Deputy Special Coordinator For The Middle East Peace Process Visits IUG

The Islamic University of Gaza received a high-level delegation from the United Nations, chaired by Mr. Jimie Mcgoldrake, Deputy of UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, accompanied by the Director of Al-Fakoura programme Ms. Hala Othman, and the UNDP/DEEP team consisted of Eng. Salah Hammad, Eng. Tarek Shatat and Eng. Juma Najjar

“It’s great to see people who are living under difficult circumstances in Gaza got the opportunity to have a life, taking Care of their families. For us, this makes a big difference”, said McGoldrick during visiting the training workshops and the handicraft exhibition in irada Center.

In his speech, Mr. McGoldrick praised the ongoing training and employment projects of persons with disabilities and highly appreciated the UNDP Programme working in irada Center, stressing that persons with disabilities normally get few opportunities to work and barely absorbed in the training projects. So he called for making such projects continuous. He also expressed his admiration of the young people with disabilities who vividly showed the passion and ambition to work and overcome their impairment; he saw hope vividly glittered in their eyes.

 The delegation was received by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Nasr Al-Muzaini, the University President Prof. Nasser Farahat, and the Vice President for Foreign Relations Prof. Ahmed Mohaisen in addition to  the Dean of Community Service and Continuing Education Prof. Saeed al-Ghara, the Manager of irada Center Khalid al-Kahlout, and the Director of Public Relation& and Finance Eng. Manal Hasna.

The visit came as part of the UNDP interventions in the area of integrating people with special needs in the society and business market, supporting their right to training and work. The visiting delegation was introduced, when visiting irada Centre, to the center and its services that continually provided to the beneficiaries of the hearing and motor impairment.

Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Al-Muzaini introduced the Islamic University and its programmes carried out at the academic and community development level and that the university embraced persons with disabilities, offered them various services to be integrated into society.

“I’m very impressed indeed because it’s great to see a partnership of this kind between UNDP and UN family and the donors supporting the initiative of this kind”, added McGoldrick.