The European Union has extended its €8 million support for education and vocational training for Palestine Refugees in Syria, helping more than 69,000 children continue their studies and providing 3,000 young people with technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
The initiative, implemented by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), was launched in 2023 as a two-year project and has since been extended until 2027. The programme aims to sustain access to education and equip young refugees with practical skills to improve their employment prospects.
During its first two years, the project reached approximately 50,000 students each semester and provided more than 2,400 young Palestine Refugees with training opportunities, textbooks and other educational materials. EU funding also supports teachers and instructors at more than 100 UNRWA schools and six vocational training centres across Syria.
Employment outcomes highlight the importance of vocational education for young refugees. More than 93 per cent of graduates from UNRWA’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training Programme find employment within one year of graduation, according to the agency’s figures.
“The European Union remains committed to supporting both quality education and vocational training for young Palestine Refugees,” said EU Ambassador Michael Ohnmacht. He stressed that access to learning and skills development was essential to expanding opportunities for young people and safeguarding the future of Palestine Refugee communities amid ongoing challenges.
UNRWA Director of Affairs in Syria Olaf Becker welcomed the EU’s continued assistance, saying the contribution enables the agency to provide quality education and vocational training to thousands of young people, helping them develop skills and pursue their aspirations despite difficult circumstances.
The funding comes as Syria continues to face severe humanitarian and economic challenges after more than 15 years of conflict. Of the approximately 418,000 Palestine Refugees registered in the country, around 30 per cent remain displaced. Repeated displacement, poverty and limited livelihood opportunities continue to affect families’ access to stability and economic security.
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By sustaining school education and expanding vocational training, the EU-UNRWA initiative seeks to help Palestine Refugee children remain in education while giving young people practical pathways towards employment and greater economic independence.
