Teach 15,000 rural kids to save and invest

In its 5th year of celebration, Aflatoun partners and savers all over the world added fuel to the Aflatoun fire by organizing several activities for this year’s International Aflatoun Day (March 17) and Global Money Week (March 9-17).

Students from Pinamungajan  National High School of Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperatve connected with Aflatoun savers in Armenia, Pakistan, and with the  Aflatoun Secretariat in Amsterdam. Varduhi, a student from Armenia, shared her love for the Philippines by painting the Philippine flag on her shirt and showing it to her new-found friends. Global Skype calls were set up by the Aflatoun Secretariat in Amsterdam throughout the day and the children exchanged stories about their lives, cultures, savings activities, and enterprises with each other. Aside from Skype calls, Lamac MPC also held classroom-to-classroom Aflatoun campaigns, gift-giving, and presentations for their Aflatoun savers.

In Tagum Cooperative, the celebration started off with a zumba dance session joined by 49 active Aflatoun members and 8 school Teacher Coordinators. Their Aflatoun Mascot made a special appearance and gave the children a warm group hug. There were also activities such as Aflatoun puzzle solving games, Aflatoun image making, and dance presentations. The children presented their creations during the Skype calls to schools in Pakistan and India where they talked to other children about how they save money, their hobbies and interests, and how they’re happy with the Aflatoun Program in their schools. Dir. Pereyras, Chairperson of Tagum Coop’s Board of Directors, gave an inspirational message on saving as an instrument of transformation for future leaders and empowered citizens.

It was a great experience for everyone involved in the Program; the celebration shows how a single belief can unite different kinds of people towards a goal, and that is to have empowered children who act as the change agents for their own lives.