Case Study on education continuity in fragile settings. Hybrid Innovation Hub: Building skills and confidence for Palestinian Youth in uncertain times
In the middle of political tension and shrinking opportunities, young people in the West Bank often find themselves stuck between education and employment with no clear path forward. In places like Tubas and Hebron, where mobility is limited and services are disrupted, that gap feels even wider.
The Hybrid Innovation Hub, launched by Al‑Quds Open University with support from Enabel, set out to change that. Instead of waiting for stability, the Hub created a space where youth could build resilience and learn market‑relevant skills, providing a sense of possibility, even as the world around them remained unpredictable. The programme targeted 100 young people aged 16–29, most from vulnerable backgrounds and nearly half women in the original target group. Training was delivered through two complementary tracks: resilience skills (emotional intelligence, communication, leadership) and employment skills (entrepreneurship, digital marketing, job readiness). Workshops were interactive and hands‑on, supported by coaching, mentoring, self‑learning modules, and community events. The design was intentionally flexible, adapting to academic schedules, mobility constraints, and the psychological pressures youth were facing.
The impact went far beyond attendance numbers: 100 youth completed in‑depth training, 2,000+ community members were reached through outreach campaigns, over 100 learners joined a self‑learning digital marketing course. What made the Hub stand out was its inclusivity: women represented 98% of participants in both tracks, a rare achievement in a context where gender norms often limit mobility and access.
One standout story is Amira, a university student who used her new skills to launch an online platform supporting local artisans. “The training helped me connect my academic knowledge to real-life market demands. Now, I feel prepared to launch my own social business.” Stories like hers show how quickly skills can translate into opportunity when the right support is in place.
The Hybrid Innovation Hub demonstrates that even in unstable environments, youth can build the skills and confidence they need to move forward if programmes are designed with flexibility, and real-world constraints in mind.
The experience points to clear recommendations: expand the model to other crisis‑affected areas, including Gaza, provide seed funding and follow‑up support for youth-led ventures, strengthen private‑sector partnerships for internships and jobs, and integrate psychological support into all youth programmes. In a region where uncertainty shapes daily life, the Hub offers something rare: a space where young people can imagine, plan, and build toward a future that feels within reach.
Case submitted by Mahmoud Hawamdeh. Facebook page for the initiative: https://www.facebook.com/qouhub.
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