UN aims to raise entrepreneurial spirit in Filipino youths

In line with its vision of reducing poverty and preserving local talent, The United Nations is rolling out an education initiative to train youths in Philippines to become entrepreneurs. Called the Alternatives to Migration: Decent Jobs for Filipino Youth, the initiative encourages young people to take up opportunities close to their homes rather than migrating to other cities and countries.

The project is implemented through the ILO, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Philippines’ Department of Labour and Employment, and aims to reach out to at least 10,000 disadvantaged Filipino youth in the provinces of Antique, Masbate, Agusan del Sur, and Maguindanao. To date, the project has reached about 23 percent of its intended youth target.

This project is timely. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), one-third of the country lives in poverty. More critically, the Philippines ranks among the world’s top exporters of labour. In 2010, a total of 1.1 million Filipinos migrated for work, and the ILO estimates that youths constitute up to a third of these migrant workers.

By increasing access to available education and skills development opportunities, young Filipinos can avoid the vicious cycles of unemployment and poverty. To date, the programme has seen promising results. At least seventy-three partnership agreements have been made to provide on-the-job training to youths.

A further hundred and fifteen commitments made by public and private sector partners ensured entrepreneurship and technical vocational skills training for youths. Additionally, high schools have received equipment for technical courses, and education subsidies to discourage students from dropping out due to poverty.

More about entrepreneurship in the Philippines.

Photo credit:  treesftf

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