CEBU CITY—A Japanese foundation has started the construction of a P17-million multipurpose building to be used as a livelihood center for underprivileged residents in Barangay Lorega, Cebu City.
Takako Yamada, founder of Waku Works Foundation, said the Waku Work Center in Lorega will become a place where children can learn and study, where the youth can join job trainings and their parents can find work.
“Someday, all the underprivileged youths will be given a chance to be educated and to have a second shot at life,” Yamada said.
Yamada added that Lorega was chosen after a huge fire hit the barangay two years ago. He said English classes will also be taught in the center, while other livelihood trainings will be handled by Waku’s partner organizations and schools, such as the University of San Carlos in Cebu City and the Lorega Kapitbahayan Association.
Trainings will be available to all but residents of Lorega will be given priority, he said.
Construction of the building is scheduled to be finished by September this year.
Yamada said the organization has been giving online English classes and hire underprivileged youths as teachers since they started their operation in the city.
Cebu City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella thanked the foundation for the initiative.