Social impact startup, Connected Women, has crossed a significant milestone by successfully training over 1,000 women from diverse regions across the Philippines in the skills for the artificial intelligence industry.

Connected Women’s flagship program, Elevate AIDA, upskills women for work as Data Annotation Specialists in the AI industry.

The program prioritizes women from low-income and marginalized sectors, such as single mothers, returning OFWs (overseas foreign workers), unemployed housewives, disadvantaged youth, and persons with disabilities.

Launched in partnership with UN Women, at the height of the pandemic, the pilot program was designed for women whose household income was affected by the lockdowns.

At the end of the training, participants are ready to take on flexible, project-based jobs, including data annotation, while working from home.

Investing in women: AIDA Program Partners take up the challenge

Since 2020, Connected Women has worked with program partners from the private sector and local government units to provide sponsorships for AIDA trainees, underscoring the important role of partnerships in driving digital inclusion programs.

The first local government unit to invest in the program was the LGU of Isabela City, Basilan Province. Through the pioneering leadership of Mayor Sitti Djalia “Dadah” A. Turabin-Hataman, they allocated their Gender and Development (GAD) funding to train 83 women from their communities.

As Mayor Dadah mentioned during the program’s graduation rites – “it is high time for them (the Basilan ladies), who have been traditionally viewed as beneficiaries, to be active participants in the digital economy.” With this training, they are preparing their women to do just this. Isabela City LGU has invested in its women, with three batches completing the program from 2020-2022. The fourth batch of women graduated on August 18, bringing the total number of women trained to 1,013.

Connected Women is also working with the Aboitiz Group of Companies, who has invested in the training of 339 women so far. Sabin Aboitiz, Chief Engagement Officer of Aboitiz Group has expressed high hopes for the partnership, pledging to support Connected Women in scaling up the collaboration to 300,000 women trained in the next 3 years. 

This commitment is part of a bigger partnership between Connected Women, Aboitiz and the Philippine government – led by the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine Commission on Women. DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said during the MOU signing: “I call on all the local government units, from the governors, the mayors, down to the barangay, to support the innovations of Connected Women, especially when it provides for the training of women. Moving forward, let us always remember that our communities’ strengths lie in our united efforts and shared responsibility. When we support this project, we do not only support women, but we are empowering our nation, our country.”

Aboitiz Group, including Aboitiz Data Innovation, and ScaleHub joins a growing roster of partners and clients who are champions of Connected Women’s vision to power the inclusive workplace of the future.

Bringing in more women into the digital economy

Connected Women’s Head of Training Steph Lagasca adds, “Surpassing 1,000 Elevate AIDA graduates is a significant milestone. We began as newcomers to the AI field, but now we have a strong understanding of our industry contributions. We’ve enhanced our curriculum to maximize our trainees’ experience during the program. Our ongoing partnership with LGU Isabela, Basilan, demonstrates our shared commitment to empowering women with 21st-century digital skills.”

The ladies from Basilan are a force to be reckoned with. Three ladies from the current batch live in Malamawi Island where connectivity is a challenge. To participate in the training, they traveled by boat every day to the city center, to use the computer facilities at the Department of ICT Tech4ED Center.

After completing the training and the on-the-job practice, women can apply for projects with Connected Women and work from home as data annotation specialists. The company also provides unlimited, free upskilling for the graduates.

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About Connected Women 

Connected Women is a Philippines-based, socially responsible AI and Digital Task outsourcing company that offers high-quality, affordable data services for businesses globally. We train Filipino women in market aligned skills and provide flexible, work-from-home job opportunities, creating a positive impact for them and their families.