Jerusalem24 – Wake Up Palestine – August 12th marks International Youth Day. In its resolution 54/120, the United Nations General Assembly designated August 12th of each year to be the International Youth Day, being key partners in the change.
The United Nations defines the youth as the individuals in the age group (15-24 years) with the possibility of adjusting this category according to the specificity of each country. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) considered the youth as the individuals in the age group (18-29 years).
The current impacts of the COVID – 19 crisis since the beginning of March 2020 directly affected the different segments of the Palestinian society, especially the youth. These implications of the Coronavirus pandemic led to an increase in the unemployment rate among the youth that is generally high in normal situations.
Thus, the unemployment rate among the youth (18-29 years) in Palestine reached 38% in 2019 (31% among males and 63% among females) as 63% in Gaza Strip and 23% in the West Bank. Data also showed that the higher unemployment percentage among the youth was for holders of intermediate diploma and higher. But hey at least some of the youth have jobs right? If only that the employed youth work in the private sector have a monthly wage which is less than the minimum wage (1,450 shekels). Some get paid between 600 and 1000 shekels. That’s around 200 and 300 USD.
In this episode of Wake Up Palestine, Mohammad Hamayel speaks with Muntaser Idkeidek, the general manager of the Burj alLuqluq association; a cornerstone organization that works with the Palestinian youth in Jerusalem. They discuss the realities of Palestinian youth in the city, the economic challenges and the discrimination they face in the city they call home.
https://soundcloud.com/24fmpalestine/wake-up-montasir-idkadek
