The Davao City Alliance for Out-of-School Youth Development (DCAOSYD) and the JIB International Schools recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to empower the lives of the vulnerable youth sector in Davao City through the project called “Opportunity 2.0 Program Grant.”
The project’s primary aim is to help the out-of-school youth get an education and find a job or a source of livelihood.
It was made possible through the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which provided a P1.5 million scholarship grant that will benefit 100 OSY learners in Davao City.
In the said partnership, JIB International Schools commits to provide technical assistance that would help enhance the youths’ knowledge and skills including but not limited to personality development, leadership skills training, events management training, entrepreneurial mind setting, food safety, and financial literacy.
“This is timely that we are having this historical event in our 40th year this year. The JIB International School has always been steadfast in its mission to provide education for all. Because of this grant, JIB International School is allowed to even reach a wider audience and give more opportunities to students who would want to aspire especially the OSY who wants to dream more and big and to aspire more for higher education, self-employment and even to be even your own boss,” said Nicole Bian-Ledesma, chief operating officer of the JIB International Schools in her message during the MOU signing on Monday at Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (ICHEF).
Gypsy Mae B. Casurao, director for innovations excellence of the JIB International Schools, said the partnership is timely as it signifies JIB International Schools’ shared commitment to work readiness, entrepreneurship, and continuing education for deserving young individuals.
Meanwhile, the programs to be offered under the Opportunity 2.0 Grant from USAID includes BYOB (Be your own boss) – leading to improved livelihood (entrepreneurship),WBL (Work-based learning) – leading to improved employment, and HERO (Higher Education Readiness Orientation) – leading to Continuing Higher Education.
The qualifications and requirements to avail of the said program include should be aged 15 to 24; may have dropped out of Junior High School or Senior High School; maybe a JHS completer but not enrolled in the next higher level (tertiary level) in the last 6 months or completer of any TESDA training qualification; may be in college but have no college degree (at last 2 years in college); OSY who are single parents, teenage mothers, PWDs, IPs, youth in conflict with the law and are eligible to participate in the Opportunity 2.0 Program; unemployed, employed, or self-employed OSY may participate in the said program.
“This is a P1.5 million grant partnership that will cover 100 learners TVET and hopefully maging successful ang ating collaboration,” added Ronnel Victor dela Cruz, youth development team leader of DCAOSYD.
The DCAOSYD was formed in October 2020 and brought together partner government agencies, private sectors, academe, NGOs, and youth organizations with implementing programs and projects to address the significant challenges and issues facing the OSY in the city.
