Filipino migrant workers in Korea are getting a boost in the areas of leadership, financial literacy and social entrepreneurship.
On October 12, the Jesuit Apostolic Center in Sogang University hosted the launching of the Ateneo Overseas Filipino Leadership, Innovation, Financial Literacy and Social Entrepreneurship (OF-LIFE) Program, formerly called the Ateneo Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Program.
Sixty-two students are currently registered in the six-month executive education programme run by the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government in collaboration with UGAT Foundation, Overseas Filipinos Society for the Promotion of Economic Security and Social Enterprises Development Partnerships Inc.
Since 2008, the programme has been conducted in 24 cities in 14 countries in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. This new batch in Seoul is the 86th batch globally.
Fr Min Kim SJ, Korean Province Migrant Apostolate Coordinator, gave the welcome remarks and opening prayer. Justice Fancisco Acosta, Chairperson of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, and Christian de Jesus, Consul-General of the Philippine Embassy to Korea, welcomed the students and exhorted them to finish the course so they can improve their situation for themselves and their families, at the same time, also give back and pay forward to their communities in the Philippines and in Korea.
The participants immediately undertook the first session on leadership, which covered the subject of migration and development, and the importance of being a more effective leader and changemaker. OF-LIFE co-coordinators from Manila, Edgar Valenzuela and Cristina Liamzon, gave the session.
The OF-LIFE Program in Seoul is managed by a secretariat of volunteers from the Filipino-Korean Spouses Association led by Fe Kim. The programme runs from October 2019 to March 2020, and a formal graduation is scheduled for early May 2020.