LocationsSTORY
A Story of Determination and Creativity: Nourishing Dreams through Inclusive Vocational Education
March 3, 2026
Nada Bouti, from Hebron sewing a piece of cloth at Al-Amal Society School for People with Hearing Impairment
UNDP/PAPP
At just 20 years old, Nada Bouti from the city of Hebron is already shaping her future with confidence and creativity. Nada’s educational journey at Al-Amal began in early childhood, where she studied at Al-Amal School from the preparatory level through Grade 11, building a strong sense of belonging and continuity in her learning environment. She is now a student at Al-Amal Vocational Training Center for People with Hearing Impairment, specializing in Fashion Design and Tailoring. Nada recently completed her first four-month semester and is about to begin her second. After finishing her studies, she will receive approximately one month of practical training in the labor market, preparing her to apply her skills professionally and build a career in fashion design.
Before the establishment of the vocational training center, students at Al-Amal School were only able to continue their education up to Grade 10, due to limited space and the absence of facilities that would allow them to complete their secondary education. Located in Hebron’s H2 area—one of the most vulnerable areas in the West Bank—the school is among the few educational institutions in Hebron Governorate that serve students with hearing and speech disabilities, making this gap in education particularly critical.
This situation changed with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/PAPP), under the Investment Programme for Resilience, in partnership with the Palestinian Centre for Communication and Development (PCCD), a non-governmental organization established in Hebron in 2009, with generous funding from the Government of Germany through its Development Bank (KfW). The intervention prioritized support to Al-Amal Charitable Society for People with Hearing Impairment through the renovation, completion, and equipping of the school’s facilities.
The new vocational center opened doors for students with hearing disabilities to continue their education, gain practical skills, and prepare for the labor market.
Stitching Her Dream: Nada’s Path into Fashion Design
From a young age, Nada dreamed of working in fashion design. When the vocational center opened at the same school where she had grown up and felt a deep sense of belonging, enrolling was an easy decision. Being familiar with the teachers and the environment made her transition smooth and reassuring. Most importantly, the specialization is taught entirely in sign language, making learning accessible and removing barriers she would have faced in other vocational centers.
“There are very few vocational centers that teach fashion design in sign language” explains Bdoor Da’na, Nada’s instructor.
Nada's instructor supervising her work
UNDP/PAPP
Learning Without Barriers
Through the center, Nada learned a wide range of technical skills, including operating sewing machines, identifying machine parts, overcoming fear of using equipment, pattern drawing, garment resizing, stitching, patching, bag tailoring, and assembling pieces using sewing machines.
Communicating in sign language, Nada shares her training experience with enthusiasm:
“I felt very happy during the training. I didn’t face any difficulties because my trainer was always with me, explaining everything in sign language. I never felt confused or hesitant to ask questions.”
A Mother’s Pride
Nada’s mother, Hiba Al-Bouti, a mother of three, speaks proudly of her daughter’s talent.
“Nada has been smart and gifted in drawing since she was a child. Our house is full of her creative sketches,” she says. “I wanted her to develop her talent and achieve her dream of entering the world of fashion design.”
She adds that the establishment of the vocational center was a crucial step, especially since it is close to home. Traveling to distant centers would have been very difficult due to Nada’s condition and the current challenges of movement in Hebron.
A Dream to Give Back
With visible pride, Bdoor Da’na, a volunteer teacher at Al-Amal center, points to a mannequin dressed in a modern blouse and a carefully tailored skirt—one of Nada’s standout creations. She highlights Nada’s clear talent and bright future in fashion design.
Da’na explains that the entire curriculum is explained in sign language, and the trainer accompanies students step by step during practical training.
Bdoor deeply believes in the noble mission of the vocational center. She says, “We learned sign language to ensure that information reaches students effectively.”
Nada now dreams of becoming a fashion design instructor at a university or vocational center, so she can help others with hearing disabilities learn the profession through sign language—ensuring that disability never stands in the way of ambition.
Nada showing off her latest creation
UNDP/PAPP
From Training to the Labor Market
After completing one year of training at the center, students are connected with tailoring workshops and fashion companies for on-the-job training, typically lasting at least one month. To facilitate this, the vocational center maintains close communication with local workshops and companies in Hebron or nearby areas, such as the city of Hebron itself, ensuring that placements are accessible for students given their health conditions. Field visits are conducted by the vocational instructor to assess each company or workshop, and students are then assigned to the placement that best suits their needs and location. A formal placement form is approved and sent from the center to the respective companies, creating a structured and safe pathway for students to gain practical experience, develop new skills not covered in center-based training, and increase their chances of future employment.
A Transformative Impact
This intervention enables boys and girls up to 18 years old with hearing and speech disabilities in Hebron Governorate. According to the latest statistics from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), there are 2,379 children within this age group living with hearing and speech disabilities in the governorate.
Teachers at the center consider the vocational training department a major achievement for Hebron. A quick tour of the center reveals students’ enthusiasm, psychological comfort, and happiness as they acquire new skills and envision a brighter future.
To date, the project has benefited a total of 311 individuals, including parents, families of persons with disabilities, and beneficiaries of the project’s activities and services. 68 students with disabilities, ranging from Grade 1 through Grade 11, currently benefit from the project.
The project enabled the establishment of classrooms for Grades 11 and 12 and the creation of fully equipped vocational training workshops in sewing, cosmetology, mobile phone maintenance, and electrical installation, serving both female and male students.
As a result, students with hearing disabilities were given the opportunity not only to continue their secondary education, but also to acquire practical, market-relevant skills that better prepare them for employment and economic participation. The new vocational training center has thus opened pathways that were previously unavailable, transforming educational limitations into opportunities for inclusion, resilience, and long-term livelihoods.
Nada’s story is a powerful reminder that inclusive education, when combined with opportunity and support, can transform lives—turning dreams into reality and creativity into a sustainable future.
