15/07/2008 :: At a reception held on Monday 7 July 2008 at the Crown Plaza in Beirut, Aud Lise Norheim, Norwegian Ambassador, handed certificates to 78 graduates of the Youth Resource and Training Centers run by the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).
The graduates, staff members of NPA partner organizations, have completed courses in either English Language or Computer literacy. This initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNRWA, the Netherlands Red Cross, the HAL project (Lundehaugen Secondary School, Sola Secondary School, Skeisvang Secondary School and Stavangar Cathedral School) and Microsoft.
Speeches by Ms. Wafa Al Yasir (NPA’s resident representative), Mr. Gerard Jonkman (Netherlands Red Cross) and Ms. Afaf Makkieh (UNRWA education field office) highly emphasized the importance of such initiatives in reinforcing partnership and in building institutional capacities. Ambassador Norheim congratulated the NPA and their partners on their efforts and dedication, and the graduates on their commitment and achievements. Finally, Ambassador Norheim highlighted the importance of these trainings and courses in alleviating youth employability problems, a major aspect of the fragmentation of vulnerable societies.