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Welfare Association and Al Nayzak Organization Launch Technology lab in Hiwar Independent School for Alternative Education in Haifa

 Haifa – Jerusalem: Welfare Association and Al Nayzak Organization for Supportive Education and Scientific Innovation launched a new technology lab in Hiwar Independent School for Alternative Education in Haifa, as part of Al Nayzak’s “Thinking – Technology” program, a distinct educational technology program that is implemented inside 28 Palestinian schools in the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem, and now Haifa.

 
The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Abdullah Abu Kishek, Head of Programs in 48 areas in Welfare Association, Dr. Suheil Asaad, Board Director of Hiwar Association for Alternative Education, Eng. Aref Husseini, Chairman of the Board of Al Nayzak Organization, and Eng. Shereen  Husseini head of Al Nayzak’s Programs and Operations Department. Also attending was Mrs. Rania Keryani Onallah, Hiwar school principal, Hiwar Association manager Mrs. Iman Kandalaft, in addition to a number of the school staff, technology supervisors and parents.
 
In his welcoming note, Dr. Suheil Asaad, Board Director of Hiwar Association, expressed his pleasure in opening this innovative technology lab, which sets Hiwar School as one of the most distinguished schools in Haifa. Dr. Asaad expressed his gratitude to both Al Nayzak Organization and Welfare Association for their continuous support in developing the educational environment and enhancing the interactive learning infrastructure in Hiwar School. He further accentuated Al Nayzak’s role in enhancing capacities and skills of both students and teachers, and for incorporating technology within the educational process, leading to elevating the school and presenting it as an efficient and effective educational model.
 
Mrs. Rania Keryani Onallah, Hiwar School principal, pointed out the importance of (Thinking – Technology) program, and emphasized its positive role in enhancing the educational environment and in supporting the academic staff. Mrs. Keryani Onallah commended the training program Hiwar teachers attended in Estonia as part of the program, where teachers learned about new developments in the modern educational system, and about the employment of technology in Education.
 
On Welfare’s behalf, Mr. Abdullah Abu Kishek, head of programs in 48 areas, praised the role of “Thinking – Technology” program as one of the strategic programs that support alternative education in Palestine, and explained the role of Welfare Association in supporting national educational organizations operating in historic Palestine, and emphasized the importance of direct intervention as part of enabling and developing educational institutions and the academic sector in such areas.
 
 
 
In his keynote speech on behalf of Al Nayzak Organization, Eng. Aref Husseini, Chairman of the Board, highlighted the importance of this step in spreading the culture of scientific and technological production in the educational system, and in promoting the educational environment and the interactive learning infrastructure across the nation, especially in 48 areas. This intervention is the first of its kind in Haifa, and symbolizes an important and necessary step in developing independent schools. Eng. Husseini also presented a small brief about the Program (Thinking – Technology), and its role in enhancing learning environments, and building students’ capacities in critical thinking and modern technology, especially in the field of robotics. Eng.Husseini thanked Hiwar School for its cooperation in making this achievement happen and for its interest in developing the educational sector in Haifa and its surroundings. Eng.Husseini further applauded the role of Welfare Association and its support in achieving program goals. He finally extended his gratitude to Abu Ghazaleh family which adopted the program (Thinking – Technology) in Hiwar School for Alternative Education.
 
Following the ribbon-cutting, Eng. Husseini led an introductory tour around the lab’s facilities, emphasizing the possibilities the lab offers for both teachers and students, and mentioning all equipment in the lab from technological tools and kits, to robotic bags that are used as interactive teaching and learning tools and that complement the curricula. This opening ceremony comes as a continuation phase to the program’s components that include enhanced infrastructure, capacity building of the staff in Estonia, in addition to staff training to conduct weekly classes as part of (Behind the Wires/ The Robot) program.
 

Welfare Association is an independent non-for-profit organization that was established in 1983 by a group of economic and intellectual Arab and Palestinian figures, for the purpose of providing developmental and humanitarian support for Palestinians inside Palestine and in the diaspora. Over the last 30 years, Welfare Association invested up to 600 million dollars, targeting around 1 million Palestinians yearly in the fields of education, adoption, culture, village renovation, youth empowerment and social development, including health, agriculture, and humanitarian aid, focusing mainly on supporting innovation among those less marginalized.




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