The initiative equipped them with critical career-readiness and professional development skills.
Over the past few weeks, VFS Global, in partnership with Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), successfully concluded the first year of its Trailblazers in Tourism Programme, which empowered over 600 Filipino youth, primarily across Metro Manila.
The said program rolled out across multiple universities and digital platforms with the aim of bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry needs.
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Atul Lall, Regional Head – North Asia, VFS Global, stated, “We believe in creating real, lasting impact through meaningful partnerships. Tourism is a vital driver of the Philippine economy, and we feel honoured to contribute to its growth.”
“Following our successful tourism skilling initiatives across the region, including in India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, this programme reflects VFS Global’s commitment to empowering young talent with practical skills to meet the evolving needs of the tourism and hospitality industry,” Lall also said, adding Tha they are proud to partner with ASSIST for this initiative.
The program was launched in April at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in the City of Manila, where it engaged 172 students and 32 educators inupskilling workshops, a Career Readiness Talk, and the Success360 Teacher Training session — which included the debut of the Success360 board game, a gamified learning tool designed to build professional skills, confidence, and collaborative thinking.
Using the said board game, students learned practical strategies to secure employment, excel in their first jobs, and build foundations for long-term career success.
In May, the said program moved to Taguig City University, where nearly 300 students from the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management and the College of Business Management participated.
To expand its reach, the programme also hosted a virtual session via Zoom, connecting over 100 students and educators nationwide, where participants explored professional development, sustainability, and job search strategies, followed by an interactive virtual gameplay session.
Meanwhile, in line with VFS Global’s corporate volunteering programme, Champions of Change, employees in Manila also underwent specialised training to serve as mentors and facilitators, sharing real-world insights directly with the students.
“At VFS Global, youth empowerment and community development are central to our global Corporate Social Responsibility agenda,” Atul Lall continued.
“Across our key operating regions, we run tailored programmes to empower youth through education, skill development, and entrepreneurial training. We are equally proud of our culture of employee volunteerism, with our Manila teams actively stepping up as mentors to contribute directly to the success of our communities.”
The program then concluded on last May 16, at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre at Parqal Mall in Parañaque City, which allowed participants to celebrate their achievements and interact directly with company leaders, connecting academic concepts to live industry practices.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Mahesh Krishnamurthy, Director of Projects at ASSIST, stated, “True leadership isn’t just about guiding the next generation; it’s about building the bridge between education and industry. By equipping youth with confidence and real-world tools today, we secure a sustainable, future-ready workforce for tomorrow. Through the partnership of VFS Global and ASSIST, we enlighten aspirants with real-world tools, taking their careers and potential to the next level.”
Operating over 4,100 Application Centres in 168 countries, VFS Global has processed more than 552 million transactions since 2001 across its services related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments.
Meanwhile, ASSIST is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to catalyze transformation towards sustainability and equity with presence in the Philippines and other strategic countries in Asia Pacific (APAC), the Americas, and Africa.