Bacolod-based social enterprise wins P3.9M grant from Australia

Bacolod-based social enterprise BagoSphere has bagged the top prize at Frontier Innovators, an initiative of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

BagoSphere, which provides programs that prepare disadvantaged youth for a better future, has just won AU$100,000 or P3.9 million.

The social enterprise was among the 15 teams that made it to the finals of Frontier Innovators and was selected from over 700 applications in 52 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The teams had presented innovative and unique solutions that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in areas such as health, agriculture, environment, education, and finance.

BagoSphere’s advocacy revolves around education, specifically career-focused training for out-of-school, disconnected, and disadvantaged youth and individuals. The team’s vision is to create a world where every youth has the capability and opportunity to pursue what they love and earn a living.

The team also says that their training program has been proven effective, with an 80 percent job placement rate within a month after graduation. They aim to help one million individuals by 2040.

On top of the funding, Frontier Innovators will help BagoSphere by providing six months of tailored support and access to potential partners and investors.

This is BagoSphere’s latest success, after being selected as finalist at the 2017 SOLVE Global Challenge organized by the Massachussetts Institute of Technology. —Jessica Bartolome/VDS, GMA News