 |
| Three of the 75 out-of-school youth from Marawi City who graduated from short-term USAID scholarship programs on computer hardware servicing, automotive servicing, and refrigeration and airconditioning show off their certificates of completion and starter tools. |
Marawi City, Philippines--Seventy-five out-of-school youth (OSY) from this predominantly Muslim city in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) graduated from short-term scholarships on technical-vocational skills training aimed to increase their employability or access to other livelihood opportunities.
The OSY received certificates from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on computer hardware servicing, automotive servicing, and refrigeration and air conditioning under the scholarship program of the Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS2) Project of the Philippine Government and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
“Today, you are no longer called OSY, but can be proudly regarded as graduates for having successfully finished a course in workforce development,” said Dr. Sobaida Ampuan, the ALS Coordinator of DepEd-Marawi City.
Dr. Tarhata A. Sumayan-Mapandi, the Provincial Director of TESDA Lanao del Sur Marawi City congratulated the graduates for “taking the challenge to improve their lives,” and encouraged them to “never stop dreaming and work hard to achieve your dreams.”
“I have always been identified as among those who are slow in class during elementary and high school, so I opted to take a vocational course, thinking that I will never have the chance to finish college,” explained 18-year-old Hosnie Matumadi, a former OSY who finished a course in computer hardware servicing.
Matumadi did not only finish the 45-day course but also passed the National Competency Level 2 (NC2) assessment test administered by TESDA, which certifies his proficiency in his field based on national standards.
“I never thought I can become this good at repairing computers. I am more than thankful that I chose this course, as this helped me see a brighter future for myself and my family,” added Matumadi, who plans to set up his own computer repair shop in his house or do home service calls with the program-provided starter tools.
The EQuALLS2 scholarship program helps OSY acquire training on demand-driven and needs-based trade areas. The scholarship package covers the assessment and training fees, basic starter tools, lodging as needed, a daily allowance, and post-training employment assistance in partnership with local agencies and institutions.
Sedic Carim, a graduate of computer hardware servicing who also passed TESDA’s NC2 assessment test, said, “I am dedicating this day to my (deceased) parents who were my inspiration to continue educating myself.”
Orphaned at an early age, Carim, now 23, said it took him a long time to figure out what he wanted to do in life, having no one to provide him proper guidance.
“After learning about this scholarship program, I enlisted and convinced myself that I can make it. Today, I can proudly say I have achieved something that can never be taken away from me,” he added.
Still under the scholarship program, 25 EQuALLS2 workforce development program graduates recently joined the pool of TESDA-accredited trainers/assessors by finishing the Trainers’ Training Methodology and Assessors’ Course Methodology courses.
In addition to the participants in the scholarship program, EQuALLS2 is preparing 35,000 OSY in areas most affected by conflict and poverty in Mindanao for better income opportunities through livelihood skills training.
