Yaman Advocacy Cooperative held its 8th Pre-Membership Education Seminar via Zoom, September 3. Yaman founder and chairperson Lloyd Luna led the presentation attended by almost 30 participants.
The meeting focused on establishing an advocacy cooperative aimed at poverty alleviation through training and education, with discussions on eliminating seminar costs and making knowledge accessible to all.
The cooperative emphasized collectivism and shared ownership, introducing Yaman University as a platform for practical training in financial wellness and other fields.
The group addressed membership structure, training requirements, and plans for expanding their learning management system while emphasizing the importance of democratizing training within cooperatives.
Financial Wellness and Systemic Change
Lloyd Luna, a Filipino motivational speaker with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, presented a seminar on financial wellness. He shared statistics on the financial struggles of Filipinos, highlighting that 17.5 million are considered poor, 3.8 million are unemployed, and 7 out of 10 have debts.
Luna expressed frustration with the limited impact of traditional motivational speaking and criticized the country’s political system and societal attitudes that perpetuate wealth inequality. He emphasized the need for a deeper, more sustainable approach to addressing financial issues in the Philippines.
Breaking Poverty’s Three Traps
The discussion focused on three traps of poverty: the identity trap where people believe they are poor and isolate themselves, the “bahay-kubo” trap which perpetuates smallness of thinking and limited aspirations, and the competition trap which emphasizes individual success over collaboration.
The speaker explained how these traps are reinforced by societal structures and personal beliefs. He then introduced an antidote in the form of a unique advocacy cooperative organized under the Cooperative Development Authority of the Philippines.
Empowering Advocacy for Poverty Alleviation
The meeting focused on establishing an advocacy cooperative aimed at poverty alleviation through training and education.
The group discussed eliminating seminar and training costs for members to make knowledge and skills development accessible to all, particularly targeting those who cannot afford such opportunities.
They emphasized enriching people’s mindset and attitudes before focusing on financial wealth, with the ultimate goal of expanding the market for goods and services by empowering more people with purchasing power.
Cooperative Values and Community Service
The meeting focused on the values and principles of a cooperative, emphasizing collectivism and shared ownership.
Luna explained that when members invest in the cooperative, they become part owners and can earn profits based on their share capital. He emphasized that the cooperative model is different from typical corporations, as it prioritizes collective effort and shared resources.
He also discussed the importance of advocacy and serving the community, highlighting the need for patriotism and addressing issues like poverty and corruption.
He stressed the cooperative’s commitment to providing free training and fostering a culture of service among members.
Yaman University Cooperative Training Programs
The meeting discussed the establishment of Yaman University, a cooperative offering training and education programs.
The university aims to provide practical knowledge and experience through various schools such as Financial Wellness, Business and Entrepreneurship, and Micro-Credentials.
Members of the cooperative will receive training at a discounted rate and have the opportunity to earn through dividends and patronage refunds.
The cooperative also plans to offer professional development programs for various industries and help non-compliant cooperatives meet their reporting requirements.
Cooperative Membership and Training Requirements
The meeting discussed the cooperative’s membership structure, training programs, and financial requirements. Luna explained that associate members must attend 8 out of 12 learning sessions.
The cooperative offers free training and encourages members to recruit others. He emphasized the importance of supporting social media and attending the annual General Assembly.
Financial Wellness and Community Growth
The meeting discussed the organization’s focus on financial wellness and community building, with plans to expand their learning management system and course offerings.
They emphasized the importance of maintaining a human-centric approach, ensuring that the platform can be regularly updated and expanded to meet the needs of their growing membership.
The group also addressed the need for members to fill out important forms and stay engaged with the community through various platforms, including video conferencing for meetings and training sessions.
Democratizing Training in Cooperatives
The meeting focused on the importance of democratizing training within cooperatives to address the gap between officers and members.
Luna emphasized the need to include members in training programs to promote personal growth and financial literacy, as current practices only focus on capital contribution without addressing members’ development.
The group discussed plans to establish a national training center to multiply skilled trainers and improve the cooperative sector as a whole.
They also touched on potential collaborations with external experts in franchising and other areas to enhance their training offerings.
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