Successful completion of the first year of BagoSphere’s Career Preparation Program in the Philippines

July 5, 2022

In partnership with the Ateneo de Manila University through the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED), Bagosphere has successfully completed its first year of online training for the Career Preparation Program. The program tackles the problem of youth unemployment in the Philippines from the demand side – by working closely with employers and training people in the skills required.  The four-week training was done in 12 batches, training a total of 231 online learners aspiring to become call center agents. The program boasts an 87% placement rate.

The unemployment rate in the Philippines is at 6.5%, the highest among the ASEAN countries. Out of this number, young people between the ages of 15-24 years account for 44.1% of the total unemployment.  More concerning, in December 2017, the McKinsey Global Institute estimated that approximately 10% of current work activities in the Philippines will be replaced with automation between 2016 and 2030. According to a 2016 International Labour Organization (ILO) report, 49% of jobs in the Philippines are at high risk of being automated in the future. By deconstructing what employers need, Bagosphere runs immersive, experiential training programs and connects students directly with employers – making sure they have the skills to succeed in today’s rapidly changing world.

BagoSphere is building a “Human Skills School”, an online campus where youth can learn human skills and develop their career networks. According to BagoSphere, human skills are a set of fundamental skills that enable people to bring value above and beyond what automated systems and intelligent machines can do. These skills include interpersonal skills, digital skills, and socio-emotional skills. The organization uses its online community, the BPO Jobseekers Training Hub on Facebook as its main outreach and recruitment channel. Since 2021, the hub has grown from just 100+ members to over 25,000 members. In addition to recruitment, the hub shares success stories of graduates, resources, and other tips for jobseekers. Their idea to train disadvantaged youth to land jobs in fast growing industries is an important example of empowering individuals to live on their own terms.

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