A TECHNICAL vocational course piloted by Cebu-based Primary Structures Educational Foundation Inc.-School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor, Leadership and Service (Psefi Skills) was awarded Outstanding CSR (corporate social responsibility) Project in Health by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF).The Medical Auxiliary Specialized Services (Mass) is a six-month medical technical vocational course designed to augment the number of medical frontliners without requiring large financial investment and long periods of study.Psefi Skills piloted Mass in the third quarter of 2020 to help clinics and hospitals heavily burdened by the Covid-19 pandemic.“Through Mass, we develop skilled workers who can support our nurses and doctors. Mass is also a stepping stone for men and women who dream to earn a medical degree but do not have the money and time for formal education,” said Paulette Liu, president and chief operating officer of Psefi Skills.The award was given at the conclusion of LCF’s CSR Expo last July 7, 2022 at the Blue Leaf Pavilion in Taguig City.The Mass curriculum was developed in partnership with two medical facilities, The Hospital at Maayo and San Lucas Medical Center. Mass trainees undergo a four-month classroom lecture and the remaining two months are spent on-the-job at the two hospitals.Mass trainees can assist nurses in handling medical and trauma patients in the emergency department. They can likewise assist nurses in curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care procedures. With nurses, they assist in the stabilization of patients with acute medical and traumatic conditions. Mass is recognized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) as an NTR or No Training Regulation program.“We have so far run four batches of the Mass training program. Our completion rate is 80 percent and 94 percent of our completers are employed and pursuing their medical careers. Our trainees are all scholars funded by the Primary Group of Builders (PGB). We engage hospitals, clinics, government, and donor agencies to work with Skills so we can produce more Mass professionals. Having Mass professionals can help lighten the loads of our nurses and fill the medical front liner shortage in our hospitals and clinics,” Liu added.Psefi Skills is the corporate foundation of PGB. Aside from Mass, Psefi Skills offers academic senior high school education and Tesda-accredited short-term courses in construction, heavy equipment operations, hospitality, and maritime. Since its founding in 2008, Psefi Skills has benefited thousands of Filipinos through its training, certification, and employment services.As a non-profit non-stock organization, it prioritizes marginalized Filipinos particularly out of school youths, unemployed men and women, and people with disabilities, particularly the deaf.Founded in 1991, LCF is a network of the largest operating and grant-making corporate foundations and corporations in the Philippines. With its base of currently 93 members, LCF continues to be at the forefront of promoting and enhancing CSR practice in the country.Since 2019, LCF organizes the CSR Guild Awards annually where outstanding projects in arts and culture, disaster resilience, education, enterprise development, environment, financial inclusion, and health. Project Renewable Energy for Livelihood and Youth by fellow Cebu-based non-profit Vivant Foundation also clinched the Outstanding CSR Project in Education award. (CSL, PR)