Co-ops and the practice of co-operativism have helped numerous people countless times in countless ways. From the boondocks to urban areas, farmers, fisherfolks, vendors, teachers, employees, writers, artists, weavers, students, small entrepreneurs, virtually people from all sectors, find that co-operatives can help them grow more as a people, together, with each one extending a helping hand to the other. Co-ops extend to its members services in many forms like savings and loans facilities, developmental and technical training, business development services, information technology services, mortuary services, agri-related services, and so forth.

In many Southeast Asian countries, co-ops face many challenges as they strive to be effective vehicles for growth amid intense competition from purely business organizations.

But people will always find strength in numbers, and their coming together in co-ops will be among the best way to help themselves and one another achieve and sustain a quality life. And this includes also co-ops being a vehicle for gender equality and gender equity as co-ops strive to give women and men equal opportunities and access to services and programs, and roles to play in the co-op, especially as leaders and decision-makers.

Adapted from: Trainer’s Manual on Transformative Leadership Training for Co-operatives, Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF), Quezon City, Philippines, 2001

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