Youth Career Development Program produces 27 new graduates
Published Date : 29 Apr 2010
Early this year, the Youth Career Development Program (YCDP) produced 27 bright new graduates. YCDP, a brainchild of Pan Pacific Manila, is part of the hotel’s corporate social responsibility programs. It focuses on deprived, destitute but promising young adults who have very little options in life. Students who have passed the screening tests conducted by UNICEF, its chosen NGO and the respective HR departments of participating hotels, are placed on a training that exposes them to various aspects of hotel operations.
Of the 27 new graduates, 3 hail from Manila while 24 others hail 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 Youth Career Development Program.
The trainees underwent a 5 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 at the Pacific Lounge of Pan Pacific Manila last February 19, 2010. The graduates showed 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 Ms. Brigitte Trattner; President of Diamond Hotel Philippines Cecil Ang; Training Manager of Dusit Thani Manila Ms. Mih Olaya; Director for HR & Talent Development Ms. Connie Velasco of InterContinental Manila; General Manager of Pan Pacific Manila Mr. Richard Masselin; and Resident Manager of The Bellevue Manila Mr. Jeffrey Enriquez, our newest partner. UNICEF was also represented by Ms. Sylvia Tina, Child Protection Officer, while Laura Vicuna Foundation was represented by its Executive Director Sis. Marivic Sta Ana, FMA. Also present were some family members and friends of the graduates.
To date, there is a 98% success rate of the program –the trainees have gone into the hospitality industry and other industries, here and abroad.
Next year, the program looks forward to gaining more partners for this humble endeavour of teaching less fortunate children life skills. In so doing, we hope to able to prepare more young adults for a brighter future.
