Gaza is a narrow strip 25 miles long and 3 – 7 miles wide. It has a population of 1.8 million – 1.2 million are registered refugees, 50% are under 18 and over 60% are unemployed. Three major conflicts in five years have led to massive levels of destruction, injuries and loss of life which has had a devastating impact on children and young people; many now demonstrate behaviour (bed wetting, fear, anxiety, and aggression) associated with toxic levels of stress. When added to extreme domestic poverty, devastated infrastructure, overcrowded schools and lack of hope that education will lead to employment, the result is that children often drop out of school.

The ALMT are supporting NECC in partnership with the AMOS Trust to support vocational courses in Gaza. There are currently 209 students enrolled and the courses offered respond to labour market needs. The courses offered are Three-year course for boys (14-18) in Carpentry/Furniture making or Aluminium/Metal work; Two-year course for boys (16-18) in Electrical Engineering including an extended work placement to improve their employability. The boys are also taught Physics, Maths and basic English. Annual Secretarial Studies course for girls and young women, which includes typing in English and Arabic, IT skills, bookkeeping, language skills, and diary and office management. Annual Advanced Dressmaking course for young women who are the only breadwinner for their families; on completion they can join a graduate run cooperative to market their goods. As part of the programme each student receives psychosocial support to address the stress and trauma they have/are experiencing. NECC follows a systemic psychological approach and to ensure its impact, extends this support to the students’ families. The ALMT recognise that to make an impact in Gaza there is the need to partner with the Amos Trust to utilize the trust and experience they have built with NECC in the region.