Entrepreneurs' Training
The Portland Trust launched a pilot training project for 89 micro entrepreneurs in the West Bank in February 2008, in partnership with the Sharek Youth Forum and the Small Enterprise Center (SEC). The course provided training in business development and financial planning.
17 new businesses were set up immediately following the course creating 21 full time and 30 part time jobs. The start ups include an almond and sesame farm, kindergartens, a hair salon, a computer shop and training centre, an art production gallery and a range of other shops.
Tsofen
The Portland Trust is supporting the Tsofen 'High Technology Centers' project. Tsofen aims to accelerate and increase the level of Israeli-Arab university graduate participation in the Israeli hi-tech industry. Tsofen opened an Arab-Jewish Research and Development centre in the Galilee in 2008 to provide software development services to Israeli companies.
Tsofen provides a three month full time training course to teach graduates how to use their skills in a work-like environment. Interview training is also provided and Tsofen's network in the profession is used to find placements. Tsofen has created close to 200 high-tech positions in Nazareth over the past three years. There are plans to replicate the model and establish an additional Tsofen centre in Kfar Qassem in 2011.
Click here to view the Launch Event of the Tsofen High-Tech Center in Nazareth.
For further information, please see the Tsofen website.
Junior Economists' Training
The Portland Trust supported a six-month training programme for graduate economists in the Palestinian Territory. The Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) conducted the programme and provided six graduates with the professional experience and technical training needed to develop research and analytical skills.
The programme targeted newly graduated Palestinian students who had majored in Economic Sciences. The goal was to give the selected students professional training and the opportunity to employ their acquired skills practically. The programme started in July 2010 and was completed at the end of December 2010. On completion, MAS selected two of the participants to join them as full time employees in their research department.
For further information please see the MAS website.
'On the way to business' in the Northern Galilee
In partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Joint Development Committee (JDC) and MATI business development centres, The Portland Trust has launched a programme to provide the basic training and tools to develop entrepreneurs from villages in the Galilee region where there are a lack of opportunities.
The aim is to launch seven business development courses over two years, creating at least 70 new businesses. The first course was completed in October 2010 and five businesses have already been established. These include a restaurant, beauty salon and authentic Druze bakery. 35 women recently graduated from the second and third courses at the end of April.
