Nepal Youth Report: Financial Literacy Program

 

Mrs. Indira Panta, ICYC Youth Committee Member, to arrange and coordinate the whole trip and the material provided for this report to be constructed.

Also like to Acknowledge the Cooperative Institute, Schools and Saving club to provide their time and suitable information of Nepal to be made possible.

The Name of the Institutes are as follows: –

• Gopaleshwor Community Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd.
• National Co-operative Bank Ltd. (NCBL)
• Nepal Multipurpose Co-operative (NMC) Society ltd.
• Sahara Nepal Saving and Credit Co-operative Society ltd.
• Civil Saving and Credit Co-operative Society Ltd.

 

 

Table of Contents

Executive Summary. 1

Introduction: 1

Financial Literacy Program (Indira Panta): 2

Writer’s Opinion: 3

Financial Literacy Program: Students Saving Club. 3

Rules and Regulations: 4

Housing Sector: 4

Iteration of the Report of Survey. 5

20^th August 2017. 5

21^st August 2017. 5

22^nd August 2017. 5

23^rd August 2017. 6

24^th August 2017. 7

25^th August 2017. 8

26^th August 2017. 9

27^th August 2017. 9

Appendix. 11

Gopaleshwor Community Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd. 11

List of Members registered in Nepal: 13

Nepal Multipurpose Co-operative (NMC) Society. 14

 

Executive Summary

Financial Literacy program is a youth based program which is designed to run on cooperative model through financial institutions in the Nepal. The basic idea is to educate the youth about how to save their finances for the future in a better way. Program directly helps the student & their parent to uplift their way of thinking and save in a better way. Financial institutions have a major role to make it a success. The saving of the students is collected by these Credit and Saving Cooperative and are used to invest for development of their community.

Indirectly, the program is helping to raise the living standards of the community by changing the thinking process of the community and have a better life. On the other hand, these saving program are providing Saving and Credit Cooperative to serve the community, decrease the Unemployment rate and create opportunities for the investment for the future.

Introduction:

#nepalyouth #nepal #pakistan #coop4dev #coopconference17 #malaysia #asia #youth

This report reflects upon the Financial Literacy Program for the Students and the Students Savings Club as well as issues raised by the cooperative other than financial literacy program. There are many Financial Literacy Program based in Nepal having a multitude of audience for their own program. However, this one targets the Youth and more specifically students. This report is the reflection and observation of Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur on his visit to Nepal in August 21st to 27th, 2017 (Considering the season after the flood devastation had occurred in the country), and on Financial Literacy Program for the students was initiated by Mrs. Indira Panta.

To have a better understanding of the program, 3 districts were visited (Jhapa, Pharping and Kathmandu Valley). This report will provide an insight for the gravity of the Financial Literacy Program in Nepal and how it is changing the behavior as well as some aspects of the lack of role of the National Cooperative Federation (NCF), National Apex body of Nepal, in promoting the local Cooperative to ICA platform. According to the data provided by the National Co-operative Bank Limited. There are total 33599 of Co-operative in Nepal (as of July 15, 2016). ¹There are only 5 registered Co-operative in ICA-AP membership from NEPAL out of 33599. There are other organization that want to be a part of the ICA thus bringing more membership can occur and have a better pool of candidates to share the resources for the Development of Cooperative Movements.

²In terms of Nepal, the brief overview is as follows: –

Population	29187037 – Last UN Estimate (July 1, 2017)
Literacy rate	48.6%, of which 62.7% are males and 34.9% are females.
Life Expectancy	70.699 year (UN 2015)

Nepal is a landlocked country, sharing 3 sides with Indian border and 1 side with Chinese border. Currently it has been divided into 75 districts and has 7 provinces (7 provinces are under new constitution consideration). The average current age of its citizens is 21.6 years. Only 4% or less of the populations are estimated to be over the age of 65 years, while about 57.9% of the population lies in the 15-65 age bracket.

