Teach 15,000 rural kids to save and invest

One hundred twenty (120) student-savers from 24 partner schools in Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur, joined the year-end Youth Camp held on December 3-4, 2016 at the Galimuyod Central School Gym. The partner cooperative prepared a number of activities for the participants starting from the Youth Ambassadors Search to the excitingly competitive Amazing Race-inspired relay. The Search for the Youth Ambassadors added a unique highlight to the event with its Creative Wear category where the candidates paraded in costumes adorned with leaves, plastic, papers, and other recyclable materials. They also enjoyed recycling workshops, self-mastery lectures, and leadership skills training, tree planting, and games among other activities. A thanksgiving Mass was held on the following day before visiting the co-op’s piggery for tree-planting. During the closing program, the campers were given participation certificates and mugs as souvenir for the successful year-ender youth event.

The schools' Aflatoun Review and Reflection Meeting and Teachers’ Christmas gathering were held at Sacred Heart Credit Cooperative's newly-constructed Sapphire Event Center on December 22, 2016. Children, parents, teachers, trainers, and implementers reunited in a fun-filled program to evaluate and plan for the improvement of the Program’s implementation in their respective schools. The event was also a celebration for the successful financial literacy campaign not only for the students but for the teachers and parents as well.

This month, our team had the opportunity to meet children from the province of Zamboanga Sibugay in Zamboanga. Last August 30 to September 1, a member from our NATCCO Children and Youth Team, Ms. Hazel Ann Mangaya went to Kabasalan to share the importance the value of saving to six (6) schools in the area. Of course, with the support of our local cooperative partner, Katilingbanong Programa sa Maayong Panglawas Kinaugalingong Paningkamot Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KPMP-KMPC). She also oriented the children in Odiongan, Romblon about the importance of saving last September 28-29, 2016 with our local cooperative partner, St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

We’ve also trained new Aflatoun Teachers to aid us in our endeavour of reaching as many children as we can. These teachers were from Iloilo and Cebu in Visayas and the 2-day training was conducted with the support from the Department of Education Iloilo Division and Cebu Province Division. NATCCO Network did this with the help of our local cooperative partners namely: Pavia Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Compostela Market Vendors’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Last September 2-3, we’ve successfully conducted a Teachers' Training attended by teachers from 6 different schools in Compostela, Cebu. Teachers from Buluang Elementary School, Cabadiangan Elementary School, Canamucan Elementary School, Compostela Central School, Estaca Elementary School and Magay Elementary School.

While in September 9-10, co-organized by Pavia Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative, we also met and familiarized the teachers from 6 schools about the Aflatoun Program, namely: Cabugao Sur Elementary School, Tigum ANP Pilot Elementary School, Mayor Gerardo Gorriceta Sr. Elementary School, Pavia Pilot Elementary School, Pavia National High School, Aganan-Ungka Elementary School in Iloilo.

During the 2-day Teachers’ Training, we have been able to inculcate the essence of Aflatoun to the teacher. Our main goal is for them to absorb the skill needed for educating the children in schools. And that skill is the passion to help guide their pupils towards a better future.

We’d like to offer our sincerest gratitude to every Global Givers who are supporting our drive to educate the Filipino Youth and children. You are all of great help and we can't thank you enough for the generosity.

Till next update, keep saving!

• Connect__September_2016.pdf (PDF)