McDonald's is expanding its Global Job Readiness and Life Skills Training Program.
In partnership with the International Youth Foundation, McDonald's is improving equity in skills training and opportunities for youth across more than 30 community organizations, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), reaching 100,000 young people globally through its Passport to Success Explorer program.
McDonald’s Youth Opportunity initiative, aimed to reduce barriers to employment for two million young people by 2025, has extended the Passport to Success (PTS) Explorer digital curriculum to reach up to 100,000 young people from various non-profits, community organizations and post-secondary institutions supporting diverse communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with the International Youth Foundation (IYF), the PTS Explorer digital curriculum provides youth the opportunity to learn valuable life skills, such as self-awareness and management, communication skills, healthy relationship building, and conflict management.
The digital curriculum is now accessible online to up to 100,000 young people through various local, national and global youth serving organizations, higher education institutes and other city systems.
Victoria is one of the first people to benefit from Passport to Success Explorer - and tells her story.
Education is the best legacy
Victoria grew up in Tuluá, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, but I moved to Washington, D.C. with my husband and 6-year-old daughter last summer.
"All my life, I’ve admired my dad because he’s a determined and tireless man," she explains.
"Even though he’s retired, he continues to study and learn all he can about agriculture. He’s always said education is the best legacy for his children – and I agree."
Learning professional skills
When Victoria learned about Passport to Success Explorer earlier this year through the International Youth Foundation, it seemed like a great opportunity for her.
"I liked that the classes were offered online, especially during the coronavirus pandemic," she says.
"So far, I've taken classes about confidence and assertiveness, cooperation and teamwork, time management, goal setting, professional communication skills, managing conflict and problem solving, budget management, gender equality, respecting diversity, values and ethics, and more."
Through these classes, Victoria learned to deal with difficult situations that may arise at work. She has also gotten better at time management during quarantine.
"It’s been a challenge organizing my own schedule, let alone my daughter’s distance learning schedule," she adds.
Steps towards her dream job
Victoria already has her Bachelor’s degree in Biology; her next step is to start a Biotechnology certificate program at a local community college. After this, Victoria will be ready to get job experience or pursue higher education. Each step takes her closer toward her dream job: a science professor at a university.
"I highly recommend Passport to Success Explorer to others," she concludes. "It’s a very useful tool, and it enabled me to learn the professional skills every one of us needs to succeed in our jobs and advance in our careers."
Learn more about Youth Opportunity here.
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