to secure job opportunities for its graduates.

Even of the slight modifications held by the Lebanese government in August 2010,

the situation didn’t change concerning Palestinian refugees working in Lebanon

regarding practicing professions related to syndicates. The Palestinian refugees, even

by being for more than 62 years in Lebanon, are unable to practice work and to attain

their Human Rights as human beings, and even of the support of many parlimentary

parties and figures to the Palestinians, still they are unable to have social security

services, working in professions related to syndicates, and facing economical and

social challenges prisoned in bad living conditions.This situation is yearly mentioned

in the reports issued by UNRWA and no serious preocedures are taken to decrease the

Name of Association Association Najdeh

Address and

Phone/Fax/Email

Afif Al Tibi street, Al Amin Building, 3rd

floor

Tel:+961) 1 302079

(+961) 1 703357

Fax:+961) 1 703358

e-mail: association@najdeh.org.lb

website: www.association-najdeh.org

Program Officer Mrs. Amineh Bicher

Country and area Lebanon-Palestinian refugee camps and gatherings

Program Title Vocational Training

Program period (from-to) 1st January – 30

th June 2010

Reporting Date (date of

report submission)

Beneficiaries Palestinian refugee community in Lebanon

Budget

tense and the problems resulted from being unable to have a legal, secured and

protected job for palestinians in lebanon.

Najdeh as a civil organization working in the Palestinian camps launched the Right to

Work campaign in 2005 and managed through support of its partners to highlight over

the Palestinian refugees status and the Lebanese Labor law restrictions against

Palestinians. Over the passed 5 years, the campaign succeeded in attaining great

support from Lebanese ministers, deputies, palrimentary parties, and head of

municipalities, that´s besides the support of many figures represent great part of the

civil community at the local, regional and international level. The changes were not

enough but at least gave visibility to the Palestinian refugees as human beings and

they have basic demands of living in dignity and protected by laws.

Lack of protection combined with the restrictions that prohibit their employment in a

number of professions have contributed to the vulnerability and the increasingly high

levels of poverty amongst the refugee population. This discrimination aggravates

further the discrimination women already face within their communities.

There are many Palestinian organizations working in the Vocational Training Field in

Lebanon. But the VT training offered by Najdeh has a different quality and due to the

continuous capacity building workshops for the trainers, the raising awareness

workshops for the neneficiaries, the follow up for the graduates, the cooperation and

communication with the local community; all these contribute to give Najdeh´s VT

program good visibilty and transperancy.

Coordination and cooperation with other VT associations is in many fields; such as

excahnging experience, training, periodical meetings to forbid duplication of VT

courses, and participation in workshops and seminars.

There is significant action took place in the beginning of 2010, launching the

Emplyment Service Centre¨in coordination with UNRWA and the Committee for

Employment of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon CEP and funded by the Canadian

International Development Agency CIDA, to improve access to employment for

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. This center aims to collect, analyze and distribute

information on the local labor market and to indentify employment and training

opportunities. This is to increase the opportunities of job placement for the Palestinian

refugee graduates in Lebanon.

2. Internal Context

Vocational training program:

Vocational training program is one of the most important programs that can be

consider an impressive alternate compensate for those who couldn’t continue their

education for various reasons, that’s vary between economical and socially, when

certain families can’t or unable to cover the expenses for their children expenses for

social or geographic reasons. So these vocational training could be the out lit for them

in the country to gain certain certificate in a country where the Palestinian are deprived

from practicing about 72 jobs, regarding this cruel fact. Even of the slight

modifications held by the Lebanese Government concerning the Labor law towards the

Palestinian refugee workers in August 2010 but the Palestinians still not attaining their

complete rights in practicing professions especially those related to syndicates.

Palestinian youth found their shelter in joining to these centers for many

important reasons as: financially that means the ability to cover the expenses for its

symbolic fees and socially on other hand, which can be translated in providing certain

profession and ensuring away for acquiring life, for these vocational training centers

choose the suitable and needed courses that can meet the markets’ needs and at the

same time suit Palestinians’ situation concerning their limited available space for work,

else they don’t have their own business.

As mentioned before vocational training program is one of the dispensable

programs, since it is found or created to help, support and lessen the burdens of

Palestinians refuges specially those who live in camps surrounded by sever hard

economical situations from one hand, and the siege they are witnessing at all levels,

beginning with the injustice law of Palestinians’ right to work to depriving them from

their rights to own certain property “ house, company or real estate” as if all these

inhuman procedures not enough for the Palestinians to suffer, but they daily subjected

to cruel hard procedures at the Lebanese check points in all Palestinians camps

,specially NB camp after the war to the extent that no one can enter without issuing a

permit from the Lebanese army. Under all these economical, social and security

levels Palestinians found them selves helpless and unable to make a real change, so

some organizations try to establish certain improvement as the case of vocational

training that in one way is trying to provide Palestinians with certain weapon in order

to continue, survive and confront life’s difficulties.

