Welfare Association and Al Nayzak Organization Launch “Bridge”-
The Largest National program to Enhance the Abilities of Promising Students, Allowing Them to Enroll in Prestigious Regional and International Universities.
.jpg)
Ramallah- Al Nayzak Organization and Welfare Association jointly launched on Wednesday the Bridge Program, as part of an official launching and press conference, which took place in conjunction with the launch in Gaza. The event was attended by a number of partner institutions and civil service organizations, as well as various news agencies. The ceremony included introductory remarks by partner organizations, a brief description of the Bridge program, followed by an open space for questions and inquiries.
The Bridge program aims to incubate 400 Palestinian high school students for a three-year period (10th-12th grades), in an intensive academic-training journey that actively works to refine their talents, and raise their competence to reach levels that allow them admission to distinguished regional and international universities. The students, through this process, will be accompanied by academic and professional counseling programs in a variety of fields, connecting these rising talents to distinguished Palestinian professionals’ all over the world.
In her introductory remarks at the launch, Dr. TafidaJarbawi- General Director of Welfare Association, affirmed that the association regards the education sector as one of the pivotal pillars of Palestinian development, for its crucial and dynamic role in the formation of a knowledgeable, conscious generation, and its strategic role in the preservation of the Palestinian identity.
Dr. Jarbawi followed to indicate that the Bridge program applies the strategic vision of the Welfare Association for the development of education in Palestine through the accumulation of experience, and the mobilization of resources whether they are Arab or foreign, both from individuals and institutions. Additionally, operational partnerships will be established, which will enable the advancement of our own educational institutes to enable the delivery of excellent and sustainable services that aid our students in acquiring an innovative and leadership personality capable of keeping up with, and contributing to the advancement of scientific progress in Palestine.
Dr. Jarbawi thanked all whom contributed to the launch of this pioneering program, and in particular the members of the Welfare Association for their unending support, particularly mentioning Mr. Ramez Al-Sousou, Mr. Hani Al-Kalouti, Mr. Fouad Al- Dajani, and Dr. Nabil Hani Al- Qaddoumi. Dr. Jarbawi expressed her gratitude to Al Nayzak Organization, the strategic partner of the Welfare Association, and all those who contributed in services of our Palestinian society and its students.
Eng. Aref Husseini followed to speak on behalf of Al Nayzak Organization, upholding that the Bridge program arises as an investment in future Palestinian human resources and their efforts in building a thriving Palestinian State. Husseini stated that this event marks the launch of a journey of achieving dreams, asserting that the Bridge program is mindful of investing in student talents in all their varying academic fields and interest, to reach with their innovation, distinguished regional and International universities. Furthermore, Husseini expressed his appreciation to the Welfare Association for their strategic partnership which allowed, through their joint efforts, for the launch of Bridge, calling upon local civil service institutions to accompany them, and build partnerships to achieve the programs goals.
These introductory remarks were then followed by a brief overview of the Bridge program, where Husseini explained the goals and the process of Bridge, and clarified on the criteria of eligibility, as well as the program’s electronic application and the accompanying competence test, both available on Al Nayzak’s website. Immediately following the Bridge launch, the online application and competence test where therein opened for students entering 10th grade.
Questions posed by the the press and audience proceeded to revolve around the selection mechanism for students- where students will be selected through a comprehensive competence test followed by a careful examination of the applications received through specialized regional committees that are aware of said regions needs.
Applications are open for eligible applicants through Al Nayzak’s website, whereas students enrolling in 10th grade can apply to Bridge and compete to join.
The Welfare Association (WA) is an independent non-profit organization established in 1983 by a group of Palestinian business and intellectual figures to provide development and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank including Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, 1948 Areas, and the Palestinian communities in Lebanon. In over 30 years, The Welfare Association invested $600m in the areas of education, culture, community development, and emergency and humanitarian assistance. Annually, WA touches the lives of over one million Palestinians.
