Empowering lives through education and employment

Manila, Philippines -  Forty-five individuals from BASECO have completed the JPMC Entrepreneurship Education Program for Community Development, a joint undertaking between JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bayan Academy.

The graduates of the three training programs – Culinary Entrepreneurship Program, Hairdressing Entrepreneurship Program and Beauty Care Entrepreneurship Program – received their diplomas at a graduation ceremony at the JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMC) headquarters at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

JPMC Senior Country Officer Roberto Panlilio said that JPMC is committed to collaborative partnerships that are focused, integrated and comprehensive.

“We felt that by going to the grassroots level, we are able to make positive, sustainable and really clear-cut results through the partnership that we have with Bayan Academy. Also, because of the success of the first batch, we are confident that the impact of our collaborative efforts towards community development will be more evident and sustainable, ” he said.

The JPMC Entrepreneurship Education Program centers on developing and enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of the parents and relatives of World Vision Philippines-sponsored children in the BASECO community, with the objective of providing the recipients with livelihood opportunities and increased chances of getting stable employment. 

Also instrumental to the success of the 2012 batch is Bayan Academy’s industry partner, Reyes Haircutters, for the employment of the hairdressing and beauty care graduates.

Reyes International School of Cosmetology chairman Celestino Reyes shared that he sensed the ambition and drive of the students to excel in their courses.

“One can sense the fire in their eyes and it also fed my passion to help fulfill their dreams. The goal of these people are simple: they want to start earning money soon, whether as an employee or entrepreneurs,” he said.

Many of the graduates are now deployed in Reyes Haircutters Salon branches. One of them is Rowell Ocampo, a 17-year-old who used to be an “istambay” who felt he had nothing to contribute to society and could not even help his family. His brother being a World Vision child enabled him to join the JPMC program.

“Ngayon, malinaw na ang aking bukas at mapaghahandaan ko na ang kinabukasan ng aking pamilya (Now my future is bright and I can plan for my family’s future),” he said.

Bayan Academy chair Ed Morato Jr. emphasized that the charity bestowed in this program was the kind with more positive impact on the lives of the beneficiaries. 

“The JPMC Entrepreneurship Program only goes to show that when you empower the poor and disadvantaged by arming them with the right tools, you not only help them improve their lives, you also uplift their communities through good example,” said Morato.