Passerelles Numériques Philippines (PNPh) proudly celebrated its 13th Commencement Exercises on January 25 at the USJR Quadricentennial, honoring the remarkable achievements of 66 graduates from the Class of 2025 under the Associate in Computer Technology – Software Development program.

Guided by the inspiring theme, “From Learning to Leading: Building the Digital Future,” the ceremony recognized the graduates’ journey of growth, resilience, and readiness to make their mark in the digital world.

Highlights of the Celebration

The event featured several notable moments that made it both meaningful and memorable:

Message from PN Global acknowledging the graduates’ accomplishments and emphasizing the mission of PNPh in empowering youth through digital education.

Confirmation and Pinning of Graduates, marking their transition from students to emerging digital leaders.

Special Awards Presentation, including:

Best in Capstone – Awarded to a group 

• Cheed Valigano

• Deniel Mendoza

• Fierce Vladimir Tio

• Fionna Samantha Escarro

• Angela Mae Villaester

• Radel Agsalud

Leadership Award

• Janno Crisostomo 

General Academic Award

• Rosana Wandasan

Medal of Excellence Award

• Norkent Ricacho

Adding further distinction to the ceremony was the keynote address by Rudy Guiao, Accenture CIO Lead for APAC and PN Board Member. His insights inspired graduates to lead with purpose, integrity, and innovation as they step into the digital future.

As you step into the digital future, lead with purpose, integrity, and innovation. The skills and knowledge you’ve gained are your tools to make a meaningful impact.” Guiao said.

Honored Guests and Partners

The commencement was graced by PNPh’s valued partners, including SPI PLDT & Smart Communities, PNPh board members, PNPh President Dr. Caridad Labe, Board Member Agnes Gervacio from Connected Women, Bryan Ramones representing the PN Alumni Association, Fr. Celiz, President of the University of San Jose-Recoletos, SCS Dean Jovelyn Cuizon, and other distinguished guests. Their presence reflected a shared commitment to education, social impact, and the empowerment of the next generation of digital leaders.

PNPh also extends heartfelt gratitude to all partners who have supported the Class of 2025 throughout their journey, including AFD – Agence Française de Développement, Accenture Philippines, Arcanys, Metrobank Foundation, EMpower, Flarego, Tito and Tita Kepte and many more. Their guidance, collaboration, and trust have been instrumental in helping PN scholars succeed and thrive in the digital landscape.

Celebrating the Graduates

The 13th Commencement Exercises not only celebrated academic achievement but also honored the dedication, resilience, and potential of PNPh graduates. These young leaders are now equipped with the skills, confidence, and vision to shape the digital future and make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Your journey has only just begun, and the digital world awaits your leadership and innovation.

66 graduates with PNPh Staff

2025 has been a truly meaningful year for Passerelles Numériques Vietnam. As we marked 15 years of presence in Vietnam, this milestone was shaped by remarkable moments, collective efforts, and impactful achievements born from dedication and perseverance. Like a bridge weathered by time, the rains of challenges only made PNV more resilient, interspersed with sunny seasons of success and countless new dawns that ignited hope for hundreds of underprivileged students.

Strengthening the Bridge: Nurturing Resilience and Growth

Throughout the 2025 selection journey, from 491 applications, 49 outstanding students from 7 provinces were carefully selected for the new cohort. Representing strong diversity, 63% come from ethnic minority backgrounds and 61% are female – bringing fresh energy and resilience to the PNV family.

As the newest members of the house, PNV28 have been steadily adapting, learning with dedication, and preparing to rise in the academic year ahead.

In 2025, 4,134 teaching periods were delivered, alongside 20 skill-building workshops and 4 company visits, ensuring students were well-equipped with both technical expertise and professional readiness. These learning opportunities became steady beams of light, guiding students forward through changing skies.

Beyond academic development, personal growth and emotional well-being remained a central priority. Through 340 individual follow-up meetings for more than 125 students, PNV provided tailored guidance and close mentorship, helping students stay strong and shine brightly, even under unpredictable weather.

Through Every Season: United in Strength, Marking Our Milestones

None of this journey would have been possible without a strong and compassionate network of supporters. With the dedication of 80 committed partners and 76 devoted volunteers, they strengthened every bridge we build – ensuring that no student ever walks alone, while supporting long-term learning, engagement, and growth.

As these collective efforts matured and strengthened over time, PNV’s impact gained wider recognition. In 2025, PNV achieved 2 high-profile media features and received 2 official certificates of recognition from government-related organizations, reaffirming our credibility and trusted position in the education landscape.

