USAID, PH biz group launch P1.7-B project for youth

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) on Friday launched YouthWorks PH, a five-year PHP1.7 billion workforce development project which aims to connect out-of-school youth with training and employment opportunities. (Photo by Brian Evans/Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0)

MANILA — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) on Friday launched YouthWorks PH, a five-year PHP1.7 billion workforce development project which aims to connect out-of-school youth with training and employment opportunities.

Through YouthWorks PH, USAID and PBEd will engage the government and private sector partners to provide the youth with work-based training positions.

According to the US Embassy in Manila, universities and training institutions will complement these positions with classroom-based skills training and competency certifications.

Under the program, youth participants will also receive life skills training to prepare them for the workplace.

During the launch, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Michael Klecheski said the partnership will further boost the capacities of young Filipinos who may not have the opportunity to pursue education, training, or a career.

He said the project is essentially a tool for youth to “realize their full potential while positively contributing to their communities.”

PBEd chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. echoed the same sentiments, saying the partnership will surely elevate Filipino youth “to greater heights of global competitiveness, industry relevance, and social responsiveness.”

USAID and PBEd will implement the project in six cities in the Philippines – Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Zamboanga, General Santos, Iloilo, Cebu — and in the National Capital Region.

The project will train 4,100 youth and enhance the skill sets of at least 40,000 Filipino youth over five years, so that they better match with workforce needs.