AWCF caps 4-day gender trainers' training

On September 2-5, 2014, the "Training of Trainers (TOT) on Gender for Co-operatives" was organized and conducted by AWCF in Quezon City, Philippines. Participants came from Philippine co-ops, and local and national government agencies that promote co-op growth and development.

Through gender equality (GE), co-op development is strengthened even more, to benefit women and men co-op members, families, and communities. AWCF has been holding trainers' training for co-operators in line with its thrusts on gender and co-op development as a Asian resource center and advocacy body on these concerns. These training events are also in response to the expressed need of Philippine co-ops for assistance in gender mainstreaming in their organizations, as contained in the
"Declaration and Call for Action of  the Philippines's 'National Summit on Gender and Development in Co-ops'" The Declaration and Call for Action was created during the National Summit on Gender and Development in Co-ops, with the themeInspiring Women and Men in Co-ops, held on March 25-26, 2014 Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines, organized by AWCF and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). The Summit was attended by more than 568 delegates from co-ops and co-op promoting private and government agencies in the Philippines, with guests from some other Asian co-op organizations. Earlier in mid-2013, AWCF and CDA signed a Memorandum of Agreement for their partnership in gender efforts in Philippine co-ops.

PARTICIPANTS' PRACTICUM

On the last day of the September 2-5, 2014 gender trainers' training, the participants had the opportunity to showcase their learning from their different sessions. In this day's "Practicum/Demonstration of a Gender Training Session," the participants who had earlier been divided into four groups demonstrated how they will conduct a gender session. With their fellow participants acting as the "trainees" or "audience," each group (acting as "trainers") conducted a session with these respective themes: "Gender Concerns," "Gender Mainstreaming," "Gender Roles and Socialization," and "Gender Issues." Each group had an hour to conduct its session. After each session, each group received feedback on its session's content and style from the other groups, the AWCF training team, and guest CDA Board Administrator Ms Mercedes Castillo.

IMPRESSIONS
At the training's closing at the end of the day, some of the participants were asked to give their impressions about the four-day training they had. Among the impressions given: (female participant) appreciated the good comments given by the other groups to her group's demonstration of a session conduct; appreciated the well-run conduct of the training; (female participant) learned a lot about gender and how this learning can be applied to co-ops and other organizations; excited to share information and learning to the municipal mayor and other officials in the local government unit (LGU) where she works, particularly as she had earlier been tasked to draw up this LGU's gender program but for which she had no prior knowledge about gender; (male participant) thanked his group mates for supporting him as the lead trainer during their demonstration of a gender training session, particularly as he is first-time trainer because his work in his co-op was related to accounts and not to training.

As response from AWCF for the participants' impressions, Mr. Anthony Sese of the AWCF trainers' pool (who is also from the Ligas Kooperatiba ng Bayan sa Pagpapauland or LKBP in Bulacan, PH) briefly shared the gender journey of himself and the LKBP. He said that his own training and awakening to gender took some years through AWCF's development activities, and the institutionalization of gender in the LKBP also took some time. The gender journey is not always easy, especially on getting the support of officers and others who needed to be involved in the journey. But the effort is worth it, he said, although the work needs continuing advocacy and determination in order to be fully executed, supported by a plan and budget.

INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE

Administrator Ms Castillo gave an inspirational message to the participants, mentioning that her involvement in various levels and areas of gender advocacy began 25 years ago as a co-operator, including being involved in the beginnings of the AWCF, which was founded in 1990. She said that co-operators trained in GE are the catalyst for change in co-ops through gender advocacy. Gender advocates' continuing journey should be always nurtured, especially because they are one in the belief that GE results to stronger co-ops, families, and communities. There is always the first step for advocates, even for gender, she said, and there many more steps to take after this training. The gender journey is hard work and there are many factors or hindrances in culture and society (e.g., gender issues) to hurdle But there are good results to look forward to. Aside from being gender advocates, trainers/advocates are like gardeners who plant, nurture, and harvest later on the fruits of their work.

(Note: In November 2013, the CDA issued Memoroandum Circular 2013-22, pertaining to "Guidelines on Mainstreaming Gender and Development (GAD) in Cooperatives." The Guidelines are applicable to co-ops registered with the CDA.)

Day 1 and Day 2 of AWCF's trainers' training on gender for co-ops

Ongoing: The Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF)'s "Training of Trainers (TOT) on Gender in Co-operatives" started September 2, 2014 to last until September 5, 2014. It is being held in one of the hotels in suburban Quezon City in the Philippines, where 33 participants (27 females and 3 males) are taking part. The participants comes from primary and federation co-ops, local government units, and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) of the Philippine government. 

Gender equality is one of the perceived ways of further developing co-ops, particularly in the Philippines where the CDA issued a memorandum circular to all registered co-ops in the country to promote and engage in gender mainstreaming.