Latest News September 3, 2021

Watch: New business partnerships for gender equality and improved mental health in the Philippines

Screenshot of news program: Australia Announces New Business Partnerships for Gender Equality, Improved Mental Health in PH. Two smiling women and a man with a serious expression. Logo: ANC HD. Time, toll-free number, "Join AB".

The Australian Embassy in the Philippines has announced two new Business Partnerships Platform partnerships for gender equality and improved mental health to support COVID-19 recovery. The new partners appeared on 24 hour News Channel, ANC to promote the two partnerships, watch to find out how they aim to create a lasting social and environmental impact through their core business operations. 

The first partnership with the leading online data upskilling firm, Eskwelabs, the largest entrepreneurship and freelancing network for stay-at-home mothers in the Philippines, FHMoms and the Australian Government aims to provide women freelance workers who have been impacted by COVID-19, with skills needed for high-value digital work opportunities that are increasingly in demand in the modern economy.

Women have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and risk being left out of the digital transformation as they are under-represented in STEM-related professions. Targeted upskilling and reskilling can create a more inclusive and diverse workforce — good for workers and crucial for thriving societies.

“When there is higher discretionary spending power, people can make more sustainable choices. That’s how we arrived at founding an education company… the partnership aims to help 10,000 female, freelance workers, particularly in administrative jobs to move towards higher paid roles through data and analytics skills,” Angela Chen, Co-founder & CEO of Eskwelabs.

The second partnership with Mind You Mental Health (MYMH), a mental health technology company and the Australian Government aims to significantly increase the availability of psychological services in the country to better support Filipinos who are suffering from mental illness.

There is a critical shortage of mental health services in the Philippines, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated.  The number of Filipinos living with depression, anxiety, and related stress disorders having grown from 6.6 million to 15.4 million. The partnership aims to destigmatise mental health and increase the affordability and accessibility of mental health services through an online platform.

“We have set a goal of increasing the number of registered psychologists in the Philippines by 10% through a world-class internship program,said Cameron Quin, VP & COO Mind You Mental Health.

Watch to find out more: 

The two partnerships were selected through the BPP’s 2020 Call for Partnerships to support COVID-19 recovery across the Asia-Pacific. 

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