16-11-2016
Polytechnic and Modern University Ranks Second and Third Regionally National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy and INJAZ Palestine Celebrate the Winning and Participant Students in the 9th Phase of the "Ripples of Happiness"
Ramallah – Alhayat Economic: The National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy (NBC) and INJAZ Palestine Foundation organized an honoring ceremony for the winning and participant students in the 9th phase of the “Ripples of Happiness” annually held at the level of a number of universities supervised by INJAZ Al-Arab and funded by “Coca-Cola" Foundation.
The ceremony was held in the headquarters of NBC in Beitunia. It was attended by Imad Al-Hindi, General Manager of NBC, Bassam Walweel, Chairman of board of INJAZ Palestine, Randa Salameh, the General Manager of INJAZ Palestine, Dr. Imad al-Khatib, President of Palestine Polytechnic University, Samer Shyoukhi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Modern University College, and Dr. Hasan Abdullah, Media and Cultural Advisor of Modern University College, as well as a group of volunteer trainers and participant students.
Five Palestinian universities and colleges participated in the 9th phase of the Ripples of Happiness Competition. They are Palestine Polytechnic University of Hebron, Palestine Technical University – Khadoori of Tulkarm, An-Najah National University of Nablus, Modern University College of Ramallah and University College of Applied Sciences of Gaza. The event was organized simultaneously with the launch of the program in a number of universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The winners of this term were selected by a board of referees comprising representatives of “Coca-Cola", “INJAZ Al-Arab", and “Olayan Group".
Palestine Polytechnic University students managed to attain the 2nd rank for their "Stay Young" project at the level of the participating Arab universities. The project encourages exercising sports and providing sports devices in public parks for all age categories. The students were trained by Mahmoud Sinnokrot of Premium Solutions to prepare their project.
Modern University College students, who were trained by Maram Obaidi of the Arab Bank, also won the 3rd rank for their project "Goodness Waves to Others". The project aimed at integrating persons with special needs in the society, developing their skills and providing them with different information. Both winning teams will receive two financial grants of USD 7000 for 2nd rank winner and USD 5000 for 3rd rank winner in order to finance expansion of projects and develop initiatives.
In his welcoming speech, Mr. al-Hindi stressed NBC management appreciation for the successive achievements of the students of the Palestinian universities in "Ripples of Happiness" competitions every year at the level of the participating Arab universities. He congratulated the students and their parents for these achievements adding that this proves the open-mindedness of the Palestinian student and their ability to innovate successful projects to improve their communities, empower young people and create better opportunities to change their situation.
Mr. al-Hindi thanked INJAZ Palestine for their continued cooperation with NBC in organizing the competition and supporting the success of the Palestinian participation, especially through the volunteer trainers who are doing their best in educating and training students and developing their ideas. Meanwhile, he praised the efforts of the administration of the Palestinian universities in providing moral and academic support for students, in addition to the high level of education provided in universities which contributes to the graduation of distinguished students having the ability to scientifically and academically compete at the level of Arab countries.
In turn, Walweel talked about the distinguished partnership and cooperation between INJAZ and National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy for the fifth consecutive year through the implementation of the "Ripples of Happiness" program in participation of 255 male and female students from the Palestinian universities and colleges. He indicated the importance of the program in addressing the shortcomings in the students-surrounding environment, enhancing their social responsibility and financial knowledge, and providing them with the skills of entrepreneurship and willingness to face work challenges while they are still students.
Walweel also appreciated the role of Palestinian universities and colleges adopting the program as they believe in the significance of extracurricular programs and their role in improving the student's personality and providing him/her with the most important basic concepts and skills needed for labor market. In addition, he appreciated NBC’s continued support for the program and its keenness to continue the distinguished partnership leading to Palestine winning first ranks at the level of Arab countries participating in "Ripples of Happiness".
Dr. Al-Khatib delivered a speech on behalf of the presidents of the Palestinian universities and colleges, in which he said that celebrating the winning students is a memorable day for all Palestinian universities. He thanked the sponsors of this initiative starting from the management of NBC and INJAZ and congratulated the university teams that won the first ranks. Al-Khatib indicated the importance of the private sector’s responsibility which undertakes its duty towards young people in cooperation with the Palestinian universities – the store of human capital that should be invested properly through scientific research, innovation, creation and projects providing the Palestinian economy with benefits.
On his part, Shyoukhi appreciated the programs launched by NBC and Injaz as these programs improve the student's personality by knowledge and skills and prepare him/her to enter the labor market. Shyoukhi indicated the significance of continuing extracurricular programs which increase perceptions of students, and provide educational process with social and humanistic dimensions. He congratulated the winning students expressing appreciation of Modern College for the College students who ranked third in "Ripples of Happiness".
The students participating in “Ripples of Happiness" competition reviewed in the ceremony their projects. The projects included (Stay Young) project of Palestine Polytechnic University team, (Goodnees Waves to Others) project of Modern University College team, (Wamda) project of An-Najah National University team, (Towards Better Health) project of Palestine Technical University – Khadoori team, and (Color Spectrum) project of University College of Applied Sciences of Gaza team.
