21 out-of-school youth start food service OJT

CEBU, Philippines — Twenty-one out-of-school youth in Cebu are about to start their on-the-job training at various Jollibee Group stores across Metro Cebu, after completing the Access Curriculum and Employability (ACE) program by the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) and other partners.

The program is a collaboration between the Jollibee Group and Primary Structures Educational Foundation, Inc. – School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor, Leadership, and Service (PSEFI-SKILLS), together with the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The pilot batch of “Not in Education, Employment, or Training” (NEET) youth trainees is also participated in by other Jollibee Group’s brands like Chowking and Greenwich.

This is the second part of their training after 10 weeks of classroom training that Jollibee Group funded, including the trainees’ allowances and accommodation, said Ruth Angeles, Jollibee Food Corporation Philippines, head for Global Organization, leadership and culture.

The Jollibee Group and JGF also worked with PSEFI-SKILLS in the development of the curriculum for the Quick Service Restaurant Operations (QSRO) track, which is designed to fill the gap for professionalized personnel training in the food service industry.

The QSRO is one of the two tracks under the ACE Scholarship Program; the other track focuses on agriculture, which is done in partnership with technical-vocational training institutions to provide youth from low-income families the opportunity to stay in school and eventually improve their livelihoods.

The Supervised Industry Learning (SIL), an aspect of the Youthworks PH program, will run from September to December 2024. During this phase, the trainees will work alongside experienced store managers and crew members within Jollibee Group stores and will undertake a range of tasks including customer service, food handling, maintaining cleanliness and sanitation, and other operational procedures.

Launched in 2018, YouthWorks PH is a private-sector initiative to increase access to quality training and employment opportunities for unemployed and out-of-school Filipino youth.

“We are excited to welcome our trainees into the next phase of their program, where they will gain hands-on experience as skilled service crew. This part is crucial because it puts them in real-world situations and gives them the practical skills they need to handle the challenges of their job,” said Angeles during the kick-off event held recently at Jollibee Parkmall in Mandaue City.

As one of JGF’s core commitments in uplifting underprivileged youth, JGF President Gisela Tiongson emphasized the value of investing in the future of the youth and creating pathways for their success.

"This initiative reflects our commitment to drive social change and open up more opportunities to help the next generation succeed and reach their dreams,” said Tiongson adding that at Jollibee Group and JGF, “we believe that by investing in youth education, we can build a more inclusive and resilient society where more people have a chance at a better life.”

To date, youth unemployment stood at 11. 2 percent despite the high number of vacancies in different industries.

“We are elated to see the pilot batch of 21 out-of-school youth in Cebu jumpstart this opportunity. This project is a testament to what we can achieve when we break down silos and work together. When government, businesses, educators, and communities join forces, we can empower young people, unlock their potential, and build a brighter future for all," said Executive Director of PBED Justine Raagas.

To continue improving the skills and opening more opportunities for more NEET youth trainees, Jollibee Group and JGF, together with PSEFI-SKILLS, PBEd, and USAID, will continue to expand the ACE Scholarship and YouthWorks PH programs by bringing it closer to more trainees in other parts of the country, added Angeles.

The 21 youth trainees will be attending an intensive three-month on-the-job training that will allow them to learn competencies in Quick Service Restaurant Operations (QSRO) at select Jollibee Group stores.

Historically, Raagas said 80 percent of trainees under this kind of program are absorbed by their host companies.

An out-of-school youth can apply for a similar scholarship program by applying through the YouthWorks PH website.

The Jollibee Group’s portfolio includes eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger), four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in China), and ownership stakes in other key brands like The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (80 percent), Compose Coffee (70 percent), SuperFoods Group that operates Highlands Coffee (60 percent), and bubble tea brand Milksha (51 percent).