U.S., PBEd, McDonald’s Train Dozens of Unemployed Youth

The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), and McDonald’s Philippines celebrated on Sept. 24 the graduation of 53 trainees from a joint work-readiness and job-placement program for unemployed youth.

The trainees received training in food and beverage services, including on-the-job exposure, to meet industry standards. They were also mentored in leadership, communication, and critical thinking to help them succeed in their future workplaces.

Following their graduation, the 53 participants will now begin their careers at one of McDonald’s 35 branches across Metro Manila.

“As your partner in prosperity, the United States is committed to working with the Philippine government, educational institutions, and the private sector to help unemployed Filipino youth become productive members of society, achieve their dreams, and contribute to the country’s economic growth,” U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said during the ceremony at the McDonald’s branch in San Antonio, Parañaque City.

“We at McDonald’s believe in the talent of our youth, and it only takes the right opportunities, such as USAID’s YouthWorks PH program, to match these young people’s perseverance and hard work. By giving back and training our youth, we equip them with the right tools to succeed,” said Golden Arches Development Corp. Vice President for Marketing Margot Torres.

“PBEd’s commitment lies in assisting the youth to take significant steps toward gaining meaningful employment,” PBEd Chair Ramon del Rosario said. “By providing them access to training and employment opportunities, we equip them with the necessary skills to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. This is the YouthWorks PH story.”

This initiative is part of USAID and PBEd’s PHP 487 million ($8.7 million) YouthWorks PH program, which has created more than 16,000 training positions and placed over 6,000 youth in work-based training programs since 2018.