TRAINING WOMEN IN AI. Aboitiz InfraCapital president and chief executive officer (CEO) Cosette Canilao (left) and Connected Women CEO Agnes Gervacio (right) shake hands after signing the memorandum of agreement that sealed their partnership to empower women in artificial intelligence technology. / CONTRIBUTED
COMMITTED to enhancing communities and offering opportunities for livelihood, Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) said it has forged a partnership with Connected Women, an innovative social enterprise dedicated to advancing the technological skills of women, to empower 100 Filipino women through a specialized training program in artificial intelligence data annotation (Aida).
This collaboration was solidified through the signing of a memorandum of agreement on Aug. 14, 2023, at the AIC office in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
AIC said it will support Connected Women’s flagship initiative, Elevate Aida, which furnishes women from vulnerable and marginalized sectors of society with complimentary online training in data annotation and digital proficiencies, enabling them to qualify for roles within the burgeoning global artificial intelligence industry.
The program will initially target college undergraduates, unemployed graduates, and non-working mothers from Davao as part of its inaugural phase, subsequently expanding to communities in identified areas across Luzon and Visayas.
“We believe that knowledge is the greatest tool of empowerment. That’s why we welcome this opportunity to help Connected Women in supporting online skills development and eventually providing remote work opportunities for women,” said Cosette Canilao, president and chief executive officer of AIC.
“This is aligned with our company’s purpose of enabling business and uplifting communities, and in the process helping improve the lives of our fellowmen for the long haul,” she added.
The Elevate Aida training program will encompass a combination of online and classroom courses, as well as on-the-job training.
It will also cover a variety of subjects, including techniques for data labeling, best practices for remote work, fundamentals of professional communication, and basic computer skills. These proficiencies are all scalable within the realm of the digital remote workspace, according to AIC.
AIC further said the program will cultivate a supportive milieu that encourages networking, collaboration, and mentorship, thereby ensuring comprehensive development for all participants.
“When we have the women as part of Elevate Aida, they don’t always graduate as data annotators or technology workers. But they definitely graduate as different people,” said Connected Women chief executive officer Agnes Gervacio.
“They are more excited about what the future holds for them,” she added.
