- 21 Dec 2025
In Gaza, where hardship has become part of everyday life, Yazan Duhair, a 22-year-old graduate in Mobile Computing for Smartphone Applications, refused to let loss define his future.
When war took everything from him; his home, his means of living, and his sense of stability, Yazan was left with only his laptop, his skills, and a deep determination to start again.
“I had nothing left,” Yazan recalls. “Even hunger became a daily reminder of what I had lost. But I knew I couldn’t stop.”
A Turning Point
While searching tirelessly for any opportunity, Yazan spent time at a local co-working space in Gaza, hoping to find a way forward. One day, he came across a message shared in a WhatsApp group about a training program designed to support young people during these difficult times.
Curious and hopeful, Yazan explored the available tracks and chose UX/UI Design, a field he had already been introduced to during his university studies. He applied and waited patiently for more than a month before receiving the acceptance message that would change his path.
Learning, Growing, and Creating
Through the DigiWork training, Yazan strengthened his skills in design thinking, research, analysis, and user-centered design. The program helped him move beyond theory and start thinking practically how to design with purpose, solve real problems, and deliver professional digital products.
“I learned how to think critically, design thoughtfully, and work in a structured and professional way,” he says.
Turning Skills into Opportunities
After completing the training, Yazan took a bold step. He shared his work online, confident that his skills were now ready for the market.
The result came quickly. His first client approached him with a major project: a complete employment application made up of 54 user interfaces. Yazan handled every step of the process, planning, research, wireframing, and final design.
The project earned him around $300, marking his first real income from UX/UI design.
“I was amazed by what I could achieve when I truly believed in myself and applied what I had learned,” he says.
Looking Ahead
Today, Yazan is preparing for the next phase of DigiWork, motivated to continue learning, improving, and building a stable future through digital work. His journey is a powerful reminder that even in the most difficult conditions, skills and determination can open new doors.
“I am Yazan from beautiful Gaza,” he says. “The future is not given, it’s built through learning, patience, and determination.”
Yazan’s journey is one of many emerging from the DigiWork project, supported by GIZ.
DigiWork aims to equip young people in Palestine with in-demand digital skills, practical experience, and access to real work opportunities in the global digital economy. By supporting youth to turn knowledge into income, the project is helping build resilience, independence, and hope, even in the most challenging contexts.