The small island of Diego Garcia, located 1,000 miles off the coast of India, has a simple mission statement: one island, one team, one mission. Milton Kowalewski--quality control manager of San Juan Construction Company and an ASQ Fellow--has taken this mission to heart by offering free training and certifications to local Philippine workers. In training these workers and making a difference in their life, Kowalewski embodies the spirit of ASQ's Quality for Life program.
Kowalewski and his manager James Andel started offering certifications to local Philippine workers in 2001 to help them advance professionally and better provide for their families. The certifications they offer are transferrable worldwide, allowing workers to pursue higher-paying positions both on and off the island. They currently provide free training, encouragement, and recognition to the following certification programs: American Concrete Institute (ACI), Field Concrete Technician, American Welding Society (AWS) Welding Inspector, and Precast Concrete Institute (PCI).
"Many workers on Diego Garcia work to support families they have not seen for many years," said Kowalewski. "We wanted to help local Philippine workers who are suffering from separation anxiety to obtain the necessary skills to be successful in their careers, and in doing so provide more for their families."
Since he began training, Kowalewski has certified more than 50 Philippine workers. Kowalewski recalls the success he had mentoring a particular student, Jaime Sadang, a local Philippine worker who has worked for 13 years on Diego Garcia. Sadang was seeking an ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician certification, and turned to Kowalewski for guidance. In October 2008, Sadang took the written and practical exams and completed his long-awaited certification. Sadang is now recognized for his civil engineering experience and competence.
"It is astounding to think that Philippine workers were able to obtain specialized training on a small 12-square-mile island in the middle of the Indian Ocean," concludes Kowalewski. "I am proud and happy to be a part of the continued success of Philippine workers on Diego Garcia."
If you use your quality expertise at work, in your personal life, or in volunteer efforts to make a difference in people's lives, we'd like to hear from you as part of our Quality for Life initiative. Please submit stories to qualityforlife@asq.org. Also, be sure to visit our blog at http://www4.asq.org/blogs/quality-life/.