Najdeh´s VT program witnessed changes over its running sections concerning

its programs or its staff. The program added new courses: (English Language-Project

Management and Life Skill) and these became at all courses. Changes in the courses are

given due to the demands of the market and the attraction of the beneficiaries to the

courses.

The most significant change was the opening of the Vocational Training Center

for Excellence in Naher EL Bared. The aim of the project is to create opportunity and

promote the economic development for 1240 beneficiaries (800 trainees in the basic

introductory computer skill training, 325 beneficiaries in the advanced training topics

and 115 beneficiaries in training on the business development).The trainings include

basic IT course, Advanced IT course and Business Development course. The certificates

that would be provided for the graduates are approved by Microsoft Company.

Bodies, structures in the decision-making process

Decisions are made inside the organization and mostly from bottom-up.

Najdeh has operations in 10-refugee camps and some gatherings in Lebanon. Najdeh

staff lives in the camps and are part of the local community. The Executive Board

consists of officers responsible for the following sectors: Vocational Training program,

Popular Education program, Social Affairs program (that includes domestic violence

project), Mother and Child program, Administration and Finance department, Income-

Generating Projects, Embroidery Production section, and the coordinators of the

branches.

The committees of the respective program met on a monthly basis for implementing,

following up and Programmatic monitoring. In addition, the Program Section and

Branch Coordinators made field visits.

The sections and centers carry out the monthly reviews of program execution. The

project evaluation is carried out every six months on the center and section levels. The

financial and programmatic reviewing as well as the evaluation and monitoring are

done on the basis of: program execution, socio-economic survey of beneficiaries,

continuity in beneficiary participation, rate of job placement and successful home-

based economic activities, nature and results of coordination activities with other

community groups, evaluation of staff performance (absenteeism, relationship with

beneficiary families, financial and administrative efficiency, etc.).

In addition, sections, branches, and Najdeh's Executive Committee carries out a

biannual project evaluation, as well as an annual project evaluation and impact.

Financial management

The organization has a satisfactory financial management, capable of

projecting budgets for the various sections and producing reports. The organization has

a diverse and healthy portfolio of external donors. When faced with shortages, the

organization has been able to readjust and prioritize. The financial management unit

developed the method of working with two budgets: one minimum budget and one

according to the actual donations. In addition, the organization has found creative ways

of raising funds, both from the local community and from external donors. Financial

and administrative monitoring is carried out monthly by the Administrative

Committee. Financial reviews take place every three months with the participation of

the Najdeh accountant.

The income generating activities of the Al-Badia embroidery and Micro-Credit project

in Tyre and Beqa’a are financially self sustainable. In the past years, Al-Badia has

been systematically paying back part of the debt to Najdeh and will continue to do so.

The bank account signatories are two persons out of three, the president, the head of

administrative, and the financial officer.

Changes within the organization

Gender Policy

A large majority of the staff, at 80% is female, while the rate of gender distribution in

the General Assembly sat up at 51% women and 49% men in 2005. Over the last few

years the administrative bureau is at fifty-fifty female/male division (6 members). The

rate of Gender analysis is at the basis of Najdeh program development and its results

are presented separately for women and men. In regards to the Social Affairs Section

strategy, the plan is to increase the female beneficiaries' rate to 50%, especially in the

educational sponsorship issue where the majority of beneficiaries used to be males

students over the passing years. In general, Najdeh program is focused largely on

promoting women’s rights, expanding opportunities for women and countering

violence against women.

Networking and cooperation with other organizations

Coordination continued between the Vocational training Section and between Najdeh

other programs to exchange experience, curricular and extra curricular activities as

well as other NGOs as follows:

Coordination with NPA in continuing following-up the project of tracing the

graduates from 2000 to 2009 in its second phase.

At another level, the Section's centers coordinated with many official

institutes as, the language and science institute, Sidon institutes and Ahmad

Tiba institute, with regards to securing official certificates for the VT

graduates, especially in Tyre and Sidon centers. Besides, the staff

coordinated with official institutes in referring some graduates to continue

their vocational training and acquire official certificates especially for the

administrative courses graduates.

Internally, Najdeh's Social Affair and Popular Education programs resumed

to close follow-up of beneficiaries and their family members by linking them

to Najdeh's VT center. In addition, internal workshops were conducted by

Najdeh to VT staff to enhance their skills and capacities.

Coordination with Mercy Corps to secure jobs for graduates in their running

projects in Naher El Bared.

Coordination with NPA institute in Saida to conduct the ICDL exam and

decreasing the examination fees for them.

II Achievement of Results (Narrative Report):

Vocational training program

Vocational training program is focused on empowering the capacities and

professional skills that can enhance their social and economical opportunities. It is to

be noted that the staff work targeted youth members with focus on the gender issue,

which is clearly indicated in the referral of cases to other Najdeh Programs based on

the need. The work of the program staff mainly resulted in the following:

- A total of 290 beneficiaries had strengthened their capacities and enhanced

their economical and social opportunities through being enrolled to 24 VT

courses.

