Cebu IT program gets $1.26 million

MANILA, Philippines - The Accenture Foundations have awarded $1.26 million (more than P58 million) to Passerelles Numeriques (PN) for the organization’s Cebu System and Network Administration training initiative. The grant, which will be distributed over a four-year period, will be used to help disadvantaged young people acquire information technology (IT) skills.

The award is part of Accenture’s Skills to Succeed program which educates people around the world, building skills that enable them to participate in and contribute to the economy. In addition to the grant, Accenture will continue supporting PN with pro-bono and volunteer services, which include helping young people learn English and offering resumé writing and interview skills workshops. Last year, Accenture also donated 20 desktop computers to PN.

“Accenture has raised the bar of its corporate citizenship agenda with Skills to Succeed,” said Lito Tayag, country managing director of Accenture Delivery Centers in the Philippines. “Our partnership with PN allows us to contribute to skills enhancement of underpriviledged youth in Cebu and other provinces.”

The student beneficiaries undergo a three-year program. In addition to the standard curriculum at the University of San Carlos-Cebu, they will participate in on-the-job training in a partner company such as Accenture.