Global financial-services firm JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMC), through its social responsibility arm JPMorgan Chase Foundation, works with various organizations to create pathways to opportunity for their beneficiaries by supporting economic growth, work force readiness, and financial capability in communities around the globe.
In 2010 the banking giant’s Philippine office embarked on a community development together with social development organization Bayan Academy, to empower out-of-school youth in the marginalized community of Baseco.
The JPMC Entrepreneurship Education Program for Community Development was implemented to provide participants with technopreneurship training on Commercial Cooking, Hairdressing and Beauty Care. The success of the pilot prompted JPMC and Bayan Academy to boost the program and expand their reach for a fourth year.
From an initial 25 beneficiary families in 2010 to a target of another 500 families for 2015, selected participants come from different poverty-stricken areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other high-need communities in Pampanga, Cavite, Palawan, Bacolod, Davao and Gen. Santos City.
“Our program partnership has touched the lives of over 544 families from 2010-2014,” shared Patricia Anne Javier-Gutierrez, head of communications, on behalf of Roberto Panlilio, senior country officer of JPMC Philippines, during the recent graduation of training participants held at the JPMC Building in Taguig City. “That would translate to over 2,700 direct individual beneficiaries and boasts of an increase in employment rate from 82 percent from the first batch of graduates to 91 percent for this fourth batch of graduates.”
JPMC and Bayan Academy has also sought the help of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) for conducting JPMC-sponsored training programs.
“I’d like to congratulate JPMorgan and Bayan Academy for putting together this program that would not only empower our youth, but also encourages our fellow Filipinos who are looking for a way to achieve their dreams,” said Tesda Director General Secretary Joel Villanueva, who graced the event as a keynote speaker. “Not too long ago, a lot of people would think of technical-vocational [graduates] as second-class workers. Before, the only key to be successful in life was to be a college graduate, but I beg to disagree. There’s a choice for all of us and there’s a career track for the tech-voc sector,” Villanueva added.
Gina Lopez, chairman of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. and vice chairman of Bayan Academy, shared words of encouragement to the over 200 NCR-based new graduates at the event.
“Each obstacle is there for you to get better and every situation in life is an opportunity to learn,” she said.
To ensure placement for graduates of the program, Bayan Academy continues to form strategic partnerships with several different companies that have included Reyes Haircutters and The Manila Catering.