FIFTY students from the bread and pastry production class were given sustainable earning opportunities through the scholarship grants turned over by the Aboitiz Foundation and Aboitiz food business unit Pilmico to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) recently.
A scale-up from the usual scholarship, the graduates of the program will have an opportunity to start their own businesses with the bakery starter kits that will be provided by the Aboitiz Group.
Graduates will present their business proposals, which will be evaluated by a panel from Tesda Women’s Center, Pilmico, Aboitiz Foundation and the Department of Trade and Industry.
The program will award four bakery starter kits to the graduates with the most viable business plans.
During a recent ceremony in Taguig City, Tesda National Capital Region Director Florencio Sunico expressed his gratitude to the Aboitiz Group for its support to Tesda Women’s Center through the Aboitiz Technical Vocational Scholarship Program.
“On behalf of the Tesda Women’s Center, I thank the Aboitiz Group for continuously partnering with us in giving the gift of knowledge and livelihood opportunities to the scholars. We hope we can explore other partnership projects to assist more Tesda trainees,” Sunico said.
Aside from Sunico, present during the turnover ceremony were Aboitiz Foundation first vice president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan and Pilmico vice president for corporate strategy and business development Apol Castro.
“We in Aboitiz believe in advancing business and communities by empowering individuals to earn and create a living based on their own skills and abilities. We are proud to turn over these scholarship grants to the deserving students and graduates of Tesda,” Marasigan said.
Aboitiz Foundation’s Technical Vocational Scholarship Program has supported 3,384 scholars since its inception in 2005, with 2,040 scholars employed within six months from graduation for both of its Cebu and Metro Manila sites. (S)