For many Filipinos, education is seen as key to poverty alleviation; however, getting a degree is a challenge for those with financial problems.
Jeffrey Baluyut is a 23-year-old who graduated from junior high school in 2017. While he hoped to continue his education, he had to work to help his family with their daily needs. Three years later, he had a child, and his life became more financially challenging. But he still dreamed of continuing his studies by completing a technical vocational course. He believed that with a national certificate, he could land a better job and provide a better future for his family.
Determined to pursue his dream, he enrolled at Don Bosco Academy Pampanga. Luckily, he was awarded a Security Bank Foundation, Inc. TechVoc scholarship.
The scholarship was made possible through a partnership with Security Bank clients Motech Automotive Educational Center and Sambon P&E Philippines. SBFI provided on-the-job training allowance while the two clients offered their premises for the OJT of 16 Don Bosco technical vocational students for five months.
"Dahil sa scholarship, nakakapag-focus na ako sa pag-aaral, lalo na at may binubuhay na ako na pamilya. Malaking tulong din ang nakuha kong OJT allowance. Ngayon ay nakapasa ako sa NCII at ako'y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa panginoon at sa Security Bank Foundation," said Baluyut.
Since 1993, SBFI has provided scholarships to 1,156 scholars who are Security Bank employees, agency personnel or their children, underprivileged technical vocational students, or underprivileged college students in eight partner universities.
Going beyond monetary support
SBFI also provides soft skills training particularly to college scholars, in partnership with the Bank's training arm, SB Academy.
Sesenio Laganga III, an SBFI scholar who is the son of a janitor assigned to Security Bank, recently graduated cum laude with a BS Marketing Management degree from New Era University.
"Beyond the financial assistance for my studies, I am grateful for the personality and professional development trainings I enjoyed as a scholar. I also feel blessed to land a career opportunity in Security Bank," said Laganga.
Sesenio joined Security Bank in September 2022 as a branch teller in Quezon City.
SBFI is proud to have helped 165 college scholars, 30 of whom have achieved Latin honors, and four currently employed with Security Bank. SBFI also works closely with the Bank's talent attraction team in offering career opportunities to graduated college scholars, including internship opportunities while they are still studying.
Under its Regalo Mo, Kinabukasan Ko fundraising program, SBFI conducts various internal activities to sponsor the cost of scholarships for agency personnel such as janitors, messengers, drivers, and security guards. Fundraising activities include fun games and concerts for a cause.
Security Bank employees can also adopt scholars for a year or even spend learning hours in exchange for scholarship program donations. For school year 2022-2023, SBFI supports the education of 422 scholars.
