31 volunteers from three DHL business units mentored 52 senior high school students

DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, and DHL Supply Chain, as part of the newly-launched GoTeach partnership with SOS Children’s Villages to empower and improve the employability of young people from vulnerable backgrounds, recently mentored 52 senior high school students.

At this year’s YouthCan! activity, the students attended employment and entrepreneurship talks given by 31 DHL volunteers virtually. They were introduced to a career as a DHL salesperson, including the soft skills that are needed. The youths were also presented with various logistics career options within DHL, such as airfreight or ocean freight operations as well as import and export specialists. After the speakers’ discussions, the youths and volunteers engaged in deep discussions about their future career plans, and goals.

Earlier this year, DHL Philippines and SOS Children’s Villages signed a partnership agreement to empower young people aged between 15 and 25 in the Philippines and help prepare them for employment or entrepreneurship.

“As the partner of SOS Children’s Villages, our goal is to help young people understand the job market, and provide them with soft and basic skills training to improve employability and entrepreneurship. We hope these youths walk away with insights and motivation to be financially independent for a better future,” said DHL Express Country Manager for the Philippines, Nigel Lockett.

“Sharing their time and expertise is one of the ways our employees can contribute to this partnership with SOS Children’s Villages. I applaud their commitment to taking the time out to do this for the youths, who will be this country’s future leaders,” said Bevan Noel Williams, Managing Director for DHL Supply Chain Philippines.

“Through this program, participants become aware of what employers look for when reviewing candidates. Armed with this knowledge, participants can prepare themselves better for when they enter the job market,” said Yvonne Lee, Managing Director for DHL Global Forwarding Philippines.

“I would like to thank DHL and their volunteers once again for supporting YouthCan! and for providing simple skills training that will help increase the employability of our youths, as well as expand their career opportunities. We hope to have more YouthCan! sessions with DHL and to also strengthen our partnership in the coming years,” said Romil I. Rayos del Sol, Deputy National Director, SOS Chilidren’s Village, Inc. Philippines.

YouthCan! was launched in 2017 by SOS Children’s Villages and five global partners from the private sector to help young people without parental care or at risk of losing their transition to independence and secure decent work. In 2021, it was launched in the Philippines.

Recognizing that education promotes greater stability and prosperity, DHL Philippines has mobilized its highly qualified workforce for its GoTeach program. In addition to SOS Children’s Villages, DHL Philippines has been partnering with Teach for the Philippines since 2013 where its employees not only share their time but their skills and experiences.