Caritas Manila’s Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program (Yslep) is providing scholarships to 4,000 college freshmen for school year 2019-2020.

Yslep gives priority to qualified students who come from the poorest regions in the country.

For this school year, there are a total of 3,443 beneficiaries, including those midway through their courses and those who recently graduated.

There were 1,061 graduates in Batch 2019. Of the graduates, six were magna cum laudes, 41 were cum laudes, 42 had academic excellence or were in the dean’s list, and several others earned distinguished titles. Among those still enrolled, 154 were either on the dean’s list or were special awardees.

Among the graduates, 744 are from Metro Manila, 149 from Luzon, 96 from the Visayas, and 72 from Mindanao. Yslep accepts students from all religions.

The top eight courses for Yslep scholars are: Business Administration (283 students); Education (231); Vocational Technology: Hotel and Restaurant Services, Electrical Installation, Automotive Technology, Airconditioning Services, Office System (204); Formal Sciences: Information Technology, Computer Science, Statistics (76); Social and Behavioral Sciences (72); Engineering (52); Industrial Technology (25); Applied Sciences: Agriculture, etc. (18).

Entrepreneurship

According to Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton CT Pascual, “We now promote courses on agricultural entrepreneurship to encourage the youth to go back to farming and fishing. A support business program will be made available to help them earn a sustainable livelihood in rural communities. It is also hoped that this will contribute to the country’s food security in the long run.”

Caritas also finds ways to match scholars from the provinces with courses that lead to employment and opportunities in their own rural communities.

“From 4,000 scholarships this year, we are targeting 5,000 slots next year,” said Father Pascual.

The Caritas Manila Scholars’ Alumni Association Balik-Handog program has raised funds to help Yslep scholars.
Caritas Manila is the social services and development arm of the Archdiocese of Manila.

To donate to Yslep and other programs, visit Caritas Manila at 2002 Jesus St., Pandacan, Manila; tel. 5620020-25; email [email protected]; visit www.caritasmanila.org.ph.