¹ http://www.ica-ap.coop/coop-search-by-country-only?field_country_value=NP

²http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/nepal-population/

Financial Literacy Program (Indira Panta):

The Program is based on the Co-operative model and Principles. The basic idea is to educate the Students about how to save their money and utilize it for their better prospects of their future. For Instance: Education, saving for their home, saving it for a rainy day, so on and so forth. It is supposed to prepare them for a financially stable lifestyle which the students are not exposed in the schools and colleges not even at university level. It can be said that they are being prepared for the reality of life. The implication for the Financial Literacy Program has positive signs in the societies as it is creating a positive effect around its community and within as well.

Firstly, it’s spreading the discipline of being  financially stable person before reaching the legal age and making their own financial decisions. Secondly, this program is not just bringing students closer, but it is also attracting a lot of Parents. Thirdly, while practicing financial literacy the students are making social changes in the living pattern and thinking process which in turn as a whole affects the social aspects of the society and the community of its region. For example: discouraging the students to spend the money on unhealthy diet (Chocolates, fast foods and other consumable items) they are encouraged to utilize their finances for a better aspect for tomorrow, thus in terms creating a healthy lifestyle and preparing for the future.

 

 

This program is necessary for Nepal as an underdeveloped country, which require such programs to change the thinking process of its people to shift the paradigm of traditional thinking process to modern thinking process and evolve as a developed country.

Writer’s Opinion:

Financial Literacy Program: Students Saving Club

It is a Program/Project in which it prerequisite requires a medium to strong financial institutions in its country. Considering Nepal, it has around 13000 to 15000 Saving and Credit institutions (data provided by National Co-operative Bank Limited [NCBL] and the Nepal Federation of Savings & Credit Cooperative Unions Ltd. [NEFSCUN]) and 1 Co-operative Bank in the whole country. This indicated the Nepal has a foundation of medium to strong banking institutions in the country, that is an evident to develop its infrastructure and accumulate its aspects for the future businesses and Co-operative development.

In terms of Financial Literacy Program, it has a lot of potential to establish a cooperative movement in an area where cooperative education is not available. This program is propagating the cooperative values and principle as a whole, imparting the education of cooperative to and through its members, creating job, coop business, opportunities and developing society and community as a whole.

In the writer’s opinion, this program can be helpful for the Government of Nepal to increase the entrepreneur of the future and eventually decrease the unemployment rate. If and when taken into the right directions.

Rules and Regulations:

In terms of rules, regulations and laws pertaining to the Cooperative a lot is based on

New Constitution of the 3 Pillars, in which one pillar

pertains to the Co-operative separately with the hope to make the cooperative movement better for Cooperative Business to flourish in the country.

The effects are yet to be known after its full implementation. It gives a promising start for the cooperative to flourish and create a sustainable development for its citizens. However, it has yet to be seen in terms of generating results. This new constitution is paving the way for the youth as well and there is unofficial report for the youth inclusion in the new constitution, which will allow the youth to be a part of the Cooperative business model at an early age.

This is a good sign for development of cooperative movement in Nepal. However, there are some hindrances as well. These hindrances came to light from the Cooperative institutions itself, after discussing with them. Several cooperatives who are not affiliated with the ICA directly, highlighted the role Nepal Cooperative Federation (NCF). NCF is a national apex body of cooperative in Nepal, it is a non-government institution operated by the citizens of Nepal, those who have Cooperative background professionals as well government institution professionals and politicians. It needs to be highlighted that there are only 5 Cooperative institutions that are part of the ICA. In considering the above statement NCF has been a hindrance for those cooperative institutions who wish to join the ICA but is not recommended by the NCF to ICA. This statement would be biased for now, until the official representative would share their views on these particular issues, that why aren’t they promoting the Nepalese Cooperative to be a part of ICA even when they are operating under the Cooperative laws of Nepal and want to bear their own expense for joining the ICA. This hindrance is not only for Nepalese Cooperatives but for ICA as well, which can increase its members and involve youth in the future prospects of the region. Neglecting such institutions means neglecting prospects for future youth and hampering the cooperative movement itself.

