A Productive Collaboration Meeting with TESDA and Marillac Center
A highly productive collaboration meeting was held between the officers of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Main Office, the TESDA MuntiParLasTaPat Office, Marillac Center, and the Zonta Club of Makati & Environs Foundation, Inc. (ZCME) to discuss a long-term partnership that will provide life-changing opportunities for the girls of Marillac Center.
TESDA has committed to implementing the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) through mobile training delivered at Marillac Center. The initial courses to be offered are Cookery NC II and Bread and Pastry Production NC II.
Under the programme, trainees will receive free skills training, free competency assessment, a training allowance, and starter tool kits upon successful completion of the training, passing the competency assessment, and meeting all programme requirements. TESDA also expressed its commitment to explore the implementation of Housekeeping NC II as an additional training programme in the future.
To ensure the sustainability of the partnership, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be prepared to formalise a five-year collaboration between TESDA, Marillac Center, and ZCME — creating more opportunities for education, employment, and economic empowerment for the girls under the care of Marillac Center.
The Club extends its heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Armita “Mita” Rufino for making this collaboration possible by connecting ZCME with TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez, and to the Director General and the TESDA team for giving their time, attention, and support to the Club’s request.
ZCME is committed to working closely with its partners to ensure that this collaboration is successfully implemented and sustained. Together, the partners look forward to creating meaningful opportunities that will empower the girls of Marillac Center, equip them with valuable livelihood skills, and help them build brighter, more independent futures.
This partnership was subsequently announced to the membership at the Club’s 2nd General Membership Meeting.
