Caritas Manila produces biggest batch of graduates

A total of 1,697 students will graduate from college and technical-vocational courses for the school year 2017-2018 under Caritas Manila’s Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program (YSLEP).

This is the biggest number of graduates since Caritas Manila started offering scholarships to poor but deserving youth in 1953. The graduates come from the country’s poorest provinces as well as from Metro Manila.

Out of this number, 548 came from families and communities devastated by typhoon Yolanda four years ago. A major part of the rehabilitation program implemented by Caritas Manila was to extend YSLEP scholarships for the children of Yolanda families.

At any given year, Caritas Manila YSLEP sponsors 3,000 to 5,000 scholars nationwide.

Priority is given to disadvantaged youth from Metro Manila like those from Payatas and Baseco; from the poorest provinces such as Apayao and Masbate; indigenous people; victims of calamities; and those affected by war and conflicts in Mindanao.

Through the years, Caritas Manila scholars give back. Last year, the graduates raised P1.5 million under Caritas Manila Scholars’ Alumni Association (CAMASA) BalikHandog program. The money sponsors new scholars.

YSLEP graduates number around 1,000 each year. Last year YSLEP produced 1,056 graduates. The number of graduates continue to increase steadily with good support from donors of Caritas Manila who have seen the effectiveness of YSLEP. Figures gathered by Caritas Manila show that providing a poor but deserving youth the assistance to earn a college or vocational/technical degree gives the student a 98 percent chance of helping their families overcome poverty.

Caritas Manila is the social services and development arm of the Archdiocese of Manila.