The repercussions of the genocide war on the Gaza Strip were not limited to the destruction of homes, infrastructure, and basic services, but rather extended to one of the most vital sectors capable of creating opportunities for young people, which is the technology and entrepreneurship sector, which in recent years has represented a window of hope for thousands of graduates in the face of unemployment and siege.
Among the institutions that received a severe blow during the war, the UCAS technological incubator affiliated with the University College of Applied Sciences stands out, which was transformed from a vibrant center for innovation and incubation of emerging projects into rubble after the destruction of its headquarters and facilities as part of the widespread targeting of the university college in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, southwest of Gaza City.
The losses included an integrated system of training and empowerment programs and startup companies that were making their way to growth, as well as disrupting the path of hundreds of young people who were preparing to integrate into the digital labor market.
Qualification, support, development and financing
In this regard, the director of the UCAS Technology Incubator, Abdullah Al-Tahrawi, told Al Jazeera Net: “The incubator was established 13 years ago with the aim of investing in the capabilities of Palestinian youth and promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, which contributes to creating job opportunities and supporting economic development in the Gaza Strip.”
He explains that the incubator has been able, during its years of operation, to support more than 500 young men and women with technical skills, in addition to incubating dozens of pioneering projects and economic empowerment initiatives in the fields of information technology, food manufacturing, trade, and creative industries.
He added: “We were working to transform ideas into productive projects, and help young people build stable sources of income in light of the difficult economic conditions that the Gaza Strip is experiencing.”
Before the war, the incubator included 13 specialized facilities, including training and conference halls, media production studios, and shared work spaces, in addition to strategic programs that focused on qualifying young people for digital freelance work, and supporting emerging companies through grants ranging between 5 and 10 thousand dollars to establish new projects or develop existing projects.
The incubator also embraced specific initiatives, including the “Ensaf” Legal Incubator, which is the first of its kind in the field of developing the professional capabilities of lawyers.
Huge losses and renewed hope
But the war completely changed the scene. The incubator’s headquarters was completely destroyed, along with more than 20 specialized laboratories, while the incubator lost a number of its creative staff and youth, both martyrs and prisoners.
According to a field assessment conducted by the incubator on 100 startup companies in the Gaza Strip, 80% of the headquarters of these companies were completely destroyed, while 15.7% of them were subjected to severe damage, which means that more than 95% of the operational environments have become unfit for work without comprehensive reconstruction. The data also showed that about 23% of workers in these projects left the sector in search of external job opportunities.
Al-Tahrawi continues: “We did not only lose the infrastructure, but we also lost part of the human capital that formed the core of our work over the past years. Despite the size of the losses, the incubator began implementing a plan for recovery and rebuilding the innovation and entrepreneurship system, by restoring its basic programs and launching new work spaces targeting more than 100 beneficiaries in its first phase.”
A digital economy in ruins
Before the war, the Gaza Strip witnessed a remarkable growth in technical and digital projects founded by Palestinian youth who were able to overcome the restrictions of the blockade by working in the fields of software, smart phone applications, e-commerce, digital education, e-marketing, and freelancing via the Internet.
Dozens of startup companies emerged from business incubators that were able to reach Arab and international markets, and contributed to providing job opportunities for hundreds of graduates, making the digital economy one of the most promising sectors in the sector.
However, the widespread destruction that affected universities, training centers, and technological incubators, in addition to the frequent outages of electricity, communications, and the Internet, led to the cessation of a large part of this entrepreneurial movement.
In this context, Engineer Muhammad Al-Safadi, computer professor and supervisor of the “e-Lancer” project funded by the UCAS incubator, confirms that the losses of the war went beyond the financial aspect and reached the point of disrupting the professional path of hundreds of young people who were about to enter the technical labor market.
He told Al Jazeera Net: “Technical laboratories, computers, and specialized training halls were destroyed, and many development projects aimed at qualifying young people to work in the fields of programming and web development were halted.”
Creating competencies despite the extermination
The e-Lancer project aims to train young people and graduates to design digital systems and develop web applications using the latest technologies, qualifying them to obtain local and international job opportunities or launch their own projects.
Despite the challenges, those in charge of the project continue their efforts to maintain the continuity of training, based on the conviction that investing in digital competencies represents one of the most important paths to economic recovery in Gaza.
Among the beneficiaries of the project, student Tharaa Al-Sharif believes that “eLancer” provides an integrated path that begins with specialized technical training, then teaching self-employment mechanisms via digital platforms, leading to professional guidance and helping participants obtain real job opportunities.
She assures Al Jazeera Net that the project gives her and her colleagues practical experience and skills needed by the modern labor market, and helps them build confidence in their ability to compete in the digital field despite the exceptional circumstances.
From technology to economic empowerment
The incubator’s role was not limited to technical projects, but extended to economic empowerment programs for groups most affected by the war.
Among these initiatives is the “My Messenger’s Handmaids” project, which targets orphan girls who lost their fathers during the war, in partnership with the Hope Institute for Orphans.
Regarding this, the coordinator of the design and fashion arts major at the college and the incubator, Amina Hamo, explains that the project aims to train participants in fashion design and sewing according to modern professional standards that enable them to enter the labor market and support their families.
She told Al Jazeera Net: “We start with the students from the basic stages up to advanced levels of professionalism, while providing all the necessary equipment and materials for training and production, in addition to exempting them from any financial fees.”
Building man before building stone
Among the participants, student Bayan Al-Sharafa confirms that the project changed the course of her life, as it gave her real professional skills and the ability to transform her ideas into marketable products.
She told Al Jazeera Net: “I have become able to implement integrated designs and experience work in sewing and embroidery with confidence, professionalism and competence, which gives me hope to build a better future and support my family in facing difficult circumstances.”
Between the rubble of destroyed buildings, the decline in job opportunities, and the migration of talent, the UCAS incubator is trying to preserve what remains of the innovation system in Gaza. For those in charge of it, the reconstruction process is not limited to building stones, but also includes rebuilding people, and empowering young people to possess the tools that will help them create their future, even in the most harsh circumstances.
