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PASIG CITY, December 20, 2022 – The Department of Education and Microsoft Philippines recently conferred 304 graduates from various regions in the country at the Microsoft Youth Ambassadors (MYA) Program through a hybrid graduation ceremony at the DepEd Central Office.

Spearheaded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs and Special Concerns – Youth Formation Division (OASYASC-YFD) and in collaboration with Microsoft Philippines and Audentes Technologies Inc., the MYA intended to shape and empower Filipino students who employ globally competitive skills and embody the ideals of being value-driven, career-oriented, culturally rooted, and socially responsible.

“We at the Department of Education acknowledge the importance of empowering our young leaders to adapt, compete, and make themselves employable and ready in the 21st century,” Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs and Special Concerns Dexter Galban said.

“That is why we initiated Microsoft Youth Ambassadors Program in order to equip you with the necessary knowledge, tools, and skills at the same time I am hoping that you can take advantage of the technology which you can utilize not just in your classrooms but also in your respective organizations and wherever you may end up in the workplace,” he added.

Conducted last November 2021, the program also envisioned to onboard qualified learners to serve as the DepEd’s ambassadors who will champion the innovative use of technology to their classmates and peers.

The program started with over 2,000 aspiring registrants from all over the country wherein 568 Junior and Senior High School applicants were selected. The students attended training sessions specifically on Microsoft 365 Fundamentals, LinkedIn Learning Digital Literacy Program, Professional Communication Skill Training, and Mentoring and Coaching via Microsoft Teams.

Furthermore, the MYAs were challenged to deliver a Capstone project, an activity that encouraged them to step up and put their learning into action. They were grouped into their respective regions, fostering teamwork and camaraderie in delivering their outputs. Through this activity, they served as technology advocates that champion the proper use of technology to their classmates and peers.

Down to 304 MYAs by the end of the project, the students made their respective presentations of their journey as ambassadors.

One of the highlights of the conferment ceremony was the awarding of MYA Program Best in Regional Capstone wherein Region III (1st place), Region VII (2nd place), and Region IV-A (3rd place) won respectively. Another award given during the event was the MYAs of the year where Ms. Kwen Jirah Faelnar from Bacoor City bagged 1st place out of 33 candidates.

“Makikita natin sa programang ito na mas nabigyang pansin ang ating mga magagaling na mag-aaral na ginagamit ang teknolohiya upang maging mas produktibo at maging mabuting ehemplo sa kani-kanilang kapwa mag-aaral” Youth Formation Division (YFD) Officer-In-Charge Rovin James Canja said.

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