Teach 15,000 rural kids to save and invest

I am Krystelle Ferry S. Lagar, 11 years old and a Grade VI pupil of Rizal I Elementary School. My family and friends love to call me “Tal-tal”.

            I’d like to share my fun and life-changing journey with Tagum Cooperative’s savings programs for children like me.

            “Save for your future Tal!”

            This is what my Mommy Cristy always tells me everytime she gives me money or whenever my relatives hand me coins or paper bills as their token of fondness for me.

            I didn’t know the meaning of “savings” until she bought me a piggy bank. I thought it was just a toy and I would just play with it.

            She started dropping coins in my piggy bank as a way of feeding it. Then, I followed until it became my habit to drop some coins everyday.

            When I reached Grade V, she enrolled me at Tagum Cooperative Youth Saver Club where I received my first passbook on February 2010. That was how my formal savings activity started.

            I was so proud to have that passbook just like what I often see from my mommy and other kids in Tagum Cooperative when we go there.

            I became more interested when Tagum Cooperative reached out to our school for its Aflatoun Savings Program. So, I told my mommy about it. Then, she allowed me to join.

            I am very happy because I already have two (2) savings passbooks.

            Now, with Aflatoun, I save happily with my classmates because we always compare our money we saved from our ‘baon’ every week. We are saving while having fun.

            One thing also, I love with Aflatoun is that I can easily deposit through the help of my teacher.

            I am thankful to our school, Tagum Cooperative, and the Aflatoun program because I have already started saving for my high school which I was exactly what my Mommy Cristy told me that I must learn to save for my future.

            Presently, I now consider Aflatoun as my best partner for my bright future!