LONDON, England, Feb. 20 — Around 30 overseas Filipino workers in London successfully completed the free photography training offered by the Philippine Embassy through the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) on 11 February.
The photography module is one of the newest free skills training modules offered this year aimed at empowering OFWs to learn new skills that can possibly lead to a profitable business or startup.
“Photography isn’t just a hobby but a career,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo who delivered a brief message during the group exhibit. “While talent and a keen eye for art are important, it is also a skill that can be learned and developed. We hope that those who finished this course will find new possibilities in the new skill they have learned.”
Professional London-based photographer Elijah Villanueva mentored the participants during the training and played a key role in conceptualising and mounting the exhibit.
The exhibit, “Imagine,” challenged the participants to view the community they currently live in with fresh eyes.
“We aim in this course is to bring out the artistic talent ng mga kababayan natin as a way of expressing themselves, and also as a way of sharing their lives as overseas Filipino workers here in the United Kingdom,” said Villanueva.
According to PayScale.com, photographers in the UK earn an average of GBP 21,000 to GBP 34,000 (around P1,400,000 to P2,300,000) per year, based on an average hourly rate of GBP 10.33 (around P700).
POLO-OWWA continues to offer new modules in its free skills training programme, which has been running for the last nine years. Last year, POLO-OWWA conducted more than 30 skills trainings for close to 800 participants. For more information on the latest course offerings, please contact POLO-OWWA by email at polo_london13@yahoo.co.uk or through Facebook, @POLOOWWALondon.
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