- A total of 331 VT beneficiaries had graduated successfully, and 32% of them

had secured job.

- A total of 160 field visits had conducted to companies and market to secure

job placements for 106 VT beneficiaries (Table 11).

- A total of 1284 direct and indirect beneficiaries had attended 42 career

orientation and raising awareness workshops.

- A total of 27 VT staff had enhanced their skills and capacities by attending 18

training work shops.

- Referral to vocational program contributed to the improvement of educational

situations and enhancing the professional skills, who reached 20 cases from

social affair.

Planned & Actual courses and number of beneficiaries:

Table 1 - Planned and Actual Courses and beneficiaries Jan – June 2010

Region Planned

courses

Actual courses Planned

number of

beneficiaries

Actual number

of Beneficiaries

Beirut 4 5 48 59

Sidon 4 4 48 47

Tyre 5 4 60 63

Beqa’a 8 6 96 71

North 4 4 48 50

Total 25 24 300 290

For the first half of 2010, the planned number of the VT courses was 25 with

300 beneficiaries. Actually, the number of courses that were implemented is 24

courses with total number of 290 beneficiaries.

During the first half of the year, 2 courses were not conducted due to

incomplete number of beneficiaries of ICDL and another course of Computer

Programming due to the extended first course. But there was an extra course of

Photography in Beirut due to the demands of the beneficiaries and the local

community.

The courses that were cancelled were 11 courses: 1 at Borj El Barajneh, 5

Sa'ad Nayel & Bar Elias, 1 Saida city, 1 Baddawi Camp, 1 Borj El Shemali, and all

of these mentioned courses were Computer Programs. Besides, 1 hairdressing course

in Ein El Helwi camp, and Photography and Montage in Saad Nayel in Beqa'a.

Unexpected Results

-The percentage of job placement at section level, especially in computer courses.

-Increasing demand from hairdressing Saloons and companies to hire the graduates.

-The positive impact that Najdeh Center receives from the official institutions that our

students continue their studies in.

-The presence of parents and their concern and interest about the results of their

children’s exams and their follow up.

- Focusing on the training according to the specialization in the training period and

the way of preparation and also on follow up.

-Strengthening the relationships with the Lebanese neighborhood of Naher El Bared

camp through tours in the camp and mutual visits, participation in the exhibitions and

activities of Nakbah Day.

-Coordinating with local NGOs in case of referring, and the most prominent referring

(5 people) is from Union of Handicapped to Accounting VT Courses.

-Coordinating with UNRWA with the Counseling and Orientation Office in purpose

of securing jobs for graduates.

-Announcing for free courses

Unexpected Negative results:

-Late in initiating the courses in Borj EL Barajneh VT center.

-Inability to accomplish the whole planned courses.

-The resignation of Saad Nayel VT center supervisor.

-The departure of a number of instructors and their instability in the program.

2- Target groups

The VT section empowered the professional skills and enhanced the social and economical

opportunities for a total of 290 direct beneficiaries among them 84% females. Also, the VT

program targeted 579 indirect beneficiaries by involving them in career orientation and

raising awareness workshops, conducting support groups and filling questionnaires. The

age of the target group ranges between 15 and above years old.

Beneficiaries

Of the total number of beneficiaries, 82% are Palestinians, 16% are Lebanese

and 2% is from other nationalities. As for the gender, 79% of the beneficiaries are

females. Moreover, the majority of the beneficiaries, at 77%, live in the camps and

their surrounding gatherings (see table 2).

Table 2 - Scio-economic background of VT beneficiaries. Jan – June 2010 (N=290)

Statistics

Total beneficiaries N:290

Number %

Nationality Palestinian 237 82%

Lebanese 47 16%

Other 6 2%

Age 15-19 152 52%

20-24 69 24%

25-34 50 17%

35+ 19 7%

Residence Camp 157 54%

City 21 7%

Suburbs 43 15%

Gathering 69 23%

Sex Male 62 21%

Female 228 79%

Educational Level Elementary 15 5%

Intermediate 178 61%

Secondary 50 17%

University 0 0%

As for the indirect beneficiaries, the number of indirect beneficiaries was 579 at the

rate of 84% females and 16% males. Those participated in the section plan for the

three years 2010-2012.

It is to be noted that there was launching for VT Excellence center in Naher El Bared.

The aim of the project is to create opportunity and promote the economic

development for 1240 beneficiaries (800 trainees in the basic introductory computer

skill training, 325 beneficiaries in the advanced training topics and 115 beneficiaries

in training on the business development).

The trainings include basic IT course, Advanced IT course and Business Development

course. The certificates that would be provided for the graduates are approved by

Microsoft Company.

In the first phase of the project, the number of beneficiaries is 151; out of those 104

are Palestinians and 47 Lebanese (68% Palestinians). Out of those, 61% are females.

