The Manila Times
THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) launched “Juana Creatives” March 30, a co-working hub for women and aspiring creatives. The project aims to develop skills and provide enterprise support through artificial intelligence. Tesda Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez said the initiative expands technical vocational education and training into the creative and cultural industries while making learning more accessible for Filipinos who want to explore creative skills outside traditional work hours. ”This initiative helps future-proof creative livelihoods by focusing on skills that remain distinctly human — craft, design, storytelling and cultural expression — even as artificial intelligence reshapes industries,” Benitez said. Juana Creatives offers an inclusive environment for freelancers, hobbyists, cultural practitioners and creative entrepreneurs by providing short, industry-led courses and workshops across a wide range of creative disciplines. Schedules are flexible, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate working professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs. Among the programs offered are pottery and ceramics with Studio Roman; scent making with Fragrance Factory; leather craft with Everything Green; pattern making and fashion with Slims; gemstone and jewelry making with Lapidary; photography and videography with the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging; film production with the Film Academy of the Philippines Guilds; digital embroidery with Norde; and animation with the Tesda Human Resource and Development Center and the Animation Council of the Philippines. The hub aims to support the development of creative competencies that are less susceptible to automation, ensuring that learners remain competitive and adaptable in an artificial intelligence-driven economy by focusing on hands-on, craft-based and culturally rooted disciplines. Tesda emphasized that while the hub was launched in conjunction with the agency’s Women’s Month celebrations, the facility is open to trainees of all genders.
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