27 new graduates in Youth Career Development Program

MANILA, Philippines - Early this year, the Youth Career Development Program (YCDP) produced 27 new graduates. YCDP, a brainchild of Pan Pacific Manila, focuses on deprived but promising young adults who have very little options in life. Students who pass the screening tests conducted by UNICEF, its chosen NGO and the respective HR departments of participating hotels are placed in a training program that exposes them to various aspects of hotel operations.

Of the 27 new graduates, three hail from Manila while the others are from Malihao, Negros Occidental. They underwent various short course trainings in the Laura Vicuna Foundation Center in Negros and in Quezon City before being shortlisted for the YCDP.

The trainees underwent a five-month intensive skills program in various departments of the participating hotels – housekeeping, F&B (restaurant and banquets), kitchen, engineering and administrative offices (such as HR and Finance, Purchasing).

The graduation ceremony was held recently at the Pan Pacific Manila, with the graduates showing off the skills they learned by preparing the stage and the program, and even showed off their talents in dancing and singing.

Present during the ceremony were representatives of the participating hotels – general manager of Crowne Plaza/ Holiday Inn Brigitte Trattner; president of Diamond Hotel Philippines Cecil Ang; training manager of Dusit Thani Manila Mih Olaya; director for HR & Talent Development Connie Velasco of InterContinental Manila; general manager of Pan Pacific Manila Richard Masselin; and resident manager of The Bellevue Manila Jeffrey Enriquez. UNICEF was represented by Sylvia Tina, child protection officer, while Laura Vicuna Foundation was represented by executive director Sis. Marivic Sta Ana. Also present were family members and friends of the graduates.

To date, there is a 98 percent success rate of the program – the trainees have gone into the hospitality and allied industries here and abroad.

Next year, the program looks forward to gaining more partners for this endeavor of teaching less fortunate children life skills. In so doing, it hopes to prepare more young adults for a brighter future.