THE Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Accenture teamed on a program that aims to provide persons with disabilities (PWDs) a digital skills training to help them find employment.
Implemented by Virtualahan–a social enterprise that breaks down employment barriers for PWDs and promotes inclusive, sustainable and meaningful employment– the program provides digital skills training that enables people with disabilities to become “virtual assistants,” or online service providers in the outsourcing industry.
With PBSP’s and Accenture’s involvement, the program aims to train 120 PWDs as well as single mothers and housewives. To date, the program has trained 54 PWDs, while training sessions for rest of the participants are ongoing.
Among the first batch of beneficiaries for this livelihood project was Mary Grace de Loyola from Davao City, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare muscular disease with no known cure. After receiving training through the program, de Loyola now works as a virtual agent, earning enough income to help support her family.
The program is part of Accenture’s Skills to Succeed (S2S), a global initiative to advance employment and entrepreneurship opportunities worldwide.
In the Philippines, 4,250 individuals already benefited from Accenture’s S2S initiatives through joint projects and grant programs with PBSP since 2016 to drive vocational and technical training of underserved youth.
“We believe that technology has the power to address pressing societal challenges and transform how the world works and lives, and Skills to Succeed is one of the many programs we champion to bring the benefits of technology to communities that need it most,” said Lito Tayag, country managing director for Accenture in the Philippines.
“With just a laptop and internet connection, anyone can virtually work anywhere. Clients abroad do not care about one’s physical limitations as long as the person can perform the tasks well. We believe that everyone, including people with disabilities, should have a fair shot at being gainfully employed and productive,” said Virtualahan founder Ryan Gersava.