Housing Sector:

Coming to a sector of housing the writer came through the housing and its related aspects. The Nepal has a potential for cooperative housing, but as far as the writer was conveyed, housing cooperative did not come into existence because of the rules and regulation was not there to support cooperatives in the Constitution. Again, there is hope for the new sectors to be established through its new constitution.

 

Iteration of the Report of Survey

20^th August 2017

Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur Arrived on 20^th August in Kathmandu, Nepal checked in the hotel.

 

21^st August 2017

#nepalyouth #nepal #pakistan #coop4dev #coopconference17 #malaysia #asia #youth

Official visit to began on 21 August 2017, Mrs. Indira Panta and Mr. Bharat Aaryan were there to receive, Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur from the hotel, moving from Kathmandu to Pharping, Nepal by road of 1-hour drive, visiting the Gopaleshwor Community SACCOs cooperative which are engaged in Financial Literacy Program (Student Saving Clubs).

Warm Welcome to Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur to their city and their community as well as their Credit Co-operative was given at the time of their arrival. An Introduction session was done by the Office Bearers and the Staff Members.

After that there was Student Saving Club’s Stationary Shop inauguration which was appreciated by Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur.

 

A UDC school located in Dakshinkali (Municipality ward no.9), was visited and had a chance to meet the Mr. Ratna Lal Tamang Principal and their religious master. It was exchange of ideas and knowledge.

22^nd August 2017

Visit to Gopaleshwor Community Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd. Providing an Introduction of their community and the Co-operative in which school students of Gaurishankar School, participated in it. This presentation was briefly joined by the Mayor of the City Mr. Mohan Basnet.

After the presentation, a field visit was scheduled to a Setidevi Secondary School, Sokhel, (Pharping, Kathmandu) where we met the student saving club members, Teachers and Principals. This school is Government operated, with the shortage of resources from the government, the principal provides a bit of a piece of land to teach the student about Botany and the agricultural methods and 2% of the profit from this agriculture is provided for the schools recreational facilities for sports event and festivals and other competitions.

 

A field visit of the Co-operative managed agriculture farm was scheduled. There was a pilot project for students, in which the student planted their trees as a way of learning as well as making the environment better, a practice that educates to respect the environment as well as teaching them the source of income and how could they be a part of it.

Returning back to the Kathmandu, it was a road trip back there.

23^rd August 2017

 

Arrival at Jhapa through 45 minutes Flight. Received by the Nepal Multipurpose Co-operative (NMC). After the flight there was welcoming and greeting session and an Introduction with the presentation for Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur with Ms. Indira Panta and Professor Dr. Punya Prasad Regmi.

After the Presentation there was a school visit (Durga Boarding Secondary School, Dhaijan (Jhapa District)) and interaction with the students of the Students Saying Club.

After the School Visit NMC arranged a visit to their dairy farm which has been established 2015 and is under process to get further results. It is slowly and gradually achieving the break-even point. Thus having a positive start and it is based on Cooperative Business Model. It’s a co-operative business that is growing in a region where it has a symbiotic relation with the members. For example, the dairy farms if they want to increase their dairy live stock from more than one they need investment, most likely loan from the bank, which the NMC can provide collateral on behalf of the member. NMC gets a future year of members and trust, while the dairy farmer gets business for the future.

 

24^th August 2017

The day began with the Introduction presentation of NMC Co-operative at the Head office, which I was informed is not in English and I had an option of either to attend it or to stay back at the hotel. I choose to complete my work and take a little bit of rest at the hotel.

Next stop was a chilling station for dairy farmers in Saranamati, Jhapa, it can be termed as a collection station for the milk for a particular area, all the milk is collected from the Members and is utilized by NMC to be send to dairy plant. It is further made in dairy products; Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Sweets etc.

 

25^th August 2017

Began with breakfast and general discussions.

 

Moved to SAHARA Saving & Credit Cooperative, one of the biggest Cooperative in the Jhapa District. Met the office bearers of the company and which led to a fruitful discussion of how they work in their respected district and their program to develop youth. They presented about their working and environment and the difficulties they overcame in developing cooperative. SAHARA is operated in 16 districted and growing.

