(MissionNewswire) In the Philippines, there are more than 11 million out-of-school youth with drop-out rates doubling as children reach secondary school, according to UNICEF.  Almost a quarter of the country’s population, including a large percentage of children, live in poverty.

The Tuloy Foundation, founded in 1993 by Father Marciano “Rocky” G. Evangelista of the Salesians of Don Bosco, is an organization committed to educating poor, homeless children in the Philippines. Beginning with just 12 children, the foundation’s school program has since grown to include a comprehensive curriculum utilizing multiple facilities. To date, thousands of street children have created successful lives for themselves with the help of Tuloy.

Youth must be at least nine years old to enter the foundation’s school program which begins in first grade and continues through high school and includes technical training. Youth who are just coming off the streets receive food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, recreation and education and skills training. Older youth pursue vocational training in a variety of technologies, including automotive, electrical, welding and woodworking in addition to other studies. Students also have the ability to access on-the-job training in sponsor companies.

Recently, Capital One Philippines Support Service Corp. (COPSSC), the global business processing services arm of the United States based Capital One Financial Corp., opened a new learning facility at Tuloy’s Don Bosco School in Alabang, the third largest district in Muntinlupa City in the Philippines. The facility will house Tuloy’s Call Center Readiness Program, a 13-month training program designed by Capital One Philippines to teach students key competencies required for entry-level positions in business processing outsourcing (BPO) and other service industries.

The Call Center Readiness program expands the current academic and vocational training offerings at the Don Bosco School. In the first seven months of the program, students receive intensive classroom training in the English language and computer basics as well as the fundamentals of customer service. In the final six months of the program, students receive interactive hands-on training at the new learning facility and upon successful completion, are given the opportunity to gain permanent job placement at Capital One Philippines.

“Tuloy’s new learning facility forms part of COPSSC’s thrust to make a positive difference in the communities where we live and work, supporting youth education, especially for disadvantaged children. We will constantly take steps to partner with local organizations to uplift the community’s well-being,” says Paul Townsend COPSSC’s general manager in a recent Asian Journal article about the opening of the new facility.

“The local BPO industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country today. We hope that by providing these students with education specific to contact center employment, we will help arm them with the skills necessary to enter the industry, leading to better job placement and greater opportunities in the long term,” adds Townsend in the same article.

The new learning facility was made possible by seed funding from Capital One Philippines, which was announced last October in conjunction with the company’s grand opening. In addition to the seed funding, the company has invested more than 3000 employee volunteer hours. The new program launched on Sept. 1 and accommodates up to 30 students. The facility features a lecture room and a fully-equipped computer lab with 15 personal computers that can facilitate business processing simulations.

“Traditional classroom learning is an important part of any education program, and when students are able to take those skills and practice them in an interactive learning environment, there is added educational value,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesians are preparing students for long-term stable employment. Partnerships like this one with Capital One Philippines, help students find and retain employment while providing a steady workforce for growing industries.”

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Sources:

Asian Journal – Capital One opens learning facility for Tuloy Don Bosco School

Tuloy Foundation

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines