First Batch of Youth Trainees to Kickstart Food Service OJT at Select Jollibee Group Stores

The inaugural batch of youth trainees under JGF’s ACE Program and Youthworks PH is set to begin their on-the-job training in select stores of Jollibee, Chowking, and Greenwich in Cebu.

MANILA, Philippines. 23 September 2024 – The inaugural batch of youth trainees under the Jollibee Group Foundation’s (JGF) Access, Curriculum, and Employability (ACE) Program and Youthworks PH is set to begin their on-the-job training in select stores in Cebu of Jollibee, Chowking, and Greenwich. This program is a collaboration between the Jollibee Group, Primary Structures Educational Foundation, Inc. – School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor, Leadership, and Service (PSEFI-SKILLS), the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The 21 “Not in Education, Employment, or Training” (NEET) youth trainees have started their work-based training at Jollibee Group stores. This is the second part of their training after 10 weeks of classroom training funded by Jollibee Group, which also covered their allowances and accommodation. Jollibee Group and JGF worked with PSEFI-SKILLS in developing the curriculum for the Quick Service Restaurant Operations (QSRO) track, 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, in partnership with technical-vocational training institutions, to provide youth from low-income families the opportunity to stay in school and improve their livelihoods.

The Supervised Industry Learning (SIL) phase of the Youthworks PH program will run from September to December 2024. During this phase, trainees will work alongside experienced store managers and crew members at Jollibee Group stores, handling tasks such as customer service, food handling, cleanliness, sanitation, and operational procedures.

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

During the kick-off event on September 23, at Jollibee Parkmall in Mandaue City, Ruth Angeles, Chief Human Resources Officer for Jollibee Group Philippines, emphasized the importance of SIL for the trainees.

“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 Jollibee Group Chief of Human Resources Officer Ruth Angeles.

Investing in the future

As part of JGF’s commitment to uplifting underprivileged youth, Gisela Tiongson, JGF President, underscored the value of investing in the future of 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. “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.”

Jessa Marie Jumao-as, one of the trainees, described the workforce development training program as a “transformative gift” for her. She used to work for a cleaning service group but discovered that she enjoys jobs that involve interacting with people.

“I am very grateful to Jollibee Group and PSEFI-SKILLS for giving me the opportunity to become one of the ACE scholars and trainees of the YouthWorks PH program of PBED and USAID. I am grateful to them because they taught me new skills to be able to work in the food and beverage sector, and to have a better future. This has been a transformative experience,” said Jumao-as.

Youth unemployment is at 11.2%, despite the high number of vacancies in various industries.

“We are elated to see the pilot batch of 21 out-of-school youth in Cebu City 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.

Jollibee Group and JGF, together with PSEFI-SKILLS, PBEd, and USAID, will continue to expand the ACE Scholarship and YouthWorks PH programs to reach more NEET youth trainees across the country.

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.