The schedule planned let me to the Tea Garden of Ilam District. Before reaching there, Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur was introduced to a local dairy chilling plant owner of another private company.

After Lunch, we head straight to the Tea Garden, and the Plant where tea is manufactured. I had the chance to meet the Cooperative Tea Plant and their ways of how Tea is manufactured. Heard their issues with their sales and product quality.

 

It was refreshing to have their thoughts and the policies they were operating in and the trade difficulties.

On the half day end, it was time to head back to Jhapa district and in the evening it was planned to have an interactive session with the few employees of the NMC. Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur had the chance to meet the Youth of NMC Committee and its Vice Chairman Mr. Raju Uprety. It was fruitful session to see them motivated and had that glare in their eye to know about cooperative.

 

#aat

#aat

#aat

#aat

The session ended with Mrs. Indira Panta Note and it was helpful for the youth to be part of the Cooperative.

26^th August 2017

It was time to Depart from Jhapa and back to Kathmandu through plane. On returning to Khatmandu, I was give o tour of the city, one of the site was to visit the Nepal Jame Masjid (Mosque) which has a history, to its establishment.

There was time to see numerous temples in the land of Temples with unique history and support. It was truly a destination for the tourist to visit.

It was day to rest and to gather my information from different parts of Nepal. Every minute was worth to establish a better understanding of the cooperative movement in Nepal.

27^th August 2017

The day began meeting with the Civil Saving and Credit Co-operative Ltd. though Mrs. Ahsan Ali Thakur’s arrival was announced in short duration, Mr. Prakash Kumar Barma (General Manager) and Mr. Jeevan Raj Bajracharya (Deputy General Manager) were able to make some time to meet Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur from there scheduled.

 

A short tour of their office was done and a brief introduction was produced. One of the interesting things about their Co-operative was they were in Housing projects. There I was told that even though we are involved in housing projects but they are not cooperative housing. What they informed me is that the current laws prohibit them from creating Housing Cooperatives but there is hope that the new constitution to make way for the housing cooperative to flourish.

 

National Co-operative Bank Ltd. (NCBL) Staff and dignitetries

After having a meeting with Civil Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd. we moved to the National Co-operative Bank Limited (NCBL). To my knowledge, it is the only Cooperative bank that exist in Nepal and is also the one of the biggest Financial Co-operative Institution in Nepal. They have received the recognition from the Government as the Highest Tax Payers Cooperative company in Nepal. Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur was welcomed by Mr. K. B. Upreti (Managing Director) and rest of the staff. The presentation was presented by Mr. Nabin K. Karki (Head of Department of IT). Presentation contained the background and the history of the Cooperative as well as their Co-operative roots in their Company. It also updated me that the Government is introducing a new software that for Cooperative Institution to incorporate in their systems. This will provide the insight of the Cooperative demographics and the information which government is missing to make itself effective.

Secondly, I was glad to see the information available to NCBL was immensely helpful. After the presentation, we had a few Question & Answer sessions to have some clarification in ambiguous areas in presentation, which were cleared in the context.

Lunch was arranged by the NCBL and the Managing Directors was kind enough to join me for dinner.

After Lunch Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur headed to the 3rd Cooperative Institute of the day which is, Nepal Federation of Savings & Credit Cooperative Unions Ltd. (NEFSCUN), A Savings & Credit Cooperative that has members in 74 district out of 75 district. I was informed that they are the leading Cooperative institution in the Nation in the matters of technology and process. Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur was greeted by D.B. Basnet (Chairman), Paritosh Paudyal (Senior Vice Chairperson) and Shivajee Sapkota (CEO). A presentation was presented by the Shivajee Sapkota (CEO) with the aid of the video followed by the Question & Answer session. The presentation was substantially informative to have an overview of not just NEFSCUN but the Nepal Cooperative.

Interesting part was the NEFSCUN has its own Financially Literacy Program run under the financial support of SaMi/Helvetas but it is not related to Financial Literacy Program for students and graduates, started by Indira Panta. It has similar features but for all the different audience.

