LetIThelp's CSR Initiative: Helping IT Students Find their Niche in the IT IndustryAuthor: Mike Baños Government is upbeat on the prospects of the country´s economy
weathering the global financial meltdown and one of the reasons oft
cited is the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. Even with IT
related jobs being cut in the mainland United States, government
remains optimistic prospects for BPO in the country remain bright
because of inherent cost advantages and its close cultural affiliations
with the US.
Unfortunately, such has not been the situation in many of Cagayan de
Oro´s IT schools. Christine Redondo-Sevilla, administrator of the
Capitol University (CU) College of Computer Studies cites how
enrollment in IT-related courses continue to decline because of
competition and peer pressure to move to other courses, especially
nursing.
Fortunately for IT students in Cagayan de Oro, there are new
initiatives which seek to help them gain employment in their chosen
field of expertise, foremost among which is Syntactics Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) project dubbed LetIThelp.
"LetIThelp began with free lectures to colleges and universities in
Northern Mindanao aimed at further educating graduating IT students to
prepare them on the tough life outside the classroom," said Stephanie
P. Caragos, LetIThelp President. "Its main goal is to help deserving IT
graduates who have the passion and dedication to earn and learn at the
same time."
STI (Systems Technology Institute) Cagayan de Oro City became the first
beneficiary of LetIThelp´s first seminar "IT Students: Identify Where
You Are Headed". Ms. Caragos briefed graduating IT students of STI on
the possible IT professions which graduating students could pursue
after graduation. The students were also briefed on the necessary
skills, requirements and qualities of an IT professional that the
students must be equipped with to be able to have an edge on the stiff
competition from other IT graduates.
Simon Healy, a mentor of LetITHelp, also shared his experiences in the
IT industry to encourage IT Students to further develop their skills to
increase their chances of employment when they graduate.
"The main reason for the seminar is to enlighten the students of the
realities that await them after college," Ms. Caragos said. "By giving
these free seminars and lectures ahead of time they will have an
advantage on what they need to do to prepare themselves in facing their
future profession. With this, LetITHelp is happy to declare the first
step of its mission a success!"
LetITHelp was born to answer the need for an organization that could
help bridge the gap between IT companies needing skilled team members
and fresh graduates needing additional skills to qualify for the IT
companies´ requirements.
"Underemployment
is one of the challenges for the IT graduates recognized by LetIThelp,"
Ms. Caragos said. "These graduates are forced to take jobs that are not
in line with their education just so they can start working and help
their families. Through LetITHelp, fresh IT graduates who show passion
and dedication in their chosen field of profession will be trained and
be equipped with necessary skills giving them the opportunity to land
the job that they desire and to earn and learn at the same time. After
the training, these IT graduates will either be absorbed by Syntactics
Inc. (the commercial company of LetITHelp) or be recommended to other
IT companies in the IT industry."
LetIThelp.org strives to be a sustainable social enterprise by
providing IT services such as web development, Search Engine
Optimization and Blog Customization using Wordpress. Through the
revenues generated by the enterprise, more trainees will gain the
opportunity to participate in the training program.
LetIThelp is supported by the Youth Social Enterprise Initiative (YSEI)
and Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP). LetITHelp hopes that this
fruitful beginning will eventually lead into fulfilling the
organization´s ultimate mission: to help and to give back to society
the tangible and intangibles which helped Syntactics grow into what it
is today.
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