Giving Hope to Young Filipinos through JobStart Philippines

Jundelyn Baylosis Sato, 23, knows that life as a person with disability (PWD) is full of challenges, including the difficulty of finding a job due to discrimination. But a visit in August 2017 to her local government unit’s (LGU) Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in Kidapawan City in southern Philippines turned her life around.

From being bullied as a child and with low self-esteem most of her teenage years because of fibrous dysplasia, a chronic disorder that causes abnormal bone growth including on the right side of her face, Sato transformed into a confident young teacher and mentor on technical and vocational courses after undergoing life skills and technical training courses through the JobStart Philippines Program.

JobStart is a 5-year-old program of the Philippines' Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) aimed at enhancing the employability of Filipino youth through full-cycle employment facilitation services. It involves one-on-one career coaching, opportunities for technical skills training, and paid internships with private sector employers.

“What I value the most with JobStart is they didn’t reject me despite my condition, but instead they helped me build my confidence. I even gained friends through JobStart,” said Sato, who struggled to find a job for more than a year after graduating in April 2016 from the University of Southern Mindanao with a Bachelor of Technical Teachers’ Education degree.

“Now that I have a job, I am able to give money to my parents for our household expenses. I can also buy things that I want for myself and my four siblings,” she said. “JobStart was instrumental to what I am enjoying now.”