As a young boy, Jhan Albert Avila did menial jobs to feed himself and his family. Financially hard up, he struggled to complete his elementary education and was forced to discontinue his studies. As the second eldest child with eight other siblings, he had to work as a helper in construction, piggery, and in other people’s homes to support his family, and yet, all the while dreaming of becoming an engineer one day.

With sheer determination, he passed the equivalency test under the Alternative Learning System and got his high school diploma. As a working student, studying in college proved to be a bigger challenge to Avila. His meager pay as a helper in a public market, or service crew in a fast food chain couldn’t keep up with his expenses. He had to pass promissory notes to the college president’s office every semester. That’s when he learned about the Iskolar Ni Juan (INJ) scholarship program that offered him free training and later a stable job.

The INJ is the flagship technology-vocational scholarship program of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) which provides education to employment opportunities for underprivileged youth, in partnership with Universal Robina Corporation (URC).

Avila saw this opportunity as a stepping stone to reach his dream and became one of the scholars. Through the INJ program, he acquired technical skills and gained regular employment in the URC San Pablo plant as a maintenance technician. Last April, he received his professional license as a registered master electrician.

Because of his income, two of his siblings completed their college education while he was on track to becoming an engineer.

"Through the INJ, I was able to slowly achieve my dreams. As a scholar, my stay while studying at the center turned out to be a colorful journey. Because of the good teachers and everyone here, I was able to complete my training and become one of the fruitful products of their program," said Avila.

Avila is just one of the INJ Batch 7 alumni, who after receiving education and employment, was able to improve his and his family’s living conditions. He proudly shared his personal story and gratitude during INJ’s 10^th anniversary, a celebration that paid tribute to the program’s success in providing education to employment opportunities for underprivileged youth that started in 2014.

Held on July 23 at the GBF Technical Training Center, INJ’s 10th-anniversary event was attended by GBF Board of Trustees member and URC Managing Director Marcia Gokongwei, GBF School Director Engr. Raymund Ganotice, GBF head of Scholarships and Community Graciela Mendoza, TESDA Laguna Senior Education and Skills Development Specialist Bing Gallego, URC Branded Consumer Foods Group Director of Corporate Maintenance Arnel Nunez, Leonardo dela Cruz (Mayor Roseller Rizal of Calamba, Laguna representative), Mayor Marcelo Gayeta of Sariaya, Quezon; Mayor Cristeta Reyes of Malvar, Batangas, Mayor Janet Ilagan of Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas, and Vice Mayor Gina Gonzales of Burdeos Quezon.

Twenty-two LGU representatives, including PESO Office Senior Development Officer Maricar Perez from Caloocan, DSWD and other CSO officials, and private company partners also came to the occasion.

The guests were also treated to a song and dance performance and a short tour of the facility by the INJ scholars themselves.

In a speech delivered during the program’s anniversary program, Gokongwei said, “We are proud to say that after 10 years, this program has been able to produce more than 500 graduates, whose lives have been changed by the training and employment they received. The graduates can earn enough to support their family’s needs, some of them have pursued further education to be certified engineers.”

Gokongwei also mentioned “scaling the impact of this program” and called for the continued support of stakeholders for assistance in recruiting students, funding their training, and absorbing them for employment. “Scaling the impact of this program can only happen if we work together,” she added.

GBF aims to double its current scholar intake in the next three years to fully maximize the potential of the program and the technical training center in producing tech-skilled and workforce-ready graduates.

With 522 graduates, INJ today has 17 scholars from Batch 21 and 17 scholars from Batch 22 currently enrolled under a fully subsidized scholarship that covers tuition, transportation, school supplies, and uniforms with free board and lodging at the center in Calamba City, Laguna. The facility has classrooms fitted with didactic lab equipment to simulate actual plant production set-up, dormitories, and a cafeteria.

After a seven-month academic term, the trainees will experience a five-month on-the-job training at URC plants and other business affiliates. The completion of the 1-year program will earn the trainees an NCII Certification from TESDA.