The highest percentage of beneficiaries’ age ranges between15-24 is 85%. Out of the

151 beneficiaries, 68 of them are camp residents while the rest is living in the

suberbs.

Graduates and their Social Background: For the 1

st half of the year 2010, the actual number of graduates is 331 who

attended a total of 27 courses that started in the second half of 2009 and ended in

2010. Of those 84% are females and 16% males which is similar to the last year

percentage.

Table 3 – VT program: number of Courses and Graduates Jan-June 2010 (N = 331)

Region Center Courses ended in 2010

Courses Graduates

Beirut Shatila 2 21

B. Brajneh 2 16

Sidon Sidon City 4 53

E. Helweh 4 55

Tyre Buss 3 39

B. Shemali 3 44

Beqa'a

Bar Elias 2 25

Sa'adanyel 3 33

Bealbeck 0 0

Tripoli Baddawi 2 25

N. Bared 2 20

Total 27 331

For the first half of 2010, the majority of graduates from the VT courses were

Palestinians and women, at 86% and 84% respectively. Also, 77% of them live in

camps and gatherings (see table 4 below).

As for the VT Excellence center in Naher El Bared, the number of graduates

is 141 for the first half of 2010. Out of those, 81% of them are Palestinians, and 55%

are females. And as most of the courses, 80% of the graduates are of young ages (15-

24).

Table 4 - Social Background of VT Graduates Jan - June 2010 (N = 331)

Statistics

Total Graduates N = 331

Number %

Nationality Palestinian 286 86%

Lebanese 39 12%

Other 6 2%

Age 15-19 192 58%

20-24 67 20%

25-34 56 17%

35+ 16 5%

Residence Camp 190 57%

City 38 11%

Suburbs 37 11%

Gathering 65 20%

Sex Male 53 16%

Female 278 84%

Educational Level Illiterate 0 0%

Elementary 2 1%

Intermediate 217 66%

Secondary 79 24%

University 33 10%

Marital Status Single 286 86%

Married 40 12%

Divorced/ Widow 5 2%

Family Size 1-3 member 26 8%

4-7 member 242 73%

8+ 63 19%

Family monthly income

Below min wage 156 47%

Min wage 143 43%

Above min wage 32 10%

As for the graduates' educational level, 66% of graduates have the

intermediate level of education, whereas 24% of them have the secondary level and

10% have the university level of education.

As for the social family status, 86% of the graduates were single, 73% come

from families of 4-7 members; while 63% of the families socio-economic status is

bad where 98%of them earn the minimum and below the minimum monthly income

of living.

On the Job-Training:

Of the 331 graduates, 178 (at 54%) graduates underwent the post graduation

training. The majority of those, at 86% and 83% were Palestinians and females

respectively. Of the 106 working graduates, 15% of them were later hired by the

business that trained them; of those 85% were females.

The VT staff explored the local market in order to secure places at companies

and small business for the stage (on the job training) for the graduates. Thus, 160

visits were conducted to companies, hairdressing salons, studios, and small businesses

by the staff and graduates' committees during the reporting period.

Table 5- VT students: On the Job Training Jan-June 2010

Region No. of Graduates

Graduates had

to undergo

on the job

training

Job

Graduates working

through

on the job training

Placement Total Women

Beirut 37 15 41% 8 21% 5 5

100

%

Sidon 108 80 74% 19 18% 3 2 66%

Tyre 83 16 19% 17 20% 0 0 0%

Beqa’a 58 33 57% 36 62% 7 6 86%

Tripoli 45 34 57% 26 58% 12 10 83%

Total 331 178 54% 106 32% 27 23 85%

*It is to be taken into consideration that the on the job training rate varies from one

center to another according to the job market, the number of trained people in the

same field of work, and the need of the job employers for trainees.

Job Placement:

A total of 106 graduates (at 32%) out of 331 graduates obtained jobs during

the reported period; while the rate of job displacement for the same period of last

year was 30%. Consequently, we notified by comparing the two rates a minor

decrease which is 2%. Even of the bad economical situation, the graduates still able

to find jobs outside and inside the camps even though with the absence of social

security garauntees that protect and give them their rightful rights as workers. The

demands for equality with the Lebanese workers entered a new level of attaining the

rights for Palestinians.

Table 6 - VT Job Placement by Course & Region Jan – June 2010

(N = 106)

Course

Region

Total Beirut Sidon Tyre Beqa’a Tripoli

G J G J G J G J G J Grad.

Job

Placement

Computer

Programs 0 0 0 0 12 7 9 7 0 0 21 14 67%

Computer

ICDL 19 1 20 10 0 1 0 0 0 0 39 12 31%

Hairdressing 18 7 10 0 29 6 29 20 10 14 96 47 49%

Accounting 0 0 12 3 12 1 10 5 20 9 54 18 33%

Accounting &

Informatics (1) 0 0 37 3 14 0 0 0 0 0 51 3 6%

Accounting &

0 0 29 0 16 1 0 0 0 0 45 1 2% Informatics (2)

Photography &

Editing 0 0 0 3 0 1 10 4 15 3 25 11 44%

Total 37 8 108 19 83 17 58 36 45 26 331 106 32%

% 22% 18% 21% 62% 58%

Eighty three percent (83%) of the working graduates are females. Also, 76%

of the working graduates are Palestinians. Of the 106 working graduates 90 (at 84%)

are working in their field of specialization.

