CEBU CITY, May 30, 2022 -- The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has successfully supported Filipino out-of-school youth (OSY) gain much-needed tech-voc training through the Banilad Center for Professional Development in Cebu City.

After completing workforce development training, 81 women and girls graduated in a ceremony held at the Cebu City Sports Club today.  

The youth took up TESDA courses on Food and Beverage Services, Cookery, and Bread and Pastry Production.

As of May 2022, 65 have already been absorbed after their on-the-job training, hired by another company, are scheduled for a job interview, or have started their own business.

The rest are still in the process of deciding whether to pursue further training or higher education or proceed to employment or livelihood. 

Banilad Center is a TESDA-accredited school established in Cebu City in 1992 that caters to marginalized young women.

Their expertise and strong connections in the hospitality industry provide opportunities to succeed for OSY in the city.  

In a 2020 study with Accenture and Education Development Center, USAID Philippines found that young women and girls were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the estimated three million Filipinos ages 16-24 who are not in school, not employed, and have not finished college, 63 percent were female.  

"Thank you to USAID and EDC for your modules,” said Mary Anne Ruiz, Vice Director for Academic Affairs at Banilad Center, about the new content introduced to upskilled youth that boosted their soft skills for work and business readiness.

Ruiz addressed the youth during the graduation event: “Youth are more ready in life, roaring to face the world. You have developed grit. You have overcome your weaknesses from the past because you had a dream and now your dreams would come true.” 

“We are ready,” said one of the graduates, Chleo Jean Delmar. “Today our future begins. The mentoring I received far exceed the classroom. Our trainers treat us like family." 

USAID, through its Opportunity 2.0 program, has provided grants in 12 cities across the Philippines to boost the capacity of local organizations to provide work and business readiness trainings for more out-of-school youth.

To date, 44 grants have been awarded that will support more than 800 out-of-school youth towards jobs, higher-level training or education, or starting their own business. (PR)