It was a learning Experience that was beneficial not just to me but to the ICA Committee on Youth Cooperation (ICYC).

Appendix

Gopaleshwor Community Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd.

Gopaleshwor Community Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd.
S.No.	Name	Position
1	Beerendra Kumar Balami	Chairman
2	Beejay Kumar Maharjan	Vice Chairman
3	Rejana Maharjan	Seceretary
4	Bharatmani Aryal	Treasure
5	Sarala Shrestha	Board Member
6	Dilu Balami	Board Member
7	Ram Kumar Balami	Board Member
8	Kiran Nepali	Board Member
9	Damodar Raila	Board Member
10	Pradumna Aryal	Board Member

 

Gopaleshwor Community Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd. (Office Staff)
S.No.	Name			Position
1	Bansi Krishna			Board Member
2	Krishna Bahadur Balami			Executive Manager
3	Sabina Maharjan			Office Chief
4	Dilu Balami			Accountant
5	Samjhana Balami			Computer Operator
6	Sushila Acharya			Marketer
7	Asmita Acharya			Marketer
8	Januka Bista			Accountant
Gopaleshwor Community Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd. (Student Saving & Credit Club Managing Committee)
S.No.		Name	Position
1		Beejay Kumar Maharjan	Coordinator
2		Suman Kumar Balami	Supervisor
3		Ashmita Balami	Member of student’s coordinator
4		Sushila Acharya	Member of Parent’s coordinator

 

 

Gopaleshwor Community Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd. (Student Saving Club’s Montessori Management)
S.No.	Name	Position
1	Ranjeeta Balami	Coordinator
2	Satidevi Balami	Principal
3	Suman Kumar Balami	Vice Principal
4	Bhawana Prajapati	Accountant
5	Sarashwoti Tamang	Teacher
6	Sunita Tamang	Teacher
7	Rassa Shrestha	Co- Teacher
8	Bageshwori Shrestha	Sister
9	Sarita Maharjan	Sister
10	Rajesh Balami	Driver

 

Gopaleshwor Community Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd. (Student Saving Club’s Stationary Shop)
S.No.	Name	Position
1	Ranjeeta Balami	Coordinator
2	Satidevi Balami	Principal
3	Suman Kumar Balami	Vice Principal
4	Bhawana Prajapati	Accountant
5	Sarashwoti Tamang	Teacher
6	Sunita Tamang	Teacher
7	Rassa Shrestha	Co- Teacher
8	Bageshwori Shrestha	Sister
9	Sarita Maharjan	Sister
10	Rajesh Balami	Driver

 

List of Members registered in Nepal:

List of Members of Co-operative Companies in Nepal. (http://www.ica-ap.coop/coop-search-by-country-only?field_country_value=NP)

1. NEPAL MULTIPURPOSE CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE UNION LTD (NEMCCU)
2. NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD (NCBL)
3. NEPAL AGRICULTURE COOPERATIVE CENTRAL FEDERATION (NACCF)
4. NATIONAL COOPERATIVE FEDERATION OF NEPAL LTD. [NCF]
5. NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (NCDB)

Nepal Multipurpose Co-operative (NMC) Society

 

Board Members
S.No.	Name	Position
1	Harka Subba, Fyak	Director
2	Laxmi Adhikari Kafle	Director
3	Kamal Guragain	Director
4	Haricharan Siwakoti	Director
5	Madhavchandra Pyakurel	Director
6	Bhagwati Ghimire Mainali	Director
7	Keshav Prasad Pokhrel	Director
8	Subha Laxmi Rai	Director
9	Khemnath Mishra	Director
10	Narayan Prasad Koirala	Director
11	Damber Bahadur Basnet	Director
12	Thakur Prasad Siwakoti	Director
13	Sri Prasad Mainali	Director
14	Laxmi Prasad Uprety	Vice Chairman
15	Ram Chandra Uprety	Chairman

 

Orientation towards an ethical media in Pakistan – 4th December, 2014

Speakers
M. Ziauddin former executive editor express tribune.
PECJ Director

Auranzaib Khan, director
Madam Shameem Anjum,

Depth Controller FM94

Former Employee of Radio Pakistan.

