Defeating Global Unemployment

Unemployment can be seen in just about every corner of the globe today. Unfortunately this era is quickly becoming defined by our world’s inability to generate effective domestic and global economies. If you want to see young people eager for work and opportunity, take a gander toward the Middle East. With populations with a majority of citizens younger than 30 years old, it’s no wonder job opportunities are few and far between.  Now, more than ever, it’s important that young people foster their professional skills if they want to secure their spot in this highly competitive job market. Zeenat Rahman, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s Special Advisor for Global Youth Issues, recently blogged for The Diplomat about America’s response, commitment, and stake in resolving this global crisis. We know that unstable, unchallenged, bored generations of young people who lack professional opportunities have the potential to destroy the entire societal fabric pervious generations have spent nurturing. She reminded us of John Kerry’s first speech as Secretary of State at the University of Virginia, where he stated,

“They seek the same things you do: opportunity.  And we have an interest in helping these young people develop the skills they need to defeat the mass unemployment overwhelming their societies so they can start contributing to their communities and rebuild their broken economies.”

TYO partners with private and public organizations daily in order to best provide for the needs of the community. The students at An-Najah National University in Nablus benefit from the Professional Competency courses that TYO interns regularly develop and teach at the University. As the current classes enter their final stretch of this eight-week session, the university students have been challenging their professional communication skills everyday. They’ve been working in groups, writing emails, cover letters, and they’ve even given some pretty creative persuasive speeches recently.

As these students cultivate their professional skills in the classroom, they are preparing themselves for graduation and to eventually tackle a daunting job market. Taking the time and resources today to ripen these young professional’s workplace skills will provide our world with a stronger, more qualified, and more prosperous Palestine for tomorrow.

We can’t wait for tomorrow, we have to start today!

-Emily

Emily is an intern at TYO in Nablus.