The year was beautifully crowned by the celebration of PNV’s 15th Anniversary, welcoming nearly 400 guests to honor a journey shaped by perseverance, partnership, and an unwavering belief in the power of education. More than a milestone, this moment reminded us that every weathered bridge our students cross is strengthened by steady hands and hearts that walk together.

Guiding young dreams toward a brighter future has never been a journey taken alone. It is made possible thanks to the invaluable companionship of our partners, the generous commitment of our volunteers, and the unwavering dedication of the entire PNV team. Once again, we extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has walked alongside PNV throughout this journey.

Mr. Benoit Genuini – Former President and Co-founder, now Honorary President of Passerelles Numériques Global – shared emotional reflections on the journey so far. He spoke of the “bridge of knowledge” that PNV has tirelessly built, which has grown stronger and continues to extend thanks to a devoted team and an unwavering mission: to provide educational opportunities and shape bright futures for disadvantaged youth through technology training.

Over the past 15 years, PNV has opened doors for nearly 800 students, with more than 500 graduates confidently entering the workforce and over 2,000 indirect beneficiaries. These figures speak volumes about the lasting impact and human values that PNV continues to nurture.

PNV’s achievements today are not only the result of the dedicated staff but also thanks to the support of over 150 partners and 400 volunteers. Their commitment and shared vision have empowered PNV to steadily fulfill the mission.

One of the most touching moments of the celebration was the presentation of a Certificate of Merit from the People’s Committee of Quang Ngãi Province – a recognition of PNV’s enduring contributions to helping youth rise above adversity through education and vocational training.

PNV’s impact has also been deeply felt by the academic partner, Danang College (DNC), which has worked hand-in-hand with PNV since 2017 to guide and nurture young talent. Principal Hồ Viết Hà expressed heartfelt appreciation:

“On behalf of the school’s leadership, I sincerely acknowledge and appreciate the contributions, dedication, and wholehearted efforts of all units and PNV for fulfilling their responsibilities with the highest sense of duty. I extend heartfelt thanks to PNV’s leadership, teachers, and volunteers for their guidance and support in helping our students excel in their studies.”

While awards and milestones mark progress, it is the stories of student transformation that truly define PNV’s legacy. Starting from almost nothing, with determination and resilience, students have broken through their limits to become confident and talented tech engineers. Today, 95% of PNV graduates hold stable jobs with competitive salaries, and 81% are able to support their families financially. These outcomes are powerful proof that PNV’s mission doesn’t just change individual lives – it uplifts entire households and communities.

Adding to the significance of this memorable occasion, PNV was honored to welcome alumni from 12 cohorts – familiar faces who have grown over the years – returning to celebrate this meaningful milestone with the PNV family. Their presence was a living testament to the lasting impact of PNV’s mission.

Moving Forward With Confidence

CEBU, Philippines – Each year, PNPh conducts a comprehensive year-long selection process to identify the next cohort of students who will enter our life-changing 2.5-year program. This initiative is centered on empowerment through IT education, holistic training, and social support.

This year’s selection cycle reflects the extensive dedication of our Selection Team, with outreach spanning 8,125 Information Session Attendees, 1,239 Exam Takers, 380 Motivation Interviewees, and 211 Home Visits.

Following careful deliberation, 70 outstanding young changemakers were selected from across the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

On July 18 and 19, 2025, we officially welcomed Class 2027 at the PNPh center in Mabolo, Cebu City. Since 81% of these students hail from rural provinces, their new home in Cebu provides a vital gateway to achieving their dreams. They will pursue an Associate Degree in Computer Technology, majoring in Software Development, in partnership with the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

As the new academic year begins this August, PNPh would like to sincerely thank our valued partners: PayPal for providing essential school supplies and Synchrony for contributing hygiene kits for our incoming class.

Now in its 16th year, the PNPh program continues to forge futures and create opportunities, steadfastly advancing our mission of uplifting talented yet underserved youth throughout the Philippines.

The digital olympiads are annual internal competitions where five groups of preparatory class students each take on challenges set by our partners. Not only they are a valuable opportunity for our youth to apply their knowledge, but also to showcase their impressive growth.

On August 29th, the grand final of the 2025 edition was held on the Passerelles Numériques Madagascar campus in Antananarivo, bringing together all PNM staff, the teachers who served as jury members, partner organizations, and several alumni from previous cohorts.

Five Teams, Five Challenges: They are ready to give it all

This year, five teams of ten students each (structured in sub-groups of 5 students from the Science, Technology & Digital and 5 students from the Literature, Communication & Digital), guided by an ideation coach, competed on projects assigned by random draw.

The five projects in question:

• MUS’ART: A project from the Museum of Art and Archaeology focusing on digitizing the Zafimaniry collection through an online platform.

