Hello from UNITAR: Teaching Youth to Train
Jun. 5, 2018
by Yoko Morita, UNITAR Hiroshima Office
Our office collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Arab States to hold a workshop in Jordan in early May. The workshop targeted roughly 80 trainers who work with youth in the Middle East and North Africa. It was the first time the UNITAR Hiroshima Office and UNDP had worked together so closely to implement training.
In stark contrast to Japan, most participants were from countries with relatively young populations. Unfortunately, the youth unemployment rate is high in these countries, which is why developing youth capacity is so important – it can directly impact the countries’ development overall.
Ms. Junko Shimazu, a UNITAR staff member who attended the workshop, noted participants’ high motivation and engagement. At the same time, it was heartbreaking for her to see the gap between participants’ aspirations and news about bombings in Syria and violence in Gaza. At the workshop in Jordan, which is neighbor to both Syria and Palestine, such news no longer felt distant.
During the workshop, a participant from Palestine enthusiastically presented her action plan to hold a workshop that would provide youth from both Gaza and the West Bank a place to meet, share ideas, and work together. Ms. Shimazu looks forward to hearing more about how this participant develops her plans in the near future.
(Originally published on May 22, 2018)
UNITAR Staff Participate in Jordan Workshop
Our office collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Arab States to hold a workshop in Jordan in early May. The workshop targeted roughly 80 trainers who work with youth in the Middle East and North Africa. It was the first time the UNITAR Hiroshima Office and UNDP had worked together so closely to implement training.
In stark contrast to Japan, most participants were from countries with relatively young populations. Unfortunately, the youth unemployment rate is high in these countries, which is why developing youth capacity is so important – it can directly impact the countries’ development overall.
Ms. Junko Shimazu, a UNITAR staff member who attended the workshop, noted participants’ high motivation and engagement. At the same time, it was heartbreaking for her to see the gap between participants’ aspirations and news about bombings in Syria and violence in Gaza. At the workshop in Jordan, which is neighbor to both Syria and Palestine, such news no longer felt distant.
During the workshop, a participant from Palestine enthusiastically presented her action plan to hold a workshop that would provide youth from both Gaza and the West Bank a place to meet, share ideas, and work together. Ms. Shimazu looks forward to hearing more about how this participant develops her plans in the near future.
(Originally published on May 22, 2018)
