Teach 15,000 rural kids to save and invest

South Luzon - It might  have taken them over a year to get Aflatoun rolling in their pilot schools but San Isidro Development Cooperative (SIDECO) in Bicol has also been busy with other activities that would support the Program’s successful implementation. Mr. Mark Henry Ecom, branch manager of SIDECO Micoop Naga, assured the teachers and school administrators of the coop’s efforts to organize a laboratory cooperative for their youth. Naga Central School I & 2, Sta. Cruz Elementary School, and Tinago Elementary School piloted the launching which was held on January 30, 2015 at the Knights of Columbus building near the coop’s office. Students were attentive during the orientation and asked questions – all of which were diligently answered by Mr. Leonardo Banga, Area Manager of SIDECO Micoop Naga. Aflatoun Coordinator, Ms. Maria LorenzaAlcantara, attended to the overall preparations for the launch. Aside from the free school supplies, all those who opened their Aflatoun accounts received a P50.00 gift deposit from SIDECO Micoop Naga as initial motivation to start their financial journey with Aflatoun. Several Aflatoun dolls were also given away as game prizes and souvenirs. Everyone was grateful for the support  and promised to work hand-in-hand for the Program’s successful implementation in Naga City.

North Luzon - This January, Aflatoun has also been working its way up north. Months after their initial Aflatoun Teachers’ Training, the Government of Laoag Employees Development Cooperative (GLEDCO) has launched their Aflatoun Program in one pilot school on January 30, 2015. Yellow cut outs filled the air as students of Laoag Central Elementary School waved their Aflatoun drawings attached to sticks. Several students also entertained the participants with special performances throughout the launch.  Almost everyone opened saving accounts for themselves and shared the news with other schools. GLEDCO assures the organization of their laboratory cooperative for the Program’s sustainability.

NATCCO’s partnership with Citi Foundation and Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino aims to empower 7,200 Filipino children by capacitating them with strong social awareness and positive financial behavior. With the completion of the redeveloped Aflatoun books translated into the country’s four major regional languages last year, NATCCO has started reorienting its partner cooperatives and teachers with the new manuals.

On January 30-31, 2015, NATCCO introduced the Cebuano-translated books to Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative’s new Aflatoun partner schools through a Cebuano-based training activity. The training was organized in coordination with Justine Lynn Limocon (Project Manager) supported by Kevin Paslonfrom Lamac MPC’s Laboratory Cooperative. Six (6) schools participated in the training, namely: Tutay Elementary School, Lut-od Elementary School, Tajao Central School, Lamac Elementary School, Pinamungajan Central School, and Anopog Elementary School.

National Aflatoun Trainers Ms. Lasalette Gumban and Mr. Edward Amoguis facilitated the sessions and emphasized on the fundamentals of the Aflatoun Program. Teachers were highly appreciative  of the training and the redeveloped modules sharing that these will greatly help in their application of the MTB-MLE program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

The Aflatoun mother-tongue makes it easier for both the schools and the cooperative to sustain the implementation and improve their operations. The all-out support from DepEd and the dedication of NATCCO’s partner cooperatives fuel the Program’s overall impact in the community.

Looking forward, NATCCO also aims to develop a new Aflatoun curriculum integrated with the four major Filipino languages that would teach children about self-exploration, saving, planning, budgeting, and entrepreneurship – concepts that would help them become change agents of their lives and of the community.