Office of the Vice President, USAID, PBED team up for unemployed, out-of-school youth training
THE United States Agency for International Development ( USAID), the Philippine Business for Education ( PBED) and the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines (OVP) on October 22 launched a partnership to provide free technical- vocational (techvoc) skills and employability training for over 1,000 unemployed and out- of- school Filipino youth.
The OVP, through its TRABAHOPE program, will cosponsor training needs of youth aged 18 to 30 years old who qualify for Youthworks PH, USAID’S private sector- driven employability initiative with PBED. Youthworks PH is a free tech- voc training program for youth who are currently not studying, in training, or employed.
The combined P17- million ($ 340,000) commitment from the OVP, USAID and PBED will cover the training costs for Youthworks PH participants until the end of 2020. This is in addition to the support of the project’s private sector
partners: from food and beverage services, construction, manufacturing, to information- technology sectors which will provide daily training allowances and opportunities for eventual employment for the trainees.
The OVP’S support, which will cover daily allowance for participants, along with a welcome kit, hands- on materials, mobile Internet allowance and preemployment support, complements the learning devices, online mentoring, online/ blended tech- voc training, in- company training, and national certification of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, or Tesda, provided by Youthworks.
“We are grateful for this partnership with USAID and PBED, which will allow us to open more doors for young people who may be supporting themselves and their families, especially during the [ongoing health] crisis,” said Vice President Ma. Leonor G. Robredo. “This collaboration is yet more proof that the spirit of bayanihan continues to inspire our commitment to uplift the lives of those who are in need.”
“The opportunities that this partnership will bring to participating youth will be an important boost toward a brighter future,” said USAID Philippines Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II. “USAID remains committed to work with our partners in government and the private sector to ensure economic growth is inclusive and sustainable for all.”
PBED Chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. said the partnership will meaningfully impact the lives of underprivileged young Filipinos in dire need of learning and livelihood opportunities at this time: “We are still in the midst of the...pandemic. [The OVP’S and USAID’S commitments] to support our trainees will empower young Pinoys who are disproportionately affected by this crisis,” del Rosario affirmed.
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