Abu Dis, September 15th – Al-Quds University, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Palestinian Ministry of Labour, hosted the CoopRise Awards Ceremony under the framework of the project Be the Impact, funded by the Italian Cooperation.
The event celebrated the achievements of youth-led cooperatives, highlighting the creativity and resilience of young entrepreneurs who are transforming their ideas into viable and sustainable businesses. Through the initiative, participants were equipped with the skills, mentorship, and resources necessary to design and launch cooperative enterprises.
The Presidents of Al-Quds University, the General Consul of Italy in Jerusalem, the Representative of the ILO and the Minister of Labour delivered opening remarks highlighting the importance of youth engagement in the cooperative sector and the whole Palestinian economy, as well as their role as catalysts of innovation and sustainability.
The competition began with 155 applications, of which 78 Cooperative entrepreneurial teams were shortlisted. Out of these, 28 Entrepreneural teams advanced to the first phase of the program. Following intensive training and business plan development, 18 cooperative ideas were selected, and finally, 13 cooperative teams successfully completed the training courses. At the ceremony, five outstanding cooperatives were awarded for their innovative contributions across diverse sectors, including: Engineering, Fashion and Design, Digital Content Creation, Health and Palestinian Embroidery.
The CoopRise Awards Ceremony not only recognized the determination of these young entrepreneurs, but also reinforced the importance of fostering youth-led cooperative models as a driver for inclusive and sustainable economic development in Palestine.
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