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Educational Tour Opens Up A World of Possibilities for Tech Ed Trainees

Forty-seven trainees of ELSA’s Integrated Technical Education Program in Nagdilaab Foundation, Isabela City went on an educational tour in Zamboanga City last June 5 and 13, 2007. The tour served as an opportunity to gain practical knowledge as they prepare for employment, as it exposed the trainees to business establishments and industries of the courses they are involved in.

The first batch, composed of 17 trainees taking up Garments and Drafting courses, visited local garment shops and factories in Zamboanga. They were oriented on the different processing techniques and in using high-tech machineries for garments production.

The second batch of 30 Welding trainees visited Varadero de Recodo, a shipyard of vessels being welded and repaired, where they learned appropriate welding skills for various purposes. Mr. Antonio Kong, operations manager of the said shipyard, also committed to accept 5 trainees from every batch of ELSA’s ITE trainees for their on-the-job training.

The tour also included a visit to the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) office and in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) office where the trainees attended an orientation about applying for jobs abroad.

Currently, there are 90 trainees enrolled in the program, taking courses like Drafting, Garments, Food preparation, Welding, and the like.

ELSA’s Integrated Technical Education program, spearheaded by Consuelo Foundation, integrates life skills training with technical education program to equip livelihood skills to out of school youth. Nagdilaab Foundation is ELSA’s local implementing partner of the ITE program in Basilan, Mindanao. To date, 53% of the ELSA’s 219 ITE graduates in the area are already employed or engaged in a livelihood.