The students are already taking the third module and will finish by the end of May
Unos 542 jóvenes han sido admitidos para cursar estudios en el Diplomado en Servicio al Turismo, que impulsa la Cervecería Nacional de Panamá, la Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá y la Universidad del Trabajo.
Around 542 young panamanians have been admitted in the Tourism Service Certification that is sponsored by Cerveceria Nacional of Panama, the Tourism Authority of Panama and the University of Labor.
The project by the slogan of “National Flavor”, and which estimates an investment of one million dollars, will also support the micro-entrepreneurs of Farallon.
Itza Barraza, coordinator of the Social Program of Tourism of the Cerveceria, informed that the 10 craftsmen who were benefited, are members of the Cooperativa de Artesanos de Farallon (Craftsmen Cooperative of Farallon) – COOCFAN.
‘These craftsmen belong to a group of entrepreneurs who were displaced from their jobs, at the beaches of Farallon and now they can materialize their business ideas and improve their quality of life’, informed Itza Barraza.
FAVORED
Among the people benefitted by the promoters, we have Beatriz Villalobos, who has been doing cross-stitch embroidery, shellwork, “tembleques”, fishscales and tin work for several years. Nilsa Caldron also makes “tembleques”, sews and performs knitting and embroidery.
The other eight craftsmen work in costume jewelry. They are Luis Vasquez, Iris Trujillo, Gradys Espinoza, Yaribeth Delgado, Neris Trujillo, Estrella Vasquez, Maria Pio and Petra Sanchez.
DURATION
Barraza added that they are currently in Phase II of Solution Modelling, in which a diagnosis, and a weaknesses and strengths of the micro-entrepreneurs was performed to identify the areas of improvement and how to develop the training agenda in topics such as marketing, finance, sales, service and product quality, among other aspects to be considered.
For the students, the first group of the Tourism Service Certification started classes in Panama Downtown, on February 8th. ‘They are currently at the third academic module and their graduation date is scheduled by the end of May’
And the first group to started classes in Penonome Downtown on April 4th, is currently at the second academic module, of all four of them.
SCOPE
Due to the need of qualified workforce in the tourism sector, Barraza explained that the Certification is open to students from the whole country, the only requirement is to reach the closest education center.
‘The centers that are operational right now are Penonome, San Miguelito and Central Campus in Panama. Just recently, the option of the Regional Center of the University of Panama in Colon came open.’
PROGRAM
With ‘National Flavor’, the Cerveceria will train 1,000 panamanians through a certified training with which will lead them to create their own businesses or be able to achieve growth within other businesses.
At the same time, somewhere around 60 businesses or micro-entrepreneurs whose main target is the tourism services sector, will receive a complete training, the financing (funds) to ensure the susteinability and growth of their projects.
Source: La Estrella.com.pa
Author: Michelle Domínguez
