Thru education, livelihood trainings, AboitizLand empowers communities

CEBU, Philippines - In pursuit of delivering its brand promise of nurturing communities, AboitizLand continues its cause of improving people’s lives through different initiatives in its partner communities.

The homegrown real estate developer focuses on providing education and livelihood opportunities to communities where its projects are located.  AboitizLand initiated several programs on education as one of its pillars to help provide quality education in the communities.

As its flagship program on education, the You Can Be A Hero Program continues to provide enhanced learning sessions to grade six pupils of Don Calixto C. Yongco Elementary School, Tawason, Mandaue City. AboitizLand team members tutor pupils in subjects like Mathematics, English, Science, Filipino, and Social Studies as well as lessons on leadership and personality development. This program is now on its 6th year.

Likewise seeing the need of good school facilities, AboitizLand turned over two two-classroom building units in Tamiao Elementary School in Compostela, Cebu and Malvar Elementary School in Malvar, Batangas. This rounds up AboitizLand’s donation to fourteen kindergarten classrooms and seven library kits since 2008.

AboitizLand also provided a three-year enhancement program to Mabolo Special Science Elementary School. From 2014 to 2016, projects such as renovation of science laboratory, E-room and computer laboratory and the provision of different equipment and facilities will be done to enhance pupils’ learning environment.

Recognizing the importance of helping out the out- of- school youth and adults as potential key agents of socio-economic development and technological innovation, AboitizLand and Aboitiz Foundation extended their support to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Mabolo and the Department of Education (DepEd) in putting up an eSkwela Center in Mabolo, Cebu City. Parallel to learning system that provides practical option to existing formal instruction, the eSkwela, under the Alternative Learning System (ALS), provides ICT-enhanced educational opportunities for the country’s out-of-school youth and adults. The Mabolo eSkwela is a continuing program since 2011.

True to its thrust of helping its partner communities grow and banking on the potentials of men and women in the locality, AboitizLand also provides skills and livelihood programs to them. These livelihood programs focus on community-based skills training, capability building, and manpower creation.

Since 2009, AboitizLand has empowered more than 400 constituents through the skills training  in housekeeping, culinary arts and dressmaking. The main aim is for these beneficiaries to be readily available for various services to the different vecinos (Spanish for neighbors; AboitizLand’s term for its clients, homeowners) and to help them become entrepreneurs, thereby making them financially capable to meet their daily needs.

In 2015, the company added three skills training on cosmetology, electrical installation and maintenance, and plumbing.

The cosmetology training was conducted from April to June last year to 30 women of Brgy. Mabolo who were taught about essential skills in cosmetology such as haircutting, manicure and pedicure, body massage, and makeup application.

Also in Mabolo, AboitizLand conducted its first training on electrical course to some 30 men from February to April of last year. Many of the participants are now working locally and abroad.

Consequently, the electrical training course was replicated in Brgy. Tamiao, Compostela, Cebu which kicked off last October 24 with some 25 men enrolled for the two-month course per batch.

Simultaneous with Basic Electrical Course, AboitizLand also conducts basic plumbing course in Brgy. Cabadiangan, Compostela, Cebu with some 50 unemployed individuals joining the training.

AboitizLand believes that as the company grows, so must the community and its people. It has integrated inclusiveness and business congruity in its programs by helping to provide quality education among its partner communities and aligning the skills training it provides to the demands of the real estate industry. (FREEMAN)