Ha Uman Association, Inc. works with ChildFund Philippines to implement the Job for Youth program in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) – specifically in Cotabato City, Upi in Maguindanao del Norte, and Midsayap and Aleosan in North Cotabato. “We have a number of youth in these areas who are unemployed, and BARMM has a higher percentage of unemployment [compared to other regions],” explains Mr. Joselito E. Nuñez, Ha Uman’s Executive Director. “We found that some of the root causes of their unemployment are low competency and poor personality assessments. We try to see how we can contribute to decreasing the unemployment rate among the youth and help develop their skills, perspective, and mindset for them to be productive when they graduate from formal or alternative education. That is our target.”

There are currently over 260 participants in the Job for Youth program, ranging in age from 16 to 24 years. They study in either the mainstream schools or the alternative learning system, and largely don’t have enough means to meet their educational expenses. These participants were chosen on the basis of their strong inclination towards vocational or entrepreneurial work, and they were given customized training and other interventions according to their respective abilities and fields of interest.

Apart from ChildFund, Ha Uman collaborates with other agencies to implement the program. These include the local governments, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and other national government agencies present in the localities. Technical experts were also tapped to provide inputs and direction in developing the competencies and life skills of the youth at risk of unemployment. “We cannot do this alone, we need our partners to help us address these issues,” adds Mr. Nuñez.

The program benefits the participants in that they become ready for vocational or entrepreneurial work, which they can do now or in the future, and either as a main or alternative career. Some graduates were hired by big local establishments as bookkeepers, sales associates, or welders. One is now a trusted food and beverage manager in a local hotel. Mr. Nuñez takes pride in the fact that when local businesses learn that applicants have been referred by Ha Uman, they know that these youths have been trained well and that their skills and confidence have been honed. Another youth who trained in cake and pastry making was able to put up her own bakeshop in Midsayap, where she applies her skills in drawing and conceptualizing designs to produce beautiful baked goods. Still, others have gone abroad and found gainful employment, for example, as caregivers.

If the youth are engaged in decent employment in line with their interests, this in turn boosts the economy of their communities. However, more than bringing economic benefit, these youths serve as an inspiration to others. They can show their fellow youth that it is possible to be happy doing their work, earn a living, and help their families, all at the same time.

Mr. Nuñez shared his vision to enhance the Job for Youth program by scaling up its entrepreneurship component. “It would be good to prepare more youth to manage their own businesses. Rather than just receiving fixed wages, they can earn more by putting in more effort. They can learn how to be their own bosses.”