Embassy of Czech Republic, World Vision partner for “Bridge to Employment Project” in Baseco, Manila

Despite the difficulty of finding a stable job, Rodelyn Rabaya, who is unemployed, still hopes to earn a decent living. “I worked as an office encoder and as a warehouse assistant but since the contracts ended, I have been without work since then,” said the 23-year-old housewife from Baseco compound in Manila.

Especially now with a global health crisis, she thought opportunities were hard to come by for someone like her who did not earn a college diploma. Rabaya had to drop out from first year college to give way for her other siblings’ schooling.

Based on the report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the unemployment rate increased to17.7% last April from the 5.3% unemployment rate last January 2020. PSA data also showed that though 13 million Filipinos continued to have jobs, they were unable to report for work due to the risks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

These statistics reveal that wage-earners who are forced out of work due to the lockdown are in danger of a decreased or zero income. This affects their ability to provide essential needs of the family, including education for their children.

“I want to provide my child everything she needs but not to the point of spoiling her. I want her to finish her education,” shared Rabaya.

Building opportunities

World Vision is a non-profit organization whose vision is for every child to experience life in all its fullness by helping improve the welfare of children, their families and communities, in partnership with individuals and local and international institutions.

Together with the Embassy of Czech Republic in Manila, World Vision launched last October 2020 the “Bridge to Employment Project” in Barangay 649-Baseco.

This one-year project will support 50 students under the Alternative Learning System Program of the Department of Education, and 30 more who are enrolled in technical-vocational-livelihood programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Rabaya said she immediately signed up when their local government youth organization announced the project the through social media.

“They were looking for 18 to 24 year old people who wanted to continue studying though a scholarship, and whom the project will eventually help land a job,” said Rabaya, who immediately signed up for the contact center training among other available courses such as computer programming and events management.

She said she is eagerly waiting to start her 18-day online training.

“We at World Vision are excited for the students of the Bridge to Employment Project. This gives them a chance to continue reaching their dreams. We are thankful to the Embassy of Czech Republic in Manila for supporting our projects of looking after the welfare of families, especially the most vulnerable children,” said Rommel V. Fuerte, World Vision (Philippines) National Director.

The “Bridge to Employment Project” is one-year project aims to assist the education of 80 students so they can one day support their own families through livelihood and employment.