Moreover, the overwhelming majority, (at 92%), of the working graduates'

families earn the minimum and below the minimum wage of living, and socio-

economic status of 49% of the families is bad. This indicates that most of those who

found jobs were in need to enhance their economic situation.

At the regional level, Beqa’a marked the highest rate of job placement (at

62%) followed by Tripoli (at 58%). Beirut marked the third highest rate of graduates

who found jobs (at 22%).The fourth rate was noted in Tyre (21%).The lowest rate was

noted in Sidon (at 18%).

The highest rate of job placement was in the Computer programs which

reached 67% for the first half of 2010. On other hand, Photography & Editing and

hairdressing courses showed the second high rates of job placement at 49% and 44%

respectively. Moreover, the rate of graduates' job placement of Accounting and

Computer ICDL courses reached 33% and 31%, respectively. Lastly, the Accounting

& Informatics courses showed the lowest rate of job placement where only 4 (at 8%).

(See table 6).

A remarkable achievement was the continuing of higher education after

graduation from courses for 96 graduates. This can be seen in the table of Personal

Project information

Table 7- VT Job Placement Jan.-June 2010/ work location & Region

Job Working

outside field

Working in field

of

Home

Region Place

ment

Of

specialization

Specialization Based job

Beirut 8 0 0% 8 100% 3 37.5%

Sidon 19 3 16% 16 84% 0 0%

Tyre 17 5 29% 12 71% 2 12%

Beqa’a 36 6 17% 30 83% 11 31%

Tripoli 26 2 8% 24 92% 0 0%

Total 106 16 14% 90 86% 16 15%

86% of the working graduates found jobs in their field of specialization due to

the first half of 2010, while 14% found jobs outside their field of specialization. 16

working graduates out of 106 were working at home based job and all of them are

females. 65% of the graduates' jobs were located outside the camps, which indicate a

good progress in expanding the job opportunities outside the camps. Beirut registered

the highest rate of graduates working in the field of specialization at 100%.

The university students who attended the courses were 33 students, out of

those, 22 (67%) found jobs. The reasons behind their joining the courses varied

between working to fulfill university payments or the inavialability of job

opportunities that suits their field of specialization. The percentage of female students

was 90%.

As for the married and divorced graduates, the number was 45 beneficiaries;

out of those 27 (60%) of them found jobs, the percentage of females was 100%.

15 graduates worked in Hairdressing, 9 in Computer Programming, 2 in Photography

and 1 in Accounting. 27 graduates benefited from the VT program and empowered at

all levels, economically and socially.

There is a positive participation of married women into the courses. (Table 14 below)

As a summary, 10 graduates worked in computer programming, 4 Accounting, 4

Photography and Montage, 4 Hairdressing.

15 graduates worked in same specialization of work while 7 worked outside their

work of specialization.

Career Orientation:

Table 8: Career orientation Workshops for the period of Jan to Dec of the year 2010

Number

Type of

participants Total

Direct beneficiaries

Indirect beneficiaries

Topics of the workshops

Area Planned Actual Number Female Male Number Female Male

Beirut 8 13

Beneficiaries/

Surroundings/

parents 80 39 31 8 41 33 8

The importance of an

occupation/demands of the market/the

difference between the center and the

market/Developing the vocational and

personal skills.

Saida 6 9

beneficiaries/

graduates/

144 113 100 23 31 30 1

The importance of Job on training

stage/The behaviour of the

beneficiaries/ Target of the vocational

training and work/ Evaluation of the

courses.

Tyre 7 8

Beneficiaries/

parents/

94 62 50 12 32 28 4

The importance of work and job on

training stage/ The ethics of an

occupation and the methods of dealing

with cuztomers/ the good relationship

with Najdeh.

Beqa'a 6 6

Parents/

Surroundings/

School

students 169 81 72 9 88 74 14

The importance of vocational training/

Introducing the programs of Najdeh/

The demands of the market/ The

importance of having an occupation.

Tripoli 4 6

Beneficiaries/

Graduates/

Local

community 92 68 40 8 24 20 4

The important role of career

counselling and orientation/Purposes of

Career orientation/ Difficultites that

face the graduates in the job market/

The importance of vocational training

Total 31 42 579 363 303 60 216 185 31

The plan was to conduct 31 career orientation workshops while actually 42

workshops were conducted during the first half of the year 2010. A total of 579

participants (90% Females) in all VT centers attended the workshops. Beneficiaries

from all the courses, graduates, parents and members of the local community, besides

school students and drops out participated in these Career Orientation workshops.

