The delegation included Dr. Rima Salah*, former UNICEF Deputy Executive Director and International Advisory Board Member of An-Najah Child Institute and Ms. Genevieve Putin, UNICEF representative in Palestine.

Prof. Natsheh welcomed the delegation and commended the UNICEF role in supporting Palestine with regards to early childhood development. He stressed the importance of this topic which resulted in the establishment of An-Najah Child Institute. He also briefed the delegation on An-Najah's achievements, programmes and scientific centres.

The delegation then met with Dr. Ali Shaar, Director of An-Najah Child Institute as well as a number of the Institute's instructors and officers.  

Dr. Shaar welcomed the delegation and gave a presentation on the Institute's history, departments, objectives and achievements over the years.

He mentioned that the Institute aims to improve and develop the quality of children`s lives by providing the best services in the field of education, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation and support and direct children to explore and learn through providing them with a well-organized, structured and inviting environment that meets their various learning needs.

Dr. Salah talked about her 22-year experience with UNICEF where she occupied several positions and expressed her delight for being hosted by An-Najah.

The meeting also included presentations on the Institute's clinics, Montessori Kindergarten Unit and rehabilitation classes.

At the end of their visit, the delegation were given a tour of An-Najah Media Centre where they met with its director Mr. Ghazi Mortaja who briefed them on the Centre's history, units and programmes.

Notes:

The President's Office meeting was also attended by Dr. Shaar, Mr. Mohammad Kobari, Acting Director of the Public Relations Department and Ms. Jihad Abughazaleh from An-Najah Child Institute.

*Dr. Rima Salah was UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, a.i. for External Relations. In this position, she was responsible for Communications; Emergency Programmes; Governance; U.N. and Multilateral Affairs; Public Alliances and Resource Mobilization; and Private Fundraising and Partnerships. Prior to this post, Dr. Salah was the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT).

Dr. Salah has had a distinguished career with UNICEF.  She was appointed Deputy Executive Director from 2004 to 2007, after joining the organization in 1987 as Project Officer for Social Mobilization in Quetta, Pakistan.  In 1989, she was promoted to the position of Resident Project Officer and in 1992, Dr. Salah began a four year assignment as UNICEF Representative in Burkina Faso.  She was then appointed as UNICEF Representative in Vietnam in 1995.  In 1999, she was promoted to Regional Director for West and Central Africa Office.

Prior to UNICEF, Dr. Salah lectured in Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work and Psychology.  She also worked with non-governmental organizations in Jerusalem as well as in the Jordanian Ministry of Education.

She holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology (SUNY-Binghamton), Master’s degrees in Education & Sociology and Cultural Anthropology (SUNY-Fredonia) and an undergraduate degree in Sociology & Social Work (Beirut College for Women-Lebanon).