AID cooperative agreement no. HNE-0159-A-00-2001-00 with YMCA of the USA for a recipient"s program in assisting graduates from the YMCA vocational training centers in the West Bank/Gaza through enhancing opportunities for employment in the local industries and assisting them to develop small enterprises for self-employment

The YMCA of East Jerusalem will assist in implementation. The new extension service unit will: (1) help VTC graduates to locate market niches and identify prospective small enterprises; (2) conduct management seminars on enterprise financing, writing business plans, budgeting, and marketing; (3) supply start-up and running capital loans; (4) cut enterprise start-up costs by making rental machinery available; and (5) provide ongoing technical and economic advice throughout the various growth cycles of enterprise development. Specific goals are, over 4 years, to raise the percentage of employed VTC graduates from 67% to 90% and of successful independent enterprises developed by graduates from 50% to 90%.