Summary

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Sidon and South Lebanon (CCIAS), in collaboration with the Palestinian Students Fund (PSF), has launched a joint initiative to deliver professional CNC (Computer Numerical Control) training for Lebanese and Palestinian youth. This partnership, established through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to enhance participants' technical skills, improve their employability, and provide access to high-quality vocational education in advanced manufacturing technologies. The initiative reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to empowering young people with practical, industry-relevant skills while promoting equal educational opportunities.

Description

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Sidon and South Lebanon (CCIAS) and the Palestinian Students Fund (PSF) establishes a collaborative framework for the implementation of CNC vocational training programs within the framework of PSF’s project supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Kingdom of Norway.

Through this project, PSF provides scholarships for vocational skills development courses and continuing education programs targeting Lebanese and Palestinian students born in or residing within the areas of Saida and Jezzine Municipalities Union, as well as the municipalities of Baalbek and Zahle. As part of this initiative, PSF supports the participation of at least ten beneficiaries by covering their training costs.

Under the partnership, CCIAS is responsible for organizing and delivering the CNC vocational training programs at its specialized training center in Sidon. CCIAS manages the technical implementation of the courses, including participant registration, theoretical instruction, practical hands-on training, and overall course coordination, ensuring that beneficiaries acquire the skills and competencies required in modern manufacturing, CNC technologies, and digital fabrication.

This collaboration contributes to the objectives of PSF’s project by expanding access to quality vocational education, strengthening youth employability, and creating new opportunities for professional development and entrepreneurship. By combining PSF’s support framework and CCIAS’s technical expertise in vocational training, both institutions contribute to developing a skilled workforce capable of responding to the evolving needs of Lebanon’s industrial sector and supporting sustainable economic development.