In advertising for the workshops, different methods were followed such as:

distribution of leaflets, and advertisement through the camps local TV channels.

Besides meetings were conducted with beneficiaries and graduates who helped in the

enrollment of new beneficiaries, and during these meetings the course plan and

program were presented.

Also during these workshops many important issues were discussed as: the

importance of job, its relation to market’s needs and the job’s risks, also the

workshops focused on the importance of job training and the different ways for work

orientations and how much work affects and reforms one’s personality at various

levels; socially and economically. Also, the importance of education, especially

university education, was of the topics that were stressed during the workshops.

Another interesting topic discussed during the lectures was the introduction to

association’s programs.

These various workshops affected positively all the beneficiaries and enhanced their

self esteem, besides giving alert or attention to appreciate women’s role in society.

Moreover, these workshops worked on lighting and paving the way for the

beneficiaries to be more conscious and aware in choosing the job or the profession

that suits them and their abilities

In general, these are the most handled topics as: the importance of profession, on

the job-training, women’s rehabilitation and the problems they may face at work, the

characteristics of trainees, and the measures to be taken to avoid dangers that may be

faced in any profession.

Beneficiaries and Graduates Committees:

Table 9 - No. of beneficiaries' committees and graduates' committees:

Center

No. of members

of beneficiaries'

committee No. of meetings

No. of members

of members of

graduates'

committee No. of meetings

Beirut 8 4 3 1

Saida 12 22 15 15

Tyre 22 25 5 5

Beqa'a 21 14 21 12

Tripoli 21 18 14 8

Total 85 83 58 41

A total of 85 beneficiaries participated in 83 meetings of the beneficiaries'

committees during the first half of 2010. Also, 58 graduates committees were formed

and participated in 41 meetings respectively. The beneficiaries and graduates

committees actively participated in monitoring the course’s enrollment and

attendance; conducting home visits, publicizing VT courses and several solidarity

activities. They also have an active role in organizing and participating in the

awareness raising workshops that focused on issues such as: Domestic Violence,

Rights, Discrimination, health topics, and career orientation workshops.

Moreover, the students and graduates organized many indoor and outdoor

celebrations and exhibitions on various occasions such as; the graduation parties, as

well as making several visits to the working agencies.

Program Referrals

Najdeh’s Vocational Training program and Social Affairs program resumed

their close follow-up of beneficiaries and their family members, while linking them to

Najdeh’s other programs. The purpose is to empower hardship families and cases by

providing them necessary tools to be self-sufficient. A total of 20 cases of the Social

Affairs program were referred to Najdeh’s Vocational Training Program.

Table 10 - Program Referrals - Jan. June 2010

Region Referral from SA to VT

Beirut 4

Sidon 5

Tyre 0

Beqa’a 8

Tripoli 3

Total 20

Various activities were carried out at the level of the Vocational Training

Program concerning relation and cooperation with other organizations. As for the job

marketing, it became one of the basic activities for the staff in collaboration with the

beneficiaries and graduates in order to facilitate on the job-training and job placement

opportunities. The importance of this relation is shown clearly in the percentage of the

on the job-training and job placement.

Staff Training

- All VT trainers and centers’ supervisors attended workshops with UNRWA

about Career Orientation and its relevance with job placement and market

demands and how to write a CV.

- All VT Centers’ supervisors attended workshops about the Policy of

protecting children from exploitation. The workshops organized by Najdeh.

- Two VT trainers (Hairdressing and Accounting) attended a 2 days workshop

about the participation of woman in the political life; this workshop was

organized by RDFL and NPA.

- Naher El Bared VT center supervisor attended a workshop about Camp

Management for 3 days. This workshop was organized by Norweigian

Refugee Counsil (NRC).

- Baddawi VT center supervisor attended a 3 days Gender Policy and Human

Rights workshop with Human Rights Organization.

- There was a distinguished activity and attendance for the Borj El Shemali VT

center supervisor workshops with

1- Palestinian Human Rights Organization for 7 days about the Mechanisms

of monitoring and documentation of violations against women.

2- Project management with Danish Refugee Counsel for 6 days.

3- Merging approach of gender equality in the work of NGOs with Diakonia

for 5 days.

4- Empowering women in the participation of political life with NPA for 5

days.

- One VT supervisor attended a 2 days workshop about Refugees’ Rights

organized by Humanitarian Development Center.

- One VT center supervisor attemded the launching of Rehabiliatation network

for handicapped by Nabil Badran Center and Women Humanitarian

Organization.

- 3 VT trainers (2 hairdressing & 1 Photography) attended a Make-Up

workshop for two days organized by the Center of supporting and counseling

women (RC).

- One VT center supervisor attended a workshop about Youth Rights organized

by Masar organization which is an organization for Counseling youth about

politics.

-

3- Sustainability of Results

Association Najdeh has a wide network of contacts and a long history working over

the decades. Lebanses officials have indicated and on more than one occasion in

meetings with NGOs working with Palestinian refugees their implicit appreciation of

the work of they are doing to support the Palestinian community and to provide its

needs.

