Teach 15,000 rural kids to save and invest

As part of the activities planned out for this year’s Global Money Week and in celebration of the 4th International Aflatoun Day, Aflatoun partners and implementers all over the world joined in on the festivities by organizing varied events and stunts showcasing their spirit and involvement. The annual international celebration started in 2008 as a campaign to broaden the exposure of the program and highlight the diversity of the network.

Fast fact: Internationl Aflatoun Day is celebrated every 17th of March. It has since then opened global doors to both children and the youth providing them countless opportunities to create and discuss enterprises that could change their communities for the better.

This year’s agenda includes a search for the Aflateen Champion, Skype Calls, and features of Aflatoun activities from different parts of the world, among others. For the Philippines, NATCCO’s partner cooperatives in the Aflatoun program prepared respective activities for their savers, teachers, and schools.  

An inclusive, active, and responsive network delivers participation, better outputs, and a stronger sense of community. The growth of the Aflatoun program throughout the years has been overwhelming. The consciousness for a more financially and socially responsible way of living is  slowly becoming eminent thanks to everyone’s efforts. International Aflatoun Day is not only for celebration; it is also a call for a more persuasive, impressive, and cohesive presence as the movement works towards its goals for the years to come.

Below is a summarized report of the activities conducted in celebration of this year's International Aflatoun Day in the Philippines:

Luzon
Aflatoun savers from San Dionisio Credit Cooperative gathered together in the newly-blessed gymnasium of the cooperative office for an afternoon of sharing experiences, book-giving, games, and performances.

Visayas
Around 1,000 Aflatoun savers from Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative stood out in their black, yellow, and white shirts as they formed the face of the well-loved Aflatoun fireball. There were also exhibits, games, song and dance numbers, and sessions which allowed the children to socialize with each other. Meanwhile in Passi City Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, an Aflatoun teacher from Passi I Central School received the Guro ng Pag-asa award from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) during their celebration of International Aflatoun Day.

Mindanao
500 children from Kauyagan Savers Multi-Purpose Cooperative celebrated the day's festivities at the Impasugong Elementary School.

Several photos and videos of International Aflatoun Day activities in the Philippines can be viewed through the Facebook group ‘Aflatoun sa Pinas’.