10 October 2013 – After Italy, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) Program for Migrant Filipinos has finally arrived in France.

Batch 18 of the LSE, which began classes in Paris in May 2013, is set to defend their social enterprise business plans in front of a jury next month.

Piloted in Italy, Hong Kong, and the UAE, the LSE training program of the Ateneo School of Government aims to empower Filipino migrants to become transformational leaders and social entrepreneurs.

This program was designed after studies showed that Filipino migrants in Europe lagged behind in immigrant entrepreneurial activity, despite the high savings registered among Filipino migrants.

The program is organized into 12 Sunday sessions (two Sundays a month) covering three modules: leadership, financial literacy, and social entrepreneurship. Certificates of completion are given to participants who successfully comply with the course requirements.

The LSE program in France is supported by the Philippine Embassy in Paris, which hosts some of the Sunday classes. The LSE is set to expand to Brussels, Singapore, Macau, and Qatar. END