U.S. Donates PHP 25M for Youth Learning

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The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), donated learning materials worth PHP 25 million (USD 450,000) to Philippine agencies supporting out-of-school youth on November 13.

The donation, totaling over 200,000 educational resources, was handed over during the USAID Opportunity 2.0 Youth and Partners Summit in Quezon City, which gathered around 500 youth development champions from across the country.

USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn led the ceremony, highlighting the significance of programs aimed at equipping out-of-school youth with essential skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

The materials include life skills and work-readiness training modules, entrepreneurship guidebooks, and teachers’ manuals. These resources will benefit initiatives such as the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) technical-vocational training programs, and the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Youth Entrepreneurship Program.

“USAID is proud to empower out-of-school youth by helping them acquire the skills and training needed to find good jobs and begin building careers,” Washburn said. “Our partnerships with DepEd, TESDA, and DTI reflect a shared vision for creating a supportive learning environment for youth across the Philippines.”

Additional materials include manuals for local governments to establish networks addressing out-of-school youth needs, as well as resources for colleges and universities involved in such programs.

DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara praised USAID’s Opportunity 2.0 (O2) program for demonstrating the potential of the Alternative Learning System. “Thousands of out-of-school youth across the Philippines have benefitted from its well-crafted and targeted interventions,” Angara said.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, representing the program’s 15 partner cities, highlighted how the O2 program has expanded educational and entrepreneurial opportunities while reconnecting out-of-school youth with formal education.

Since its launch in 2020, the O2 program has reached over 90,000 youth through DepEd, TESDA, higher education institutions, and local service partners. Over 82,000 youth have completed workforce development training, and more than 6,400 educators and administrators have adopted innovative teaching strategies. Additionally, over 2,200 businesses have contributed work-based learning, career guidance, and employment opportunities.

The O2 program, co-designed with DepEd and TESDA, is implemented by the U.S.-based Education Development Center in partnership with organizations such as Accenture, Catholic Relief Services, Philippine Business for Education, SEAMEO INNOTECH, and Voluntary Services Overseas.