THE UNITED States Agency for International Development and Philippine Business for Education, through YouthWorks PH, have trained thousands of Filipino youth, helping them cope with the pandemic and providing livelihood opportunities.

One of the trainees was Jenny Sarming, 18, of Guiwan, Zamboanga City. The pandemic caused her a lot of stress, affecting her physical and mental health .

“Honestly, I went through something tough since the pandemic began and I had to leave home, so now, I’m living alone and I’m still trying to recover,” she said.

Another trainee was Aishima Venezuela or Shim of Carmona, Cavite, a mother of three. Her family went through a financial crisis in the first two months of the lockdown because her parents’ business had to close. She had to find ways to sustain her family, so she explored baking and started online selling.

“Because my kids like sweets, I decided to make something for them, and I enjoyed it. Eventually, it opened an opportunity for business,” she shared.

For Jenny and Shim, staying productive under quarantine was a challenge, but they were able to focus on their goals especially when they found out about USAID’s Flexible Training for Work project.

FTW is a skills training program for those not in education, employment or training. Trainees attend online synchronous sessions where they learn about communication, interpersonal and professional skills. They are given home tasks every after sessions. Their skills are further honed through the Skills to Succeed Academy of Accenture, where they learn about resume writing and job interview skills.

They also undergo technical learning through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s Online Program, where they can take a number of courses.

Jenny and Shim credit their home quarantine productivity to FTW.

“I am really grateful for the program, especially that they have entrusted us with devices that we can use for this training. With everything that happened to me, YouthWorks PH helped me with productive tasks that help me to recover mentally, emotionally, and physically,” Jenny said.

During the recruitment process, trainees may request for a device if they do not have one to use for the training. They also get a training kit that they get to keep if they finish the entire program.

“FTW has been a huge help to me and to the other young people in this program. The program gets us ready for what awaits us in the world of work. Personally, I have been able to develop my problem solving and interpersonal skills. It gave me practical tips on how to succeed in employment, as well as how to interact with people well,” Shim shared.