Ibtikar, an organization focused on empowering youth and women, recently concluded its groundbreaking “Youth Business Coaches” program in the South West Bank of Palestine. This initiative trained 10 young individuals in marketing and entrepreneurship, preparing them to support small businesses and budding entrepreneurs in their communities.
The program aimed to equip youth business coaches with the expertise to mentor and guide emerging projects, fostering social innovation and inclusive economic growth. It also sought to establish a dedicated business coaching department within Ibtikar to provide ongoing support to Palestinian entrepreneurs. Over the course of the program, participants made significant strides in mentoring small business owners, particularly women, who reported notable improvements in their incomes and operations.
The closing day marked the culmination of this transformative effort, with certificates distributed to the youth business coaches in recognition of their achievements. The event also highlighted international collaboration, with members of the French Consulate, including the French Consul General, in attendance to close the program.
Participants shared powerful testimonials about the program’s impact on their personal and professional growth. Suha described her experience as a breakthrough, saying, “For the first time in my life, I get to do something and walk through it.” Mahmoud emphasized the program’s timeliness and impact, calling it an “intervention at the right time” and adding, “Ibtikar made a paradigm shift. I now know the importance of small projects.”
Others reflected on how the program shaped their entrepreneurial aspirations. Issa shared, “I started planning my own project,” while Dana remarked, “The training was complete. I started far from the field of entrepreneurship, and now it has become my field.” Mohammed highlighted the innovation of having young business guides, stating, “In Arab culture, it is known that the guide is old, but with innovation, I was able to hold this title at a young age.” For Ashuaq, the program provided essential support, as she noted, “I needed someone who had faith in me and my project.”
The success of the "Youth Business Coaches" program underscores its significant contribution to fostering local resilience and building a foundation for sustainable economic development. By equipping young leaders with the skills to support small businesses, the program has left a lasting legacy of empowerment, innovation, and community growth in Palestine.
In addition to marking the end of the “Youth Business Coaches” program, the event also celebrated the launch of a new initiative aimed at enhancing the entrepreneurial scene in the southern West Bank. This new project will build on the success of its predecessor, further empowering young entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable economic development in the southern West Bank.
