From L-R: Nidal Ayesh, Ahmed Abdenasser, Eman Azim, Darin Hussein, Redouane Amezoirou, Khaddouj Benkhadra, M’hammed Abbad Andaloussi, Hussam Arman, and Ahmed Abdel-Rahim were nine of the 16-member delegation from Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, and Algeria who attended last week’s Education to Employment Program.

DEARBORN – Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) and the Arab
American Women’s Business Council (AAWBC) held an Education to Employment
program in late May, which included 16 delegates from Morocco, Egypt, Palestine
and Algeria.

 The purpose of
the program was to provide information to the 16 delegates about how HFCC helps
Michigan’s unemployed reinvent themselves for employment, and about its  role in higher education.

 Dr. Gail C.
Mee, president of HFCC, explained to the delegation that HFCC, like other
community colleges, is designed to transfer credits to a four-year college or
university; provide vocational/technological education; provide remedial and
continuing education; and offer community service opportunities while others
work directly after graduation such as in nursing.

Formed in 2007, the AAWBC is a non-profit organization that
addresses the needs of Arab American women professionals and business owners,
as well as young Arab American women seeking careers.

Tricia N. Llewellyn, director of HFCC’s Workforce
Development and M-TEC, stressed to the delegation that to resolve issues of
employment, the College works hand-in-hand with the community, industry,
government and educational partners that include K-12 school districts and
four-year colleges and universities. Information and different perspectives are
essential in the decision-making processes that positively impact the
employability of students. 

 Delegate
M’hammed Abbad Andaloussi is the president of Al Jisr, a nonprofit organization
that mobilizes businesses to adopt schools to upgrade the quality of their
education programs through financial and technical contributions in Morocco. He
was very impressed at how HFCC prepares its students for employment. He agreed
wholeheartedly with Llewellyn’s point that collaboration is essential to
achieve success in education and employment.

“If you want to go fast, go alone,” said
Andaloussi, adding, “if you want to go far, go with others.”