SM: Building Shared Value via Technical and Vocational Education

Sm Tech-voc Education

Scholarships are one of the cornerstone projects of the SM Foundation, the SM group’s Corporate Social Responsibility arm. Aside from a college education, the program also gives opportunities for individuals who want to work in the skilled labor field.

The progressive reopening of the economy, not just in the Philippines, but throughout the world, gives Filipinos who lost their employment due to the health crisis optimism for additional work prospects. Indeed, assistance for those aspiring to work in the skilled profession is more important than ever.

It was in this context that SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), SM Foundation (SMFI), and Don Bosco One TVET Phils. Inc. and the Pasay City Government collaborated to provide educational assistance to 20 needy Pasay kids. SMFI has already graduated over 4,500 tech-voc graduates who are currently gainfully employed.

A dream to be achieved

Stephen Parina is a current SM tech-voc scholar from Pasay. His ambition is to open his own automotive business because, aside from his passion for automobiles and motorbikes, he wants to improve his family’s financial situation. His parents are both temporary employees at Pasay City Hall.

“Nakita ko sa Facebook post ng
SM Foundation na nandun ang aking gustong
course kaya dali-dali akong pumunta sa city hall ng Pasay para alamin ang mga detalye nito at
kinabukasan ay nagpasa na ako agad ng mga requirements,” said Stephen, who
is now studying Automotive Mechanic course at the Don Bosco Makati.

“Gusto kong matuto kung paano mag ayos ng mga
sasakyan at makatapos ng pag-aaral dahil hirap kami sa aming pamumuhay. Alam ko
na makakatulong ang edukasyon, kagaya ng techvoc upang matupad ang aking
pangarap na makapagpatayo ng sarili kong automotive shop. Magiging susi ito
upang mai-angat ko ang antas ng pamumuhay ng aking pamilya” he added.

“Taos pusong pasasalamat sa SM at sa Sy family dahil nabigyan nyo ako ng pagkakataon na makabalik muli sa pag aaral.
Hinding hindi ko ito malilimutan. Dadalhin ko ito hanggang sa aking pag tanda,”
Stephen said.

The key to success

Jeorge Angelo Madrid is another contemporary tech-voc scholar. He is also enrolled in an Automotive Mechanic course at Don Bosco Makati. His father is a house and building painter, while his mother works for the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Jeorge is the youngest of five siblings, and most of them have their own families.

According
to Jeorge, he sees this opportunity of going back to school as his ticket
towards achieving his dreams: “Nag-apply ako sa SM Foundation kasi wla po
akong kakayahan na makapag aral at makapagtapos. Wala po akong pagkukuhanan ng
pang tuition para maipang bayad sa eskwelahan.”

Jeorge
is adamant to find a gainful employment right after he finish his studies. “Salamat po sa SM Foundation. Kung hindi dahil sa inyo, hindi madaragdagan
ang kaalaman ko tungkol sa automotive. Magagamit
ko ito sa aking paghahanap ng trabaho at kinalaunan, masuportahan ang aking
sarili, mga pamangkin at ang aking mga magulang,” Jeorge further shared.

Reaping the fruits of his efforts

Anthony Andales, an SM tech-voc scholar alumni, also shared his inspirational experience. He graduated from the Dualtech Training Center in 2019 and is currently working as a staff technician for a well-known firm that develops a wide range of electronic items for home and office usage.

“Bago
ako mag-training sa Dualtech, nagtrabaho muna ako bilang isang helper sa isang
refilling station. Ang aking arawang sweldo ay P220 lamang. Akala ko dati, wala
na akong mararating sa buhay at hindi na makapagtatapos ng pag-aaral,”
Anthony recalled.

“But
God gave me the privilege to be chosen as one of the SM Foundation scholars para makapag-aral ako nang walang binayaran
kahit piso. Ang tanging puhunan ko lang ay ang aking lakas ng loob at ang aking
mga pangarap sa buhay na balang araw, makatutulong ako sa aking pamilya upang kahit
papano ay makaahon sa buhay,” he further added.

Right
after his on-the-job training, he was absorbed by the program’s OJT- partner
company and was given a job as a staff technician because of his skills and
work ethics.

“Napagawa na namin ang bahay kahit papaano,
hindi man bato pero at least maayos
at safe kapag may bagyo. Hindi po kagaya
dati na pag umuulan ay may pa-shower kami kasi butas-butas na ang bubong at tagpi-tagpi ang dingding ng aming
tahanan. Walang imposible kapag ikaw ay may pangarap at determinasyon upang
maabot ito sapagkat maraming tao at institusyon na handang tumulong. Kaya
sobrang thankful po talaga ako sa mga
taong tumulong sa akin para magkaroon ng maliwanag na kinabukasan.” Anthony
concluded.

Since 1993, the SM Foundation has provided worthy and eligible students with access to college education and technical-vocational training through its Scholarship program.