QC launches mobile library in Jericho

Qatar Charity (QC) has launched a mobile library in co-operation with the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education.It is part of the “Capabilities” project, which aims to improve the quality of education in Palestine and is funded by QC and Reach Out to Asia (Rota), and will be implemented in the city of Jericho.The launch ceremony was held at Nu’ayma School for Boys and attended by Jamal Rajoub, vice-governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley; Dr Basri Saleh, assistant undersecretary for planning and development at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; Juda Jamal, director of the QC Palestine office; Mohamed Hawwash, director of education in Jericho; Huzaifa Gelamna, project manager; Renad Qubj, general manager of Tamer Institute; representatives of local councils, parents’ councils, general directorate in the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and staff of the directorate.The “Capabilities” project is being implemented in the Jerusalem and Jericho suburbs and one of its components is working to promote a culture of reading among students. The mobile library is a pioneering idea benefiting students in Palestinian schools in Jericho, Palestine and Jordan Valley, in addition to gatherings of marginalised Bedouins.The library is equipped with hundreds of books - both novels and educational - and is part of an operational action plan to ensure regular visits to schools associated with a particular agenda of activities that will develop students’ skills in thinking and analysis, preparation and reflection, in addition to creative writing activities in the areas of stories, poetry and calligraphy.The Ministry of Education and Higher Education and representatives of the local community expressed their thanks and gratitude to QC and Rota for recognising the special needs of the directorate of Jericho, particularly those that hinder and prevent Bedouin communities and communities in the Jordan Valley from accessing quality educational services. The project came after an agreement signed between QC and Rota in Doha, specifying that the two institutions work together to improve the quality of education in government schools in the West Bank. The agreement was signed by Rota executive director Essa al-Mannai and QC CEO Yousef bin Ahmed al-Kuwari in the presence of officials from the two organisations.According to the terms of the agreement, the organisations will co-operate for the development and modernisation of the educational sector in the West Bank through the development of facilities and teaching aids and capacity building for teachers and students.QC also signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Palestine to implement a project to improve the quality of education at a number of government schools in the northern provinces of Palestine, which aims to develop the capabilities of teachers and school administrators in 15 schools, promoting a culture of reading, strengthening learning skills, encouraging use of the Arabic language, developing curricula and teaching resources, developing the professional skills of students and strengthening the relationship with parents, via projects that target the provinces of Jerusalem, Jericho and the Jordan Valley.