Haus Motors powers the dreams of out-of-school youths

MANILA, Philippines - Cebuanos Geemar Corbeta and Arsolo Lambangan, Jr. are young men with simple dreams: to have a stable job and help improve the lives of their families. Thanks to a noble project that provides opportunities for young people, Geemar and Arsolo have taken the first step towards their goals in life.

The “Building Bikes, Building Lives” project is a partnership between Haus Motors and the Don Bosco Youth and Training Center in Cebu City. Haus Motors, a brand exclusively distributed by its affiliate companies in Luzon (Grandcycle Inc), Visayas (Kalayaan Distributors Inc.), Palawan (Palawan Distributors Inc.) and Mindanao (DHCI), has come up with a facility that will train out-of-school youths on the basics of motorcycle repair and refurbishing.

Don Bosco Training Center was tapped to help develop the syllabus, which aims to advance the knowledge of students on motorcycles apart from automotive mechanical training, for the specific purpose of increasing their chances of finding regular employment.

The facility opened within the vast Don Bosco campus in Brgy. Pasil, Cebu City, with an open space containing a classroom and a service area.

About 24 students have already finished the course since the center started in 2008. Participants of the program are provided with a valuable skills that trains them on motorcycle repair, while at the same time instilling a sense of purpose and pride in work. The project benefits out-of-school youth from Brgy. Pasil which is considered a depressed area.

Jonathan Te, Chief Divisions Officer of Haus Motors, refers to the partnership as a “perfect fit” for their company as well as Don Bosco and its immediate community. “We were looking for a sustainable way to unburden our warehouse of pre-owned motorcycle units, and at the same time be able to help society. So when the chance came up with Don Bosco, we immediately decided to pursue the training school which could benefit the residents in the vicinity,” Te explained.

Haus Motors is a brand that is dedicated to providing end-users with economical yet efficient transport alternatives. It is currently being sold in over 39 dealers nationwide. With this background, the establishment of a service center was most practicable and beneficial for the brand, serving as its corporate social responsibility.

With a growing demand for affordable, quality motorcycles, Te said that Haus Motors is addressing this by producing pre-owned units refurbished at the Don Bosco-Cycle Haus service center. At the same time, the buyers are informed that each purchase is a good deed for the underprivileged sector.

Students earn through a service income (each bike completed) as well as an overriding commission when the units are sold by Haus Motor dealers. Qualified graduates of the course also get the chance to be hired by dealers of Haus Motors. About six have already been officially hired, to date.

“It always feels good to contribute in our own little way, which is the primary reason why we entered this agreement,” Te noted.

For more details, please call Kalayaan Distributors Inc. at 245-3566 or visit www.cyclehausinc.com.