Dual training that boosts agriculture: we graduated 60 Banana Technical Assistants

On February 11, the second graduating class of the Banana Technical Assistant program, carried out by Reybanpac and the Wong Foundation with the support of the Albert Heijn Foundation, graduated.

Sixty students from rural areas completed 450 hours of dual training— 70% practical and 30% theoretical— strengthening their agricultural knowledge in order to accelerate their entry into the local labor market. The program targeted both Reybanpac employees as part of their professional development and growth pathway and young people from nearby communities, in line with AGROFUTURO’s goal of promoting youth employment and providing the agribusiness sector with better-qualified talent that supports sustainability.

This second class of the program was made up mostly of women, who represented 55% of the graduates, demonstrating Reybanpac and the Wong Foundation's commitment to creating opportunities that advance a more equitable agricultural industry. Among the graduates was Yendry Párraga, a Reybanpac employee for the past two years.

Thanks to the course and the trust placed in her by the company, Yendry now works as a warehouse clerk, after having performed various agricultural tasks, she said.
"This course has allowed us to train with a vision where excellence and constant effort are the fundamental pillars. Through this training, our perspective on agriculture has completely evolved. We have understood that bananas are not only an export product, but also the engine that drives the well-being of thousands of families. We will work for a more productive and prosperous future for our land," said Yendry during her speech at the graduation ceremony, giving special thanks to the company's executives for their generosity and openness, as well as to her instructors for the tools they provided.

Ricardo Romero, director of the Wong Foundation, congratulated the trainees and invited them to become entrepreneurs and, in turn, generators of opportunities for others. " This program is designed to help people not only find a job, but to build a stable career and secure the means to support their development and their families. I congratulate you for choosing a path that may demand more effort, but can lead to a dignified life," he said.

For his part, Vicente Wong, executive president of Favorita Fruit, invited the graduates to continue developing in agribusiness. "Let's not be satisfied with what we have achieved; let's continue to strive for excellence and growth. We have placed our trust in you and believe that you are not only the future, but also making a difference today."

Rafael Wong, chairman of the board of the Wong Foundation, emphasized that the graduates have taken a momentous step, as they are leaving a legacy for future generations and a better future for the country.

“I want to tell you something that we often forget: those who give the most receive the most. In that spirit, it is we who are deeply grateful. You may not realize how happy we are to see you graduate, because you will transcend, you will be the guide and inspiration for your children,” he said.

The Banana Technical Assistant program is part of the AGROFUTURO macro-project, an initiative of the Wong Foundation and Favorita Fruit to strengthen the productive capacities and soft skills of adolescents and young people in rural areas and thus generate decent employment opportunities. To date, AGROFUTURO has 230 graduates, 75% of whom are currently working.