The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) is offering full scholarships, including meals and housing, to underprivileged students seeking to learn technical skills.
Called “Iskolar ni Juan,” the Gokongwei family foundation said it was offering fully subsidized scholarships that covers tuition, transportation, school supplies, uniforms, accommodation and meals for underprivileged senior high school graduates and college undergraduates between 18 and 25 years old.
This would apply to one-year technical vocational certification courses. Those interested may submit their application through this link: bit.ly/iskolarnijuanonlineapplication.
The foundation said scholars will be housed in the GBF Technical Training Center in Calamba City, Laguna for a seven-month academic term. This will be followed by a five-month training at Gokongwei-led food and beverage giant Universal Robina Corp. (URC)
“This partnership reaffirms the commitment of URC and GBF in providing the underprivileged youth with access to technical and vocational education, training and employment opportunities so that they may be able to help themselves, their families and their communities,” Grace Colet, the foundation’s executive director, said in a statement.
She said this was also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal four on Quality Education, stated as: “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
After completing the program, scholars will earn a National Certificate Level II from the state-run Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in mechatronics servicing or instrumentation and control servicing. The foundation said this would allow them to apply for jobs such as production/machine operators or machine maintenance/instrumentation technicians at URC.
Since 2014, Iskolar ni Juan has graduated more than 400 scholars.
Meanwhile, the foundation was established in 1992 by URC’s late founder, John Gokongwei Jr., and his brothers Johnson, Henry and James.
Its first major project was establishing in 1999 the GBF Technical Training Center, a P150-million facility envisioned to be a world-class continuing school for engineer.