Phl gets Western Union grant for skills training

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine non-profit organization AWECA Foundation, Inc. (AFI) became the first recipient of a $20,000 grant to fund a livelihood skills training program in the Philippines, as part of a $100,000 commitment by Western Union to commemorate the company’s 500,000th global agent location.

With this grant, AFI will expand the “School Caravan” project, a community-based trade school that The Western Union Foundation supported in 2011. More than 500 out-of-school youth and unemployed individuals enhanced their occupational mobility through the mobile technical training in different localities of Pampanga. An additional 150 out-of-school youths will benefit from this program.

“This project is a great example of our embassy’s ability to uphold the priorities of our government and forge meaningful corporate relationships that help empower our people to become economically independent,” said Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. 

“We thank Western Union for their leadership on this project and we seek to continue this collaboration for the betterment of our people.”

“At Western Union we truly believe that education is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty and taking control of one’s life. That is why we have long supported education programs around the world, including in the Philippines. I congratulate AFI and hope the Filipino youths who benefit from the program will use the opportunity to make a difference for themselves and their families,” said Patricia Riingen, Western Union senior vice president, East & South Asia.

“As one of Western Union’s most important markets, the Philippines is a significant reason why we have reached our 500,000th location milestone. We are very grateful for the trust that Filipinos have placed in us and will continue to work hard to serve our Pinoy compatriots even better in the coming decades,” she added.

To celebrate the opening of the 500,000th location in New York City in April 2012, Western Union announced a $500,000 commitment to fund economic and entrepreneurship programs in the Philippines, China, India, Mexico and New York City over a five-year period.