Teach 15,000 rural kids to save and invest

We usually hear inspiring testimonies from our young savers of the great impact they have embraced because of the Aflatoun Program. However, one that also consists of the Aflatoun Network are our educators who have been an instrument to teach the heart of the program to our Aflatouners!

Introducing one of the dedicated Aflatoun Teachers and School Coordinator of Lamac National High School, Ms. Miriam Balansag who shared her journey from the moment Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative introduced the program to their school community last 2017.

Being in the program for two years, challenges and success stories have already transpired in Lamac NHS and how did Teacher Miriam motivate her students to develop their habit of savings? How did she become engaged in the cooperative through the Aflatoun movement?

Check out her testimony below to be inspired and encouraged through her #AflaStory!

“Saving a penny has always been my desire since my high school days. And now that I am already a teacher, I look forward to see this desire in my students as well.

Luckily, Aflatoun program was introduced during my 1st year here in Lamac National High School. I was so eager about its implementation because I knew this is going to be an avenue in teaching the students to become financially literate. However I was also a bit hesitant since I was unsure if the students would embrace it or if their parents would support them in this aflatoun program. Also, considering that Lamac is the pioneer of this program, it was really a challenge for me if I could help sustain it here in our school.

However, through the help of the Youth Program Head, Mr. Kevin Paslon and our ever supportive principal, Dr. Delfin P. Tuquib, we were able to successfully start its implementation last November 2017.

At first students were not that dedicated in saving a part of their ‘baon (allowance)’ but through constant motivation, their savings became consistent. One of the most effective motivation I did was giving 100 pesos ($2) per month on top of their savings to the most consistent saver of the month. This strategy made them more excited to save apart from having something to withdraw at the end of the school year. There were even times that I forgot to follow up, and it’s already them reminding me, “Ma’am ang savings d i? (Maám, can we save?)”. In fact, their savings was way bigger than I expected. This made me realize that the desire I had back then when the program first launched in our school has already been emulated by my students.

In addition, the teachers of Lamac National High School were so grateful that our principal has always pushes us to be equipped with trainings and seminars that made us more equipped may it be beneficial in our field of teaching or personal development like financial literacy workshops. I had been blessed with a lot of opportunities that taught me the real essence of the cooperative movement, and this directed me to become part of Lamac Multi- purpose Cooperative which awakened my innate desire to serve the people as well.

I can still remember a teaching in one of our seminars, from Warren Buffett, “Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.” At first, it may be hard, you may not see its importance yet, but in the long run, you’ll get used to it and you will just realize that a penny is worth saving.”

You can follow inspiring testimonies and #AflaStory on our facebook page: Aflatoun Philippines. Till next update, Global Givers! Keep saving!