USAID, partners to open over 300 training slots for Pinoy youths

MANILA – Over 300 Filipino youths are set to benefit from a United States program that would open up work-based training slots in the renewable energy sector and food and beverage industry, the US Embassy in Manila said Friday.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) will be partnering with Solar Philippines, Katherine’s Cafe, and Virlanie Foundation, through Youthworks PH.

Solar Philippines—a leading solar power provider in the country—will open 300 training slots for land survey associates in the provinces of Batangas and Quezon while Katherine’s Café will offer 30 on-the-job training slots for food and beverage services trainees.

Virlanie Foundation, on the other hand, will support the recruitment of trainees from their communities with a total trainee subsidy worth PHP100,000 to cover the pre-employment requirements of trainees.

Since 2018, USAID and PBEd have provided more than 11,000 slots for unemployed and out-of-school youth, and have given access to free training opportunities to almost 7,500 beneficiaries.

“The US government has committed more than PHP260 million over five years for this effort. But what is more impressive is that our partners in government, academia, and industry, led by PBEd, are also mobilizing resources to achieve our common goals,” USAID Philippines acting mission director Sean Callahan said.

“Our collaboration on work-based training is a strong statement of support for technical-vocational training as an important pathway for upskilling our youth so that they can have more and better employment opportunities,” he added.

The project is part of YouthWorks’ Flexible Training for Work program, which offers participants technical-vocational and life skills training, mentoring, on-the-job training, and a training stipend from partner companies. Successful trainees then get a chance at full-time employment in partner companies.