A book on focusing on social entrepreneurship initiatives around the globe has lauded the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company based in Cagayan de Oro.


“Young World Rising” (or How Youth, Technology and Entrepreneurship are changing the world from the bottom up) by Rob Salkowitz will be released this June by John WIley and Sons in the US.


As an inspiring model of social entrepreneurship, Salkowitz describes how Syntactics, Inc. directly addressed the “missing ingredient” in the Philippines booming IT economy: “that final step of workforce development that refines the talent of young knowledge workers to the highest standards of the global economy.”


The author describes how Syntactics CEO Stephanie Caragos,  “the prototypical Young World entrepreneur who saw an opportunity to align social and business needs, fill a gap in the knowledge economy entrepreneurial ecosystem, and grow her own commercial enterprise” by “devising practical for-profit business plans that incorporate strongly-felt personal and social values.”



 LetIThelp President Stephanie Caragos lectures graduating IT students.


LetITHelp was born in 2008 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 and experience to qualify for the IT companies´ requirements.

"Underemployment is one of the challenges for the IT graduates recognized by LetIThelp," Ms. Caragos, who is also LetIThelp President,  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 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," Caragos said. "Its main goal is to help deserving IT graduates who have the passion and dedication to earn and learn at the same time."


   



Unlike other apprenticeship programs, LetITHelp gives salaries to its trainees to give them financial independence. Students undertake projects like web development, Search Engine Optimization and Blog Customization using Wordpress.


On top of that comes “life trainings” like retreats, personality and character development, and etiquette, personal hygiene and grooming.


“We’re talking about 19-20 year old IT graduates who never had much opportunity for these ‘life trainings’ to know their visions and goals not only for themselves but share with others as well,” Caragos noted.


The CSR initiative has also helped Syntactics link LetITHelp with like-minded companies and institutions, especially non-government organizations (NGOs) who can better appreciate what the program is about and even pitch in to contribute.


Over the next five years, Caragos envisions the program to accommodate 200 students and help 1,000 people, five being the average family size in the Philippines.


As revenues grow, she aims to expand into a more formal training institute that would integrate learnings with cutting edge technologies such as solar panels which now provide up to 30% of the peak electricity demand of the Googleplex training buildings in its Mountain View, California headquarters.”


"In June 2007 Google completed a 1.6MW solar installation at our Mountain View, CA headquarters - the largest U.S. Corporate installation at that time. We installed 9,212 solar panels that cover the rooftops of eight buildings and two solar carports at the Googleplex. This installation produces enough electricity to power 30% of Google's peak electricity demand in our solar powered buildings at our Mountain View, CA headquarters."


However, due to the capital needed to integrate and showcase cutting edge technologies like renewable energy into their training program, Caragos said they are thinking of tying up with similar projects such as the rooftop photovoltaic systems the local electric distribution utility Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company (Cepalco) plans to undertake soon in urban Cagayan de Oro.


LetIThelp is supported by the Youth Social Enterprise Initiative (YSEI) and Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP). LetITHelp hopes that this will eventually lead to 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.


(Rob Salkowitz is a writer and consultant specializing in the social implications of new technology and the next-generation workforce. He has worked with Microsoft and other leaders in global business to help formulate market strategy and articulate business goals. As an entrepreneur, Rob has helped start seven businesses and is a principal in the Seattle-based communications firm MediaPlant, LLC. He is the author of  Generation Blend and co-author (with Daniel Rasmus) of Listening to the Future, both from John Wiley & Sons. He lives and works in Seattle, Washington.)