The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) launched on Feb. 17 new partnerships that will provide free technical-vocational skills and employability training for nearly 4,000 unemployed, out-of-school youth.
USAID Mission Director Ryan Washburn and PBEd Board of Trustees Chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. formalized the collaboration with seven private sector companies and one university from the Greater Manila Area and Cagayan de Oro. The partnership will contribute more than Php42 million worth of support to co-sponsor the training needs of youth aged 18-30 under the YouthWorks PH project.
“The skills that the out-of-school youth learn will develop them into productive employees or entrepreneurs, community change makers, and leaders who will contribute to helping steer the country’s economic recovery from the impacts of the pandemic,” said Mission Director Washburn. “As the Philippines’ enduring friend, partner, and ally, the United States remains committed to partnering with Philippine stakeholders to sustain and accelerate inclusive growth, especially for the country’s youth.”
“This partnership launch builds on YouthWorks PH’s existing suite of skills training resources in pandemic-resilient industries. Importantly, the partnerships we are forging today will also fill gaps in vital and growing sectors, such as the automotive sector and ICT,” said del Rosario.
YouthWorks PH is USAID’s private sector-driven employability initiative with PBEd and is a technical-vocational training program for youth who are currently not studying, training, or employed. The project provides free skills training, allowances, and mentoring in sectors such as construction, services and hospitality, retail, manufacturing, and logistics. Youth participants are also placed in on-the-job training slots, with the promise of employment with the partner companies once they complete the program and qualify.
The companies that joined the list of YouthWorks PH partners include Asiapro, a recognized provider of customized managed services solutions for different industries, which will provide Php40 million worth of training support to 3,000 youth in the construction industry. Universidad de Manila also signed on to provide skills training and certification programs to the youth.
Other partners include Blogapalooza, Inc., the Philippines’ premier influencer marketing company, which will give 25 youth training slots in marketing and graphic design; Greencars Mindanao Corp. with Crossroads Training Institute, which will offer automotive servicing courses to 50 youth of Cagayan de Oro City; Luljetta’s Place, which will open at least 15 slots in kitchen and front desk services, housekeeping, and administrative positions in the Greater Manila Area; Messy Bessy Cleaners and HOUSE (Helping Ourselves Through Sustainable Enterprises) Foundation with 15 slots in social enterprise work; and Alrose Group of Companies, a franchisee of at least 16 Filipino fast food chains in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City which will offer at least 30 in-company training slots.
To date, the USAID-PBEd partnership has already reached nearly 4,000 unemployed and out-of-school youths, and has opened up more than 13,000 training positions in different industries nationwide.
