Foundations empower disadvantaged youths

In Palawan, one of the country’s premier tourism destinations, luxury resorts often hire staff from Manila or abroad, leaving local marginalized youth, including out-of-school orphans and underprivileged young people, excluded from formal employment. Many lack access to traditional four-year degrees and the practical skills needed for hospitality careers.

At the same time, in La Union, communities are still recovering from back-to-back super typhoons in 2025 that affected over 487,000 residents, damaged nearly 39,000 houses, and caused losses exceeding $115 million. Youth in these areas are experiencing large-scale climate disasters for the first time, heightening psychological distress and highlighting the urgent need for local preparedness.

To respond to these realities, two Philippines organizations are implementing targeted projects under Maybank Foundation and ASEAN Foundation’s program called eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (eYAA): Cohort 6. The project “Y.E.S. We Can! Youth Empowerment Series” is designed to empower disadvantaged young people in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, by providing hands-on hospitality and tourism skills training, while also strengthening local livelihoods and social inclusion.

In Puerto Princesa City, Filipino Hospitality Management and Consultancy (FHMC) is implementing “Y.E.S. We Can! Youth Empowerment Series,” which also trains disadvantaged youth, including out-of-school orphans and members of minority groups, on digital skills for tourism and tourism entrepreneurship, provides job placement support, and conducts entrepreneurship workshops. The project directly benefits 1,240 people, including 1,000 hospitality students through online modules, 180 youth through face-to-face training, and 60 local entrepreneurs. It also reaches 5,140 indirect beneficiaries and targets 75,000 in digital outreach.

“For young people, developing these skills not only enhances economic independence but also significantly contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 on Quality Education and Goal 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth,” said a representative of FHMC. “In today’s era of rapid technological change and economic uncertainty, fostering entrepreneurship among youth is more urgent than ever. This helps equip them to create job opportunities, drive economic resilience, and support sustainable development in their communities.”

In La Union, environmental conservation organization CURMA Group Inc. is leading the “Climate Resilient Communities” project that trains 100 community leaders and youth representatives as climate resilience first responders. Participants receive hands-on training in disaster preparedness, psychological first aid, environmental stewardship, and community-based climate action.

The CRC project also supports livelihood enhancement for coastal households and establishes permanent learning resources at the CURMA Center. It directly benefits 3,000 residents, reaches 5,000 indirect beneficiaries, and targets 50,000 through digital campaigns.

“Lack of preparation amongst the people of La Union will result in large economic losses,” said a representative of CURMA Group Inc. “This can occur on both national and local scales, driving poverty incidence especially in coastal communities as they depend on coastal resources for subsistence. By equipping youth and community leaders with practical skills in disaster response and environmental stewardship, we are building long-term resilience from the ground up.”

By addressing both economic opportunity and climate resilience in the Philippines, eYAA: Cohort 6 demonstrates how targeted, community-driven projects can create lasting pathways out of vulnerability while strengthening the country’s overall resilience during the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development.