Jobseekers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will benefit from the digital literacy training being conducted by Google.org, the philanthropic arm of tech giant Google.

In the Philippines, Google.org is targeting to teach fundamental digital skills training to at least 25,000 Filipinos through the campaign “Go Digital ASEAN”.

As of April 30, 2021, Go Digital ASEAN in the Philippines has already trained 3,385 job seekers and entrepreneurs.

Initially, the training team is composed of 25 partners skilled in training, human resource management, business process outsourcing, information technology, micro- and small-enterprise development, and digital freelancing backgrounds.

It is operated by The Asia Foundation, Pailig Development Foundation, Clevergrit Web Services, and Yoveo Digital.

“We will expand partnerships with government agencies and units, private sector, civil society organizations, and the academe to strengthen digitalization programs and ensure economic and business continuity across the country,” Sam Chittick, The Asia Foundation’s country representative in the Philippines, said on Monday.

The project aims to deliver employment opportunities and business growth through three-course offerings: Digital Tools for Jobseekers; Harnessing Social Media to Expand Your Business; and Getting Your Business Online.

The free digital skills training is conducted through online classrooms of two half-day sessions with a certification issued upon course completion.

Trainings will focus on creating online professional profiles to maximize employment opportunities, increasing the market reach of MSMEs through social media, and supporting the digitization of agri-tourism enterprises.

Google.org said that training participants who are “very confident” in the use of digital tools rose from 18.62 percent prior to training to 52.55 percent post-training.

Bernadette Nacario, Country Director for Google Philippines, noted that small businesses play significant roles in uplifting the country’s economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“There is an urgent need to support their digitalization so they can continue to keep their businesses going,” she said.

Nacario said The Asia Foundation committed to support the Philippine government in equipping more Filipinos with skills training so they can participate in the growing digital economy.

Interested learners can register at www.godigitalasean.ph while companies that want to bring free Go Digital ASEAN training opportunities to communities can contact the program through the website or e-mail hello@godigitalasean.ph.