• ECOGAMERS: A project from Malagasy Brand Communication aimed at promoting eco-friendly practices through a mobile game.

• INSEREOO: A challenge from Passerelles Numériques Madagasikara, designed to guide users toward digital careers through online tests.

• SEKURA: A challenge proposed by an association of lawyers, with the goal of creating an online reporting platform for gender-based violence.

• ZURA: An AI-powered chatbot project assigned by Medulla. The bot will provide solutions to clients’ IT issues and generate support tickets when needed.

They were as determined as ever and truly committed to bringing these ambitious projects to life. Together, our young talents demonstrated outstanding teamwork and delivered excellent results despite the time constraints and the recurring power outages in Antananarivo.

The Winners of the 2025 Edition

The Country Director of Passerelles Numériques Madagascar officially opened the ceremony with a welcome speech that was both motivating and impactful. This was followed by the introduction of the jury members and the ideation coaches. Each group of students then took turns presenting their working methodology, the concepts they adopted, and concluded with a lively and dynamic demonstration of the results of their hard work.

The juries’ evaluation was based on several criteria, including graphic design and visual identity, the concept, teamwork, presentation, compliance with the guidelines, and client satisfaction (the organization which assigned the project).

This year’s edition concluded with an award ceremony for the sub-groups of students that most impressed the jury:

• The award for Best Science, Technology & Digital sub-group went to the ZURA team, who stood out for the quality of their work and delivered a fully operational chatbot to Medulla.

• The award for Best Literature, Communication & Digital sub-group was given to the SEKURA team, who designed an excellent mock-up of the reporting platform and skillfully developed a communication strategy to raise awareness about gender-based violence.

• Finally, the Juries’ Special Award was presented to the Science, Technology & Digital sub-group of the MUS’ART team, who distinguished themselves both in the content and the delivery of their presentation.

A True Source of Pride for PN: Words from Our Training Manager

These Olympiads not only allowed our young talents to strengthen their ability to work in teams and manage projects, but also gave them a clearer insight into what awaits them in the professional world.

We are truly proud to witness their growth and to see what they are capable to achieve today. Events like this indeed allow us to measure the scope of our actions and to experience the real impact of our program.

Dear Students

The curtain falls on these Digital Olympiads, which will be remembered as a remarkable showcase of your talent in digital innovation and creative engineering. You demonstrated true algorithmic resilience despite the “bugs” of everyday life: power outages and Internet disruptions.

The grand finale was an exceptional moment, crowned with applause and congratulations from our guests from the museum and the association of lawyers, clear proof that your projects combined academic rigor with societal impact.

I would like to give special recognition to Nathan (Training Assistant), who brilliantly took on the role of master of ceremony, as well as to the winning teams with their flagship projects: ZURA, SEKURA, and MUS’ART, true use cases worthy of the best startups.

Finally, I encourage you to keep this momentum alive, to continue “hacking” obstacles, and to prepare with ambition for the great leap into university life, where countless challenges and disruptive projects await you. “

– Tsoavina, Training Manager –

These results could not have been achieved without the support of our dedicated partners: Mr Stephane and Medulla, Malagasy Brand Communication, Maître Rindra, Representatives of the Museum of Archaeology, Mrs. Heritiana, Mr. Miary, Mr. Toky and Mr. Serge.

A Nine-Year Strategic Plan

The anniversary is also an opportunity to announce a major turning point. PN has embarked on an ambitious nine-year strategic plan designed to strengthen its adaptability and ensure its sustainability.

• PN Global, the executive and operational team, will guide this transformation by setting strategic direction, harmonizing processes with international standards, and strengthening the capacities of the centers.

• The PN centers will evolve towards greater autonomy: local association status, reinforced governance, expanded networks, and direct project management.

The goal: to make PN even more agile, efficient, and close to local realities, while maintaining the quality standards that have built its reputation.

Celebrating Together

To mark this milestone, we launched a logo design contest for our students… and we have a winner: Sơn, 19, a first-year student at PNV, designed a logo in the shape of a boat — symbolizing a journey guided by dedicated mentors.

“This logo is a heartfelt tribute to the teachers of Passerelles Numériques — the devoted navigators who have guided our future for the past 20 years.”

A huge congratulations to Sơn for this beautiful creation filled with gratitude and hope, which perfectly reflects our mission: opening up bright opportunities through a transformative learning journey.

From its beginnings in Phnom Penh to its international reach, PN has proven that with a clear mission and unwavering commitment, it is possible to sustainably transform lives.

In 2025, the organization celebrates its past achievements while uniting around an ambitious vision for the years ahead.