Unemployed youths find hope in YouthWorks PH recruitment drives

YouthWorks PH aims to reach 41,000 NEET across the Greater Manila Area, Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos City, and Zamboanga. Out of these, the goal is to get 4,000 trainees employed in various companies. (File Photo: YouthWorks PH/Facebook)

MANILA — At 30 years old, Jobellyn Barbasa serves as chef de cuisine at Manila Peninsula Hotel’s Escolta Restaurant, the highest position in the kitchen.

While she has only started working in the industry in 2012, Jobellyn quickly rose through the ranks because of an “advantage.”

“When I started (at Escolta), it was very hard because I have colleagues who are much older than me,” she said in Filipino. “I almost quit, but my education taught me that I can overcome this if I just show them that I can work.”

According to Jobellyn, the training she received from a two-year course with Punlaan School in San Juan City buoyed her to success.

Through the school’s Dual Training System (DTS) – a technical and vocational education and training delivery system that combines in-school and work-based training – Jobellyn alternated every few months her training in the school and in an actual kitchen at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel’s Paparazzi restaurant.

“The (DTS) became my edge against other interns and eventually my co-workers, since I already knew what is really happening in the kitchen,” she said.

Because of the partnership between Punlaan and Shangri-La Hotel, Jobellyn was hired straight out of training as a kitchen helper at Paparazzi in 2012. Seven years later, as she sits at the helm of a world-class restaurant, she continues to master her craft.

“Punlaan taught me to be virtuous in approaching my profession,” Jobellyn said. “I still do research on how I can improve and add to my techniques. I ask my colleagues for some ideas.”

Education to employment

Punlaan School is just one of many partner schools and corporations that help YouthWorks PH – a workforce development project by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) – attain its goals for young Filipinos.

In a bid to improve opportunities in youth education and employability, the PHBP1.7-billion program aims to recruit high school graduates aged 18 years to 24 years who are not in school, employment or training (NEET), and provide them with work-based skills training through partner schools and corporations.

“As we shatter the barriers faced by the youth when searching for employment, we must give them holistic education that will empower them and make this industry better in the process,” said Karol Mark Yee, YouthWorks PH Chief of Party.

YouthWorks PH aims to reach 41,000 NEET across the Greater Manila Area, Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos City, and Zamboanga. Out of these, the goal is to get 4,000 trainees employed in various companies.

“We are working very closely with the private sector to give the youth relevant work readiness and job skills training, so that they are ready to accept the challenge,” USAID Office of Education director Brian Levey said during a recent media briefing.

“Work readiness or life skills includes how to present oneself, how to communicate with customers, and how to work effectively with colleagues,” he added.

YouthWorks PH conducted its first recruitment drive in Cagayan de Oro on April 8. This was attended by youth interested in construction-based technical vocational programs. They held a recruitment drive in Quezon City in partnership with Punlaan School on May 17. This was attended by 430 youth interested in culinary and hospitality.

The program’s latest outreach was at the University of Makati on May 26. More than 500 youth were presented construction career opportunities in partnership with EEI Corp.

Hope for the future

Among the youth who participated in YouthWorksPH’s outreach events was 18-year-old Sherey Anne Silvano from Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

Silvano has been a scholar since she started school. She participates in such activities to get better opportunities for her continuing education.

“My father is the only one supporting me. I’ve been looking to get a job – any job – so I can sustain myself as I continue my education,” Sherey said in Filipino. “I hope YouthWorks can bridge us to more programs that tackle future in-demand jobs.”

Khrizia Mae Mallari, also 18, went to the same event to learn about opportunities for scholarships, now that she’s about to graduate from senior high school. Khrizia’s father is the family’s only breadwinner. Thus, her family has to rely on cash benefits from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“I am grateful for this free workshop because just listening here gives me a chance to study in college,” she said in Filipino. “I will share (to my peers) whatever I can learn from this.”

As for Jobellyn, she wants to inspire more youths to achieve what she had accomplished. “My advice to them is to not lose hope even if they don’t have the means. Everything will be okay.”

Youths like Sherey and Khrizia will have more chances to explore opportunities from YouthWorks PH’s initiatives, as the program is set to conduct more recruitment drives and outreach events in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, and Zamboanga.