Aside from increasing the number of gender trainers in the primary co-operatives, the “Training of Trainers on GE in Co-operatives” held last November 15-19, 2009 at the Bayfront Hotel, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City, equipped the 16 participants (eight females and eight males) with proper knowledge and skills needed to effectively plan and implement gender education and training in their respective organizations.

Ms Julienne Marie Dalangey, training officer at the Northern Luzon Federation of Cooperatives and Development Center (NORLU CEDEC) based in Baguio City, facilitated the sessions on basic training concepts, training methodologies and approaches, and training course design. Ms Bonnie Bernström, SCC consultant, led the sharing and deepening of gender concepts and Sweden’s gender equality experiences. In addition, AWCF’s Ms Salome Ganibe with Ms Angelita Valdez, executive director and program coordinator respectively, facilitated the workshops on preparing the GE Training Modules and Plan for 2010 and the demonstration by the participants of modules on GE Training.

In addition, more than 50 participants composed of board directors, committee officers, and co-op managers (around 80% women and 20% men) representing 30 co-op organizations including representatives from the Ilocos Sur local government unit and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) provincial office attended the “Public Awareness Conference on GE in Co-ops”. The seminar, hosted by the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC), was held November 20, 2009 at the NSCC Cooperative and Microfinance Training Center, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.

The program was focused on the sharing of gender equality experiences in Sweden by Ms Bernström and those by the three Project pilot co-ops, namely Sta. Cruz Savings and Development Co-op (SACDECO), Sto. Domingo Development Co-op (SDDC), and Tubao Credit Co-op (TCC). Through the activity, AWCF was able to generate more interest and possible future collaboration on gender equality activities among the participants from the primary co-ops.