Leadership in the energy sector’s future and in environmental preservation is not a responsibility solely laid under the shoulders of government, but equally a burden for the private sector.

Realizing that there are really no swift solutions to challenges confronting humankind, especially on the economic front, Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) is taking one giant leap into providing livelihood training and academic assistance to marginalized Filipino youths who do not have access to mainstream education.

Patented under its “Energy for Learning” (EFL) initiative, Chevron and its Caltex retail brand packaged learning-based programs that create “opportunities for individuals to acquire new knowledge and gain skills to help build their capabilities in landing gainful employment.”

It is a multi-layer program that inculcates education and training into the Filipino youth’s capacity enhancement and in providing wealth of experience that will define their future opportunities.

Rebuilding lives in the US and across the Pacific
The EFL-aligned learning and educational assistance projects were piloted by the company in 2006 as a corporate social responsibility undertaking aimed at helping rebuild public education system in 23 Louisiana and Mississippi school districts following the onslaught of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in these areas. This entailed social investment worth $18 million.

Given the program’s success rates, Chevron endeavored to bring it to other areas of its operations, including Asia-Pacific countries like Cambodia, Hongkong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

“Education and training fall within one of the three focus areas of Chevron’s community engagement programs,” CPI country chairman Jim Meynink enthused.

It is a key component of Chevron’s core values, he noted, to promote learning as an important aspect in sustaining social and economic vitality of communities.

“Whether through formal education, skills development or livelihood training, Chevron believes that with learning, individuals will acquire tools they need to succeed in life, provide for their families and contribute to their communities,” Mr. Meynink stressed.

Beyond the bounds of corporate boardrooms and in providing the world’s energy needs, the company constantly reinforces its conviction that “fueling minds is equally important for societies to thrive.”

The array of education-based projects that the multinational firm initiated in the Philippines, according to Mr. Meynink, already brought long-lasting benefits to nearly 80,000 people.

“These are just individuals who have directly benefited and do not (yet) include far-reaching positive impact the programs have had on the recipients’ families and communities,” the Chevron executive qualified further.

Precursor programs
Chevron’s initial EFL endeavor in the country was via the KAPATID program in General Santos City. In that particular undertaking, the company supported out-of-school youths (OSYs) and children-in-conflict-with-law (CICLs) through free integrated technical skills training and values education; and similarly helped them to land employment upon graduation. By the company’s count, it already produced 337 graduates from the Kapatid Program, whose employment success rate hovered at 60%.

From that initiative, the EFL branched out into other programs such as the Training Out of Love for Sasa (TOOLS) in Davao City; and the Loaves and Fishes (L&F) bakery training that also started in General Santos City. The others are the Caltex Mentor Program (CMP) and their engagement into the Brigada Eskwela Program of the Department of Education.

Altogether, these six projects comprise the 30 learning programs that Chevron has started in Asia alone since 2004.

The company explained that the forerunner program to L&F was the “Pugad Pandesal Project” at Don Bosco, Makati that was instituted in 2003.

The well-regarded scrumptious pan de sal produce from the project was made more special, because it has the ‘labor of love’ ingredient from street kids under Don Bosco’s charge. Since then the project brings in roughly P70,000 in weekly revenues.

Don Bosco Pugad Director Fr. Dave Buenaventura asserted enthusiastically that “our best response to Chevron’s generosity is our effort to uplift the lives of the youth under our care and guidance.”

For the CMP, Chevron was able to help more than 1,600 grades 1 to 2 pupils in boosting their reading capabilities; while its participation in Brigada Eskwela allowed it to help shore up facilities in some public schools where it operates.

Much like the need to understand long-term supply outlook and demand forces to global energy security, Chevron applies the same principle in ensuring a sustainable future for its host communities and in re-shaping the Filipino youth’s chances at cornering better prospects in life.