The commitment of graduates to stay in contact with the Centers especially in

participating in the graduate committees and getting involved in following up the

courses and updating the center with the market demands, assisting in monitoring and

evaluating the courses And the program as a whole. The VT staff is in continous

follow up to the graduates which guarantee a strong relationship and communication

and a path to be opened for new graduates to find jobs through the graduation

committees.

The reputation of association Najdeh gives visibility to the VT program through the

number of beneficiaries in all camps and gatherings and this can be noticeable in the

yearly percentage of 40% achieved by the graduates.

The quality of the courses given and the skillful staff provide an attraction for new

beneficiaries and gurauntes a distinguished vocational training program in the local

community, this also in returns attracts new donors and helps in maintaining

sustainability for the program as a whole and the project in particular.

Najdeh has demonstrated its capacity to successfully manage big projects funded by

main institutional donors. And this encourages and attracted new donors to support

and fund Najdeh.

Challenges:

- The VT Program plan wasn't fully implemented as planned due to departure of

trainers, deficiency of equipments in Buss VT center and un commitment of

beneficiaries.

- Securing jobs placement for the VT graduates mainly females under the unjust

Lebanese labor laws concerning Palestinians refugees in Lebanon, impact of

international financial crisis and high rate of unemployment.

- The competition of other NGOs and the duplicity of the program's activities

- The unstable political situation that delays and interrupts the VT courses from time

to time

- The traditional overwhelming mentality of the Palestinian refugee community in

regards to women role

Strategies to overcome the identified strategies:

-Coordination and networking with local and international associations that are

interested in training and hiring graduates.

-Flexibility in postponing and extending the courses depending on the unstable

situation

-Supporting women through empowering them economically can change the

traditional mentality regarding the working women.

-Employing trainers instead of those who departure; also following up and

communicating with beneficiaries to conduct the courses.

-Using different practical methods in giving the courses which make Najdeh's VT

centers distinguished from other associations and prevented the duplicity of courses.

5- Opportunities and Risk Assessment:

Main Risks:

- The world economic crisis that is reflected negatively and may affect the program

in increasing the unemployment rate among graduates

Mitigation of Risks:

- Najdeh's VT courses depend on demands of the job market, which decreases the

rate of unemployment

6- Case study

See it in Annex B

Annex A

Outcome #

- Palestinian Refugee youth strengthened their capacities and professional skills that can

enhance their social and economical opportunities

Indicators Progress as of (date of reporting)

Number of direct

groups enhanced

their skills and

opportunities

through VT

courses

- 290 direct groups at 79% females and 21% males had empowered

their capacities and professional skills and enhanced their social and

economical opportunities through enrolling them in 27 VT courses.

- An extra 141 graduates, 55% of them are females had empowered

their professional skill in Naher El Bared VT Excellence center.

Number of

beneficiaries

graduated

successfully

- 331 graduates at 84% females and 16% males had graduated

successfully

- An extra 151 beneficiaries at 61% females had graduated sucessfully

in Naher El Bared.

Outcome #

- Palestinian Refugee youth expanded their job opportunities

Indicators Progress as of (date of reporting)

Number of

graduates secured

job placement

- 178 graduates of 331 underwent post graduation training

- 106 graduates out of 331 had secured job placement at 83% females

- 90 graduates at 86% work in their field of specialization

Output #

- Direct and indirect target group participated in awareness and training workshops

Indicators Progress as of (date of reporting)

- Number of target

group participated

in workshops

- 27 VT staff had attended 18 training workshops to enhance their

capabilities and skills.

- 1284 direct and indirect beneficiaries (90% females) participated in

42 career orientation workshops and benefited indirectly from the

improvement of social and economical situation of the beneficiaries.

Output #

Committees formed to follow up the process of implementing through conducting meetings

Number of

members in

committees

participated in the

process of

implementing the

program

- 85 members of beneficiaries committee conducted 83 meetings to

participate in monitoring the course’s enrollment and attendance;

conducting home visits, publicizing VT courses and several solidarity

activities

- 58 members of graduates committee conducted 41 meetings to

organize and participate in the awareness raising workshops.

Output #

Visits conducted to secure job placements for graduates

Number of visits

occurred to secure

job placement

160 field visits had conducted to companies and market to secure job

placements for 106 VT beneficiaries.

Output #

*It is to be noted that seperating the graduates and the beneficiaries of NB VT Excellence

center from the VT main beneficiaries of the VT program due to inavailability of job

placement for them, which if in case been computed togather will lower the percentage of job

placement.

Annex B

Case Study

Name: Huda Tarshishi

Age: 38 years old.

Status: Married, 4 daughters, 2 grandchildren.

Residance: Sa’ad Nayel – Beqa’a

Huda is a married woman graduated from Hairdressing course in Sa’ad Nayel

Beqa’a area. She is the mother of 4 daughters and a grandmother for 2 children. She is

a very active woman and loves life despite of the cruel and harsh circumistances the

family is passing; the husband is unemployed and there is no other alternative or

assistance to support the family, where all her daughters still studying except her

eldest one who is married with two daughters.

