Isuzu Heart, Smile Project continues to empower underprivileged youth

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SUZU, together with World Vision and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), commemorated the graduation of Isuzu Heart and Smile Project’s 19th batch of trainees and welcomed its 23rd batch of trainees at the Tesda Auto Mechanic Training Center (AMTraC) in Tacloban, Leyte.

The ceremonies were attended by VIPs from Isuzu Motors Ltd. (IML) led by Administration Senior Executive Officer Hirokazu Okubo and Isuzu Shutoken Senior Executive Officer Ryuichi Shibata, World Vision Executive Director Rommel Fuerte, Tesda 8 Regional Director Gamaliel Vicente Jr., Tesda Leyte Provincial Director Rolando Bade, and Tacloban City Council member Elvira Casal.

Sixteen trainees graduated from Automotive Servicing National Certificate 4, the highest qualification for Automotive Servicing and will be deployed to their respective employers after graduation. Among the 16 graduates, 12 will be dispatched to different Isuzu Dealerships nationwide while four of them will continue their studies at Isuzu Global Service Corp.

Okubo imparted pieces of advice to all the graduates, one of which encouraged them to excel in their work and contribute to the development of the Philippines. More than providing education to youth from the poorest communities in the country, the project also aims to produce globally competitive auto mechanics that will contribute to the further development of the automotive industry in the country.

Apart from sending 16 trainees off to their new life journey, a fresh new batch of trainees was also welcomed to the AMTraC. The 23rd batch of trainees consists of 18 scholars who were carefully selected out of the 600 applicants from different areas of the region.

“Studying and graduating from this school will earn you a full-time job in the Philippines auto industry. You will also increase an opportunity to work in the automotive sector around the world,” said Okubo. With the promise of landing a job opportunity at the end of the training program, applicants had to undergo a series of examinations and interviews to finally be admitted to the AMTraC.

Fuerte also said, “We at World Vision feel blessed to be entrusted with this ministry of achieving hope, joy, and justice for all children. The AMTraC is one of those programs that is born of partnership and service to the youth.”

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