LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-5 (Bicol) has enhanced the employability skills of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) youth beneficiaries after attending four-month youth development sessions (YDS).
In an interview on Thursday, Dickson Tendido DSWD-5’s YDS focal person said the series of discussions allows the students to obtain the necessary knowledge and practical learning approaches for acquiring skills vital to their chosen career paths.
“We want them to be aware to have dreams and aspirations in their chosen fields. For their career readiness, the YDS enables the participants to understand the pros and cons of pursuing college studies. Since the 4Ps program only supports students until 18 years old, we want to see more college students,” Tendido said.
He explained that the YDS participants from junior and senior high school students were able to assess their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their hard and soft skills.
“The participants were taught how to write application letters and resumes. We presented what is inside the letter and how it is constructed. They were also taught about handling job interviews, how they need to present their selves, how to follow instructions, and how to answer during job interviews. We interactively conducted all of these, by incorporating games and activities for them to understand it and find it interesting,” he said.
Tendido said YDS is one of the strategies for achieving the holistic and optimal adolescent development of the 4Ps children.
“More than 5,878 students participated in the region’s career readiness sessions from the 114 secondary schools. The activity contributes to the goal of the Pantawid Program that all children are in school, eventually graduate, and have gainful employment or businesses,” he said.
Tendido said as part of the culminating activity of the YDS, they conducted mock job interviews where guests from local government units (LGUs), the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), Philippine National Police (PNP), and school officials served as interviewers.
“More than 3,000 students successfully passed the mock job interview. They were assessed based on their learnings during the career readiness seasons conducted. We saw the potential and the engagement of the students. They show us what they have in terms of leadership, teamwork, good communication skills, and adaptability. During my visit to Iriga City, one of the interviewers said that the participant during the mock job interview can readily be hired from the resume to the presentation,” he added.
Youth Development Sessions under 4Ps were established through the National Advisory Council (NAC) Resolution No. 34, Series of 2016. The primary aim of YDS is to foster the growth of essential life coping skills and character development among Filipino youths. I Connie Calipay
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Photos by DSWD Bicol