South of Manila, in the Philippines,
Brenda Aniyahan seemed destined to a life struggling to make ends meet,
just like many underprivileged Filipinos do today.
But she found a way to break the mould,
and train for a job which set her apart from most women in her community.
Brenda was lucky an opportunity opened up...
...training for a job that's pretty unusual for a woman in the Philippines.
Over ten years ago Shell and its joint venture partners
set up the Malampaya Foundation,
which runs projects to support
and encourage social, environmental and economic development
in communities neighbouring the Malampaya deep-water gas-to-power project.
One of these, the BEST project, is specifically designed
to give opportunities to young people.
BEST means bridging employment through skills training,
which focuses on skills training that leads them into employment
in different courses that we have.
So, this year we have 465 scholars,
and 85% of the scholars have employment this time.
But Brenda had to work hard to convince the Board
that she was right for this course.
They have to be 21 to 35 years old,
they have to have a high-school diploma
and after that they have to pass the examination,
the interview and the orientation.
We need to choose at least ten, best qualified,
and we're going to ask them to come to the interview later.
The interview went well.
I think Brenda is giving her everything.
She has the courage, and she has the fire to do that.
It's like her passion.
After being selected, Brenda had to go through a four-week course,
learning new and challenging skills.
Brenda is very determined
to do what she wants to do.
And push the limits beyond limitation.
Brenda is very precise in movement with the welding technique,
so I think she's going to go far.
Brenda is nervous as the course draws to a close.
A passing grade in her welding technique will allow her to find well-paid jobs
in the Philippines or overseas.
Some of the best graduates have found work on the Malampaya project.
Others have chosen to go abroad.
Some of our best students were dispatched to Australia and Japan.
Also, we dispatched them in Malaysia.
It seems likely that Brenda will pass,
and this will change her life forever.
When they come here,
they're given a chance, they're given an option, they're given a choice.
It's not about gender any more.
So as long as they have the will to do what they want to do,
they will be good in their skills.
The Malampaya deep-water gas-to-power project
is bringing change to the Philippines,
not only through the clean-burning natural gas
now helping to provide around 20% of the country's energy needs,
but through the employment, training and skills opportunities
now benefitting people like Brenda.