Reports From the Philippines- Lesotho- Bolivia- Panama

by Jose M. Umbal Jr.

The author is a graduate of the 3rd International Course on Cooperative Support Systems for Rural Development, which was conducted by the Afro-Asian Institute, Israel, 1991, and a key person in cooperative development in this part of the country. He writes: "I am pleased to submit a report regarding the progress in my endeavours to organize a cooperative in the Philippines. I learned many things in my studies in your country, but I feel we have a very long way to go before we adopt the real essence of Cooperativism."

BUSCO Academy, one of the finest elementary schools in the area, is conveniently located at the heart of the BUSCO itself, at the BUSCO Compound amid green trees and neatly trimmed lawns. The sweet songs of the birds wash away the noise outside. It is a children's world, with practically 2.5 hectares of playgrounds, recreational facilities and a multi-purpose building where children can develop for tomorrow.

An efficient transportation system servicing the community provides accessibility to the learning centre. BUSCO is the acronym for Bukidnon Sugar Milling Co. Inc., whose total commitment and support for educational, social and economic development has been instrumental in the foundation of BUSCO Academy.

This agro-industrial complex, whose official address is BUSCO, Quezon, Bukidnon, is strategically located in the central part of Mindanao Island in what we often refer to as the "heartland." It is a main engine of economic activity in the area. It generates substantial income not only to the sugarcane planters but also to the vast majority including the workers, cutters and even businessmen who rely on the industry for development and progress.

It was seen as natural that concerned residents, especially the teachers and parents-employees of the company, combined their collective resources in founding an institution worthy of their children's education.

In 1977, a group of 15 children of BUSCO employees started the enrollment and attended pre-school classes held at BUSCO Medical Clinic. Two years later in 1979 the management of BUSCO allowed the use of a portion in the multi-purpose building for the kindergarten classes in what is now the present site of BUSCO Academy.

Classes in pre-school education courses were increased in 1980-83 by the opening of a nursery course, then in 1984 completed with a nursery and kindergarten I and II.

Management of the school as time progressed has undergone transitions and changes of school names: Kindergarten School from 1977-79; Children's Learning Centre in 1980-86; BUSCO Philsucom Silangan Community Kindergarten School in 1987-1990. In the ensuing years, in 1991, the school management, composed of parents and teachers in the community, came up with the decision to operate a private school, at elementary education level. The population of the community was growing every year; the government elementary school situated in the community was over-populated, a cause of congested classrooms, and considering the hazards for the children who had to go to school 15 kilometres away from home provided the impetus to push for school advancement.

The school was re-organized to tackle the mission of elementary level education with the objective for a better quality education. Mr. Salvador M. Banas, elected as the chairman of the school board together with 15 board members, worked out the plans to secure the school accreditation. On July 5, 1991, the Securities and Exchange Commission granted the school registration SEC No. DN 091-05767 under the name BUSCO Academy of Quezon, Inc., followed by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports granting the permit to open and conduct courses in Preparatory Schools (Nursery and Kindergarten) and Primary Grades I-II. Grade III was added in 1992-93.

Today, 17 years later, BUSCO Academy of Quezon occupies a two-storey building located at the multi-purpose area, at the BUSCO Sugar Milling Co. Inc., with an additional Academy-owned 4 classroom facility situated nearby, and operates a complete elementary education curriculum from Nursery and Kindergarten up to Grade VI.

It is now also a fully accreditated cooperative school by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) with certificate of registration CGY-1244, registered on May 7, 1993, at Cagayan de Oro City.

Throughout the years the Academy pursued a progressive and development oriented policy as the main driving force to attain not only stability but also economic advancement. As a result the student enrollment increased as well as the number of cooperative members and capital build up: 57 members with P 5,000.00/members capital. Also the school serves a larger area. It now serves not only BUSCO but also the adjacent communities of NASUREFCO, Silangan, Butong and others.

It is often said that in order for an organization to succeed, sound and effective management is a necessity. In this particular area BUSCO Academy boasts talented and dedicated men and women whose painstaking sacrifices have enabled the Academy to attain what it has.

Lead by founders Engr. Salvador Banas and Maximino Sobrevega who also serve as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board respectively, members of the Board include Mrs. Rosmarie Alincastre. Mrs. Elsie Sanz, Daisy Silda, Regidor Redondo, myself (Jose M. Umbal Jr.), Feliciano Parater Jr., Diosdado Morigo, Lucita Balquin, Pilar Yotoko, Nydia L. Faro, Rogelio Maridable, Nemia Menes and Jose Jimenez.

