00:00 As a support to the out-of-school youth, a program was launched by various government agencies
00:07 to strengthen their abilities and get more opportunities.
00:12 GABINATIVIDAD is a part of it.
00:14 More than 3 million Filipino youth are out-of-school youth.
00:19 They are facing a shortage of opportunities in formal education.
00:23 That's why the US Agency for International Development or USAID joined forces
00:29 with the Education and Trade Industry Departments to launch Opportunity 2.0
00:34 as a support to the out-of-school youth.
00:37 Let me first congratulate and express my gratitude not only on behalf of the Committee on Youth and Sports and Development
00:46 but on behalf of the House of Representatives headed by our speaker, Martin Romaldes,
00:55 to the United States Agency for International Development or USAID
01:00 for its noble vision, innate compassion for humanity and its overall concerns of Filipino out-of-school youth.
01:09 In coordination with DOLE and other government agencies,
01:13 TESDA will assess, design and implement training programs that will provide jobs,
01:20 entrepreneurial skills, facilitation skills, agricultural training and livelihood opportunities for the out-of-school youth.
01:30 The industries that we work in include services, food and beverage, manufacturing, we also work in hospitality.
01:38 According to USAID Project Director of Opportunity 2.0, Nancy Wallace,
01:44 the program will last until 2025.
01:48 USAID and other government agencies will continue to coordinate
01:53 to continue the educational seminars and training for out-of-school youth.
01:59 So it exists until 2025 and on the original time frame.
02:04 And really what we're focusing on now on how some of the programs that we've been able to implement with our partners,
02:09 particularly the Department of Education and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority,
02:14 but also the Youth Development Alliances and PESO and all of our other partners,
02:20 can sustain the activities and sustain the programs that have been initiated here.
02:25 So that people like Spider Pao have the support that they need to be just as successful.
02:34 So we're really looking at sustainability for the next few years.
02:37 According to Said Shariff, who was helped by the program,
02:41 it is what made him stronger in his determination to make his life better.
02:45 And it pushed him to make his business better.
02:50 It has a big impact on me because, of course, being an out-of-school youth,
02:55 and I'm in an alternative learning system, I'm in my secondary.
02:58 They brought me Benji because he's from USAID.
03:03 For me, the success, the happiness in my situation now,
03:11 you're able to help others who are in the same situation as you before.
03:16 I can reflect on myself. I'm happy to help others.
03:23 Gaby Natividad, for the people.
