30 JUNE 2020
by Ghea Ann Dacallos
I love teaching.
I have a passion for sharing ideas and skills with my fellow Filipino youth.
In fact, I recently fulfilled my dream of becoming a teacher. Right after graduation, I went back to my hometown to teach children at our local church in Leyte.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers must find ways to continue teaching their students while also protecting them from the virus. Hence, I needed to move my classroom online.
And so I applied for online teaching jobs, but I was rejected so many times. Why? Because I lacked the confidence.
I know I have to adjust to the fast-changing times, and to do this, I also have to upgrade my skills. I was already losing hope because I did not even own a laptop, I did not know the ins and outs of the internet, and my computer skills were quite outdated.
I thought I would never be able to continue teaching and I would never become financially independent.
But then everything changed.
New learnings, new opportunities
In late 2019, I was fortunate enough to join a free 30-day Digital Literacy Skills Training.
As a teacher, it is my job to educate others. But as a teacher, I should never stop learning.
The training refreshed not only my academic skills, but also improved my understanding of essential life skills. I learned the importance of goal-setting, time management, and self-confidence.
The training was organised and sponsored by Plan International and Accenture.
After 30 days, I felt more competent and job-ready. It was a relatively short amount of time, but I learned so much.
I entered the training like a blank canvass, full of questions and curiosity. And I finished the training equipped with new digital skills. I was so excited to use these new learnings.
Fresh off my training, I immediately applied for a job. And I got it. For four months now, I have been working as a data entry encoder in the largest IT company in Eastern Visayas.
Now I am more independent. I can support myself, as well as my family.
Aside from working for a good company, I still aspire to continue teaching. I am now trying so save enough money so I can purchase the items I need for online teaching.
I will always be thankful for these opportunities. I would have never landed my current job without the Digital Skills Training.
And I would have never boosted my confidence and independence if it weren’t for the organisations that supported young dreamers like me.
I hope to pay it forward by inspiring and empowering other young Filipinos.
Ghea Ann Dacallos is a 22 year old teacher and data entry encoder from Leyte. She was trained in Digital Skills through the Wired4Work Project of Plan International Philippines’ Youth Economic Empowerment Program.
Categories: Skills and work
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