Since she joined the hairdressing course, she became very interested in continuing

this occupation despite of the difference of age between her and the other

beneficiaries which was not an obstacle concerning the good atmosphere of the

center. She adapted with the beneficiaries in a good way and they accepted her as a

colleague. From the second month of the training she started working from her home

by transforming one of the rooms into a simple hairdressing shop. She became a

reproductive element at her house where the economical situation got improved. Her

daughters are helping her in her shop occasionally and showed great cooperation and

support to their devoted mother.

Huda became confident and applied for a loan of 500$ from Najdeh’s Income

Generating program and her application is under study to fulfill all the applicant’s

conditions.

Huda participated in Najdeh’s raising awareness workshops and she was very

active in giving her opinion and discussing the topics about Women’s rights and many

other topics. She was showing great independence economically and on the level of

decision making. Huda became committed to the Association where she became

sincere and devoted in talking about the programs of Najdeh and the benefits she got

from being at one of its courses.

Annex C

Lessons learned

Through out experiences that were gained during implementing the vocational

training program, many lessons were learnt which helped in achieving improvements

and developments in the program along the years, these were as followed:

1. Conducting plan and emergency plan before implementing the program in

order to measure the results and committing to it.

2. Coordinating with the local community to complete the registration process of

beneficiaries and following up a registration mechanism.

3. Depending on the support groups in the process of implementing

4. Meetings that are conducted with parents enhance the relations among parents

and center and help to solve the problems and conflicts

5. Importance of having data base for beneficiaries

6. Importance of conducting raising awareness workshops which help in

developing the beneficiaries' behaviors and personality by enhancing their self

confidence.

7. Importance of coordinating and networking with other associations that have

vocational training programs.

Annex D

Tables

Table 11: Visits to companies and Hairdressing shops, Jan-June 2010

Center N. of visits

Companies Reason for

the visit Result Remarks old New

Beirut 6 3 3

Securing

Stage and

introduction/

work

Securing

stage for 13

graduates/

Job

placement

through

stage for 3

graduates

Visits by

the

supervisor

of the

center

Saida 60 48 12

Securing

stage /

Inroduction

for

Programs of

A+/ follow

up the ICDL

exam

Securing

Stage for

80

graduates /

job

placememnt

for 2

graduates

Lowering

the exam

fees for the

ICDL

exam

Tyre 14 10 4

Securing

Stage and

introduction/

work

Securing

stage for 16

graduates

Visits

conducted

by the

trainers

Beqa'a 35 15 20

Securing

Stage and

Securing

stage for 9 -

introduction/

work

graduates

and job

placement

for 7

graduates.

Tripoli 45 18 27

Securing

Stage and

introduction/

work

Securing

stage for 24

graduates/

and job

placement

for 12

graduates

Visits

conducted

by the

trainers and

the

supervisor

of the

center

Total 160 94 66

Table 12: Jobs that the graduates worked in, Jan-June 2010

Number of

graduates in

each area

Type of

courses

Type of Work Certificate More info

Saida city 2

graduates

Computer

Prog.-

Accounting

Company-

Administration-

Accounting (by

using computer)

-English

Literature –

History

Ein El Helwi

3 graduates

Computer

Prog.

2 Animators-

Nursing Lady

-History –

Nursery –

English

Literature

Data Entry-

Typing

reports

Buss 2

graduates.

Computer

Prog.-

Accounting

Secretary Business

Management

Same job

Borj El

Shemali 1

graduate.

Computer

Prog.

English Language

Teacher

English

Literature

Typing

exams

Sa'ad Nayel

9 graduates.

4 Computer

Prog- 2

hairdressing- 2

Photography

and Montage.

Supermarket(using

computer)- Teacher-

Photography and

Montage

-Computer

Prog. –French

Literature –

Business

Management –

Business

Management.

Same job

except one

Bar Elias 2

graduates.

Accounting (2) Accountant in an

Exhibition-

Accountant in a

company

Arabic

Literature –

Industrial

Electronics-

Computer-

Technology

Same job

Baddawi 3

graduates.

Hairdressing-

Photography

Saloon-

Photography and

English

Literature-

and Montage Montage. English

Literature

Table 13: Working married and divorced women Jan- June 2010.

Center status Type of course

Buss 5 married 2 hairdressing

3 Computer Prog.

Shatila 2 married 2 hairdressing

Borj El Barajneh 1 married 1 hairdresssing

Saida 4 married 1 accounting

3 Computer Prog.

Broj El Shemali 1 married 1 hairdressing

Sa'ad Nayel 10 married 6 hairdressing

1 photography

3 Computer Prog.

Ba'albeck 1 divorced 1 Hairdressing

Bared 2 married 1 Hairdressing

Baddawi 1 married 1 Photography