After all these years, BUSCO Academy stands proof of what unity, sacrifice and determination can achieve. As the saying goes: "We have to believe in ourselves in order to succeed."

I wish to thank the following: The Board of Directors of BUSCO Academy for all their commitment and support for the Cooperative School, the BUSCO & NASUREFCO Management, Cong. Zoilo V. de la Cruz, NACUSIP/TUCP President for sponsorship of my trip to Israel, as well as the Afro-Asian Institute (Histadrut), Embassy of Israel, IFPAAW Sec. General Borje Svensson, Cong. Jose R. Zubiri Jr., and my instructors and classmates at the Afro-Asian Institute in Tel Aviv, Director Silvano Bausing of CDA/NEMPCO and my wife and daughter.

by Mathabiso Mosala

Shalom! It was a great pleasure and learning experience in Israel at Mt. Carmel Training Institute in Haifa in 1963, now the Golda Meir Mt. Carmel International Training Centre.The knowledge I acquired helped me to be a founder member of Lesotho National Council of Women and Likonyaneng Nursery Schools and Lesotho National Council of Women Vocational Centres, which instruct women and boys in skills such as carpentry, spinning and weaving, sewing and knitting, cookery, poultry keeping and business management.

That old friendship is still going strong even to-day. Thank you for keeping us informed about Israel, we enjoy every page of Shalom Magazine. Please keep the line of communication opened. I was also a participant in an Adult Education Course, and Leadership Symposium in 1978. Please find herein a photo of LNCW activities. The spinning and weaving equipment was donated by Golda Meir Training Centre and assembled by Israeli tutors.

by Arminda Gutierrez Uriarte

I would like to extend my warm greetings to you and through you to all the people of Israel, as well as to deeply thank you for all the support I received during my stay in your country. I had the marvelous experience of participating in the course Women in Trade Union Organization and Cooperative Development (April-May, 1994), at the International Institute - Histadrut near Kfar Saba, where I acquired experience in cooperativism.

At present I serve as President of the Institute for the Advancement and Training of Women (INFOPCAM), a non-governmental organization geared towards the development of the rural area and its various social and productive activities.

As a result of my experience in Israel, a cooperative was organized to cultivate fish in Lake Titicaca, in the Calata Grande Community, Department of La Paz. I hope I will continue receiving the prestigious Shalom Magazine which unites all the graduates.

Panama
INLAT - Latin American Institute of Labour

by Manuel Amador Salvatierra Tello

From Kibbutz Ramat Rachel in the always unforgettable Jerusalem, I returned to Panama City on December 1990, after completing the valuable Course on Community Development offered at the prestigious Aharon Ofri International Study Centre, under the dynamic guidance of our very good friends: Arie Comey, Uzi Israeli and Arie Dagan.

This marvelous experience influenced me to establish an institute for the benefit of all workers, to encourage greater opportunities to fulfill their skills and potential and to enable them to enter the Panamanian labour market with greater advantage and security.

In 1994, Prof. Silvia Bermudez and I created an educational project called the Latin American Institute of Labour (INLAT), making use in this project of all the rich knowledge I acquired at the Aharon Ofri Centre.

My experience in Israel included field trips to and exchange of information with educational community centres, and to production and services centres, rightfully complementing the "education-work" relation.

Social, economic and cultural differences which exist between Panama and Israel did not pose an obstacle for our enrichment from the experience acquired in community development. Quite the contrary - it has become the motivating factor of INLAT's communal approach: open and receptive to all ideological, political, social, religious and cultural attitudes. INLAT strives to sensitize workers to awareness of the surrounding social reality, motivating them to accept a commitment to achieve social justice, particularly for weaker members.

Once the community approach was clearly defined, we established INLAT's educational principles as well as its institutional definition, training and teaching methods and framework for participation. Objectives and goals were defined as well: qualify workers with industrial, commercial and economic training, offering them technical education to ensure social mobility and labour market independence.

Nowadays, some 100 men and women are being trained at INLAT in commerce, arts, business, secretarial and clerical work, tailoring, dressmaking, cosmetics and high school studies.

This educational project for the benefit of the workers in Panama was made possible thanks to the assistance of many key people at the Ministry of Education who deserve our recognition: Prof. Vilma de Saldana, Director of the Pedro Jose Sosa School; Prof. Emma Campos, Director General of Private Education; Prof. Eduardo Barsallo, Curriculum and Education Methodology Director and Prof. Carlos Alvarenga, Provincial Educational Director.

Today, the Latin American Institute of Labour - INLAT is a growing reality, conceived from the experience acquired in Jerusalem. Thank you, Israel, I remain eternally grateful to all the Aharon Ofri's staff. Shalom.