THE Ayala Foundation has partnered with the Bago City Government for the implementation of programs intended for community-based youth leaders and educators from the public elementary school sector.

The partnership was formalized through a community launching held at the General Juan A. Araneta Elementary School at the said locality earlier this month.

Programs dubbed Leadership Communities (LeadCom) and Centex Training Institute were also introduced to the community during the activity.

LeadCom is a year-long program that empowers community-based youth and youth organizations to identify urgent needs of their respective communities.

Also, this aims to help them develop, implement, and sustain projects that address these needs.

Centex Training Institute is the teacher-development component of Ayala Foundation’s Centex Education Program.

It seeks to develop teacher effectiveness in the classroom and ensure continued professional development through training, mentoring, and community engagement.

Mayor Nicholas Yulo, who spoke at the launching, said they are partnering with two important institutions.

First, the Department of Education (DepEd) which is mandated to give quality education to prepare the younger generation. Second, the Ayala Foundation, whose name evokes excellence and efficiency, Yulo said.

“We are very proud you have chosen to partner with us in training our educators and young leaders,” he said, adding that “giving them the right tools, right training, is an assurance that we will have a brighter future, for them and our community.”

For Ayala Foundation’s part, its senior director for social development Joanna Duarte expressed the group’s sincerest gratitude for the kind and warm welcome extended by the people of Bago.

“We are especially grateful that your city and your communities are welcoming two of our programs. Together, we can work closely for the improvement and development of our communities,” she added.

Ayala Foundation is the social development arm of the Ayala Group of Companies.

The foundation, in a press release, said it envisions communities where people are productive, creative, self-reliant, and proud to be Filipino.

It implements programs in the areas of education, community leadership, suitable and sustainable livelihood, and arts and culture.*