AWCF rejoices with Ms Norma Pereyras, AWCF’s Vice President for Internal Affairs, as she receives the first batch of “Unsung Women Heroes Awards” given by the Soroptimist International of the Philippines Region (A Foundation), Inc. in remarkable ceremonies held last April 16, 2009 at the Abelardo Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.

Ms Pereyras shares the Awards with 11 other women from different fields of service representing the grassroots and the marginalized sectors of society. The Awards given to non-Soroptimist International of the Philippines Region (SIPR) members were in recognition of women who, with great fervor and little fanfare, have made it their life’s work to uplift the well-being of other women and girls in their communities. The Awards honor women who, despite scarcity of resources and challenging conditions, engage in laudable projects that improve the lives of women and girls whilst inspiring and empowering other women.

According to Ms Pereyras, the award is a fitting celebration of her 31st year of doing volunteer work especially that this is her first international award. She cited her work as a Rotarian, as a Girl Scout and as a cooperator especially at Tagum Cooperative as the key contributions that has endeared her to the organizers of the Awards. She affects the lives of women and girl co-op members by being a trainer, gender advocate, leader and a model in numerous capacities such as Vice President of Tagum Cooperative (one of the successful and multi-awarded primary co-operative in Davao del Norte), a Board of Director (BOD) representing the Women Sector of the National Confederation of Cooperatives or NATCCO (one of the strongest financial co-operative network in the Philippines), and as AWCF’s Vice President for Internal Affairs and as 1^st Vice President of ACCU (Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions) which are organizations working at the international/regional level.

Supporting Ms Pereyras during the awarding ceremony were Ms Salome Ganibe, AWCF Executive Director; Ms Angelita Angeles Valdez, AWCF Program Coordinator; Ms Aster Peňaranda, Finance and Administration Coordinator; and Ms Inga-Lill Hammer, Swedish Cooperative Centre’s Project Manager who was in the Philippines at that time for a project-meeting with AWCF.