This P1.7-Billion Program Helps Train Young Filipinos for Their Perfect Job

“When I started at Escolta Restaurant, it was very difficult because I have colleagues who are much older than I am,” said
“The Dual Training System became my edge against other interns and eventually my
The partnership between Punlaan and Shangri-La, helped
“Punlaan taught me to be virtuous in approaching my profession,” Barbasa 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 helps YouthWorks PH attain its goals for young Filipinos. YouthWorks PH is a P1.7-billion workforce development project by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd).
YouthWorks PH aims to make education and training more responsive to the needs of the economy by working with the government, industry, and academia to provide opportunities to unemployed youth. The program recruits high school graduates aged 18 to 24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), and provides them with work-based skills training through partner schools and corporations.
USAID officials led by U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim and PBEd officers launch the first YouthWorks PH recruitment drive in Metro Manila

“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, chief of party of YouthWorks PH.
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
YouthWorks PH aims to change the narrative of traditional hiring, in which corporations tend to select candidates who have finished four years of college.