World Vision launched Project HOPE at the Tabogon Sports Complex funded by Citi Foundation.
Project HOPE or Helping Out-of-School-Youths Pave Towards Employment and Engaging in Business, aims to provide sustainable economic opportunities to out-of-school and vulnerable youth by providing entrepreneurial and employable skills training.
“True to the vision and name of this project, we want to spark hope among the youth,” said Jun Godornes, resource development director for World Vision.
About 2,500 youth will benefit from the project through capacity building workshops, as well as trainings on community issues and entrepreneurial development laid out by World Vision. They will also be taught how to save, to improve financial literacy.
“We believe that Project HOPE can empower the youth and arm them with competencies, values and confidence, to help them pursue their goals, improve their lives and contribute to their respective communities,” said Dorski Granada, Citi Philippines head of Corporate Affairs.
World Vision’s operations manager for Visayas Faith Bullecer-Sy highlighted the project’s intent to provide opportunities for youth to also engage in the agribusiness entrepreneurship programs.
“We want our participants to love agriculture. We also want to invite other opportunities for skills development and other employment opportunities,” Sy said. “This group can act as advocates to help other youth in becoming educated, empowered, and engaged, and to be part of something that is innovative.”
This project is supported by the local government of Tabogon, Cebu in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture.