GRÓ GEST visits Birzeit University
GRÓ GEST was invited to attend the international staff week at Birzeit University, Palestine, during the week 5-9 June 2023. The visit was a part of the ERASMUS+ staff mobility, facilitated by the International Office at the University of Iceland, and funded by the European Union. The GEST programme has collaborated with Birzeit University through the ERASMUS+ scheme since 2017 and has since then received nine MA students from Birzeit to the GEST postgraduate diploma programme.
Project managers Anna Guðrún Aradóttir and Védís Ólafsdóttir visited Birzeit University on GRÓ GEST‘s behalf. The international staff week was very informative, where the GRÓ GEST team was introduced to the Birzeit University, its history and the Palestinian culture. Furthermore, the GRÓ GEST team had the opportunity to introduce the GEST programme at a study fair, open to all students at Birzeit University. GEST alumna of 2018, Carmen Keshek, joined Anna and Védís in introducing the programme and shared her experience at GEST with interested Birzeit students.
Parallel to participating in the international week at Birzeit University, Anna and Védís visited civil society organisations in Palestine and met with the Palestinian GEST alumni. In Ramallah, they visited the Women Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC), who have until now both nominated candidates to the programme, and participated in seminars organised by GEST. GRÓ GEST also visited the organisation Juzoor, where they exchanged information about their organisations‘ activities and explored the potential for collaboration. In Jerusalem, GRÓ GEST visited the Women‘s Studies Centre, who have been very influencial in their projects and publications towards developing community awareness for equal opportunities for Palestinian women.
The GRÓ GEST team met GEST alumni in three locations, Ramallah, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This allowed for less travel time for the alumni and the smaller groups allowed for closer interaction of the alumni and the GEST team. It was great to learn about the achievements of the GEST alumni, who have all integrated gender into their day to day approach in their work. The Palestinian GEST alumni consists of 29 individuals in total and is one of the largest country chapters.
