Empowerment and communication training for 320 youth with disabilities

Teacher Creativity Center (TCC) and General Union of People with Disabilities (GUPWD) have launched sixteen 3-day training workshops in empowerment and communication, targeting 320 youth members in GUPWD. The workshops are part of the EU-funded project entitled “Palestinians with Disabilities: Catalyzing Change”. The 3-year project, which has been started in March 2012 aims to contribute to the full social and economic inclusion of people with disabilities in the Palestinian society.  

This training is considered a preparatory stage for youth with disabilities to become active GUPWD leaders. The training addresses self-esteem and image, confidence and positive thinking, in addition to main elements of effective communication, interpersonal skills, successful leadership, and planning, organization, evaluation and learning skills.

Participants are expected to use these improved skills in their work with the GUPWD on advocacy and awareness campaigns. Besides, they are expected to use these skills on personal level in their own lives to become roll models themselves for other people with disabilities. The most distinguished participants will be selected to receive further training within the project. They will be qualified to carry out training and awareness activities for this project and for other interested organizations. Nizar Basalat, the project technical adviser, highlighted the need to this kind of training, remarking that the Union's needs assessments show young members' negative attitudes and low communication skills; "we need to work on their trends to be more positive in perceiving themselves and perceiving their broader community. This is crucial stage in order to prepare them to be part of the change process" Basalat said.  

The sixteen workshops have been launched with the training in Nablus, during 9^th – 11^th of May. 20 young men and women participated in the training that took place in Hamdi Menko hall. The participants constitute Union members who belong to Nablus branch, and represent people with different types of disabilities, from the city, its suburbs, refugee camps and rural areas.

Filisteen Srouji, one of the participants from Balata Refugee Camp, says she didn’t receive any training course about these topics before. She hopes when she graduates to find a job that helps her achieve her dreams. Filisteen added, "This is only the start; I hope I can enhance my chances after what I learned in this training. I have learned many things that I'm determined to use in my everyday practices as well".

Mazen Agha-Nimmer, another participant from Nablus city, hopes that the project under which the training took place would change the status of people with disabilities in Palestine. Mazen indicated that people with disabilities must lead the efforts in order to achieve this change.   

It is worth mentioning that fifteen similar training workshops will take place during May 2012, in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho, Bethlehem, Qalqilia, Tubas, Jenin, Toulkarm, Hebron, Salfit, Gaza, Rafah, Beit Hanoun and Khan Younis.   

This press release was prepared by the Teacher Creativity Center and the General Union of Palestinians with Disabilities, funded by the European Union. It does not represent the official standing of the organizations of the European Commission and European Union. The European Commission will not assume any responsibility concerning the content of this release.