Quality Education

Writing code and re-writing the rules in Palestine

Palestine

Many young Palestinians have never left the Gaza Strip due to the military conflict in the region

Technology and the internet provide opportunities for young Palestinians despite their physical restrictions

Code For Palestine from the Paltel group and mobile operator Jawwal gives young Palestinians from 15-18 years old the opportunity to learn code and entrepreneurial skills

By October 2018 the Hour of Code campaign had successfully taught basic coding knowledge to 25,000 students

Contributing towardsUN Sustainable Development Goals
Goal 4 Quality Education
Goal 10 Reduced Inequalities

Unable to leave

70% of people who live in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are between 15 and 29 years old. Options for these young Palestinians are extremely limited. Many of Gaza’s youth have never left the territory due to the longstanding military blockade of the Gaza Strip and in 2017 unemployment there was the highest in the world.

Breaking barriers

Paltel Telecommunications group and their mobile operator Jawwal realised that technology and the internet could offer opportunities to young Palestinians despite the physical restrictions they face. This became the inspiration for Code For Palestine.

Digital hub

Code For Palestine was launched in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in 2015. Through a range of different courses based on age and previous experience, the program gives young Palestinians from age 8 all the way up to university level the opportunity to learn code and entrepreneurial skills, with an emphasis on female and underprivileged students. The ultimate aim of the program is to create a thriving, sustainable technology sector in Palestine, and in the process boost employment and wages.

Computer skills

Already the results are truly inspiring. Not only have 2017’s Code and Design Bootcamp graduates all been offered local and international jobs because of their participation in the scheme, but 15 year old Ameer Taweel became the first and youngest Palestinian boy to ever complete a degree. By October 2018 the Hour of Code campaign, that teaches basic coding knowledge to 8-12 years olds, had successfully reached 25,000 students.

“This program has literally changed my life. Even though I have never left Gaza, in 6 months time I will be flying to California to begin my degree in Computer Sciences at Stanford University all thanks to Code for Palestine. Technology, mobile, digital start ups…I would never have associated these things with Gaza a few years ago. I’m so excited to see what these things can bring to Palestine’s future.”

- Amal Kulab, student, Gaza