Training and development is required in this field.

Its better to speak good. By speaking good means, it should not offend or neglect any one in a bad way.

When use script try to use polite and decent words.

When speaking, speak with confidence and clear tone and clear vision.

Make notes for your program.

Radio is all about one to one communication. Its all about being specific.

When you are given the speaker its your responsibility to use it correctly.

Be firm, polite and careful in your tone and
Closing remarks from chief guest.

He was not involved in radio much.

On topic of ethics there has always been an issue. And we could not been able to agree upon on a single platform.

When broadcast media came into being, pamra laws were solid but it was under the control of govt. Which made it not reach to its potential.

TV got monopoly and the one who monopolized this can exploit it.

There are bad and good things about private media. They became the trend setters.
Scandles and other similar thing came into being.

There is difference in English and Urdu journalism.

Personal credibility is required to make a rapport. Credibility and reliability becomes more in 5years terms.

You should be proud of what you are doing.

Journalist are monitor of the societies.
Q&a
Pakistan has no deficiencies in talent, we have the potential to accomplish the impossible task.
In regards to the youth and the portrait in the international platform.
For example,
Right after the incident of malala incident,
One of my colleagues from Singapore asked that the women in Pakistan don’t get education and other legal rights are they educated in Pakistan and do you have any famouse female figures there.

The question is what is the media doing to improve the positive side of the youth of Pakistan. Should it be ignored for the moment or can it be catered to it.

Munsalik@rozan.org

Answer by AZ

Pakistan has a youth bulge – more than 60 percent of our population is below 20 or thereabouts. That makes youth a huge stakeholder not only in terms of demographics but also in the way Pakistan’s future is shaped by young people who are the most energetic and enterprising. Sadly, this is not reflected in our media. Our media is too focused on politics than real issues of the people including youth. However, there is hope. Beyond conventional media, youth are getting involved in the discourse around national issues on social media. They are becoming increasingly politicised – which wasn’t the case with my generation during Zia’s era when all political activities were willfully crushed. All that has changed now and the future – beginning with the digital revolution – belongs to the young people who live their lives online. In a way that has freed them from all real obstacles – they can say whatever they feel like saying, rally around causes and start their own movement. And that is why we see them becoming more and more involved in issues and expressing them passionately about them. My generation had no such platforms. So even if mainstream media doesn’t focus on youth for now, it will have no choice but to come around to it eventually because in time, the youth will take over the reins of media, just like it will other institutions.

Youth Co-operative Wing of Pakistan

Youth Co-operative Wing of Pakistan is a program initiated by the Karachi Co-operative Housing Societies Union Ltd. 2011.
Purpose:

The purpose is to revive the co-operative culture from slumber and to gather the youth at the unanimous platform of co-operative movement in Pakistan which will eventually help to develop Pakistan and its economy to reach new heights.

Goal:
To aware the Youth Community of Pakistan about the Co-operative Movement and its impact on the economy.
To work with youth related affairs on different Projects and initiate sustainable co-operative work in the community.
To actively participate in Social Activities for the benefit of the Communities of Pakistan.

Age Criteria:
The age Criteria is 18 – 35 years.

“Road Map of Modern Teaching” – A Report on School Coop Teachers Vocational Workshop 7th March 2015

Report on World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014; 6th – 10th May 2014

Essay Competition 2013: How to Build a Community Together (3rd Position Ms. Maryam Zahid)

The word community comes from Commune which means to assemble the people for doing a task collectively. Community is the name of Care & Share. According to the Islamic teachings the foundation of community must depend on equality and there should be no discrimination on the basis of cast, color and creed. The members of community should perform their duties promptly for the betterment of community. Thus the community will be strengthened. Being a part of a community is to support each other by not making differences. The members which are financially disturbed or who are in problem & trouble must be helped out by other members. The members should practice such methods which helps the community to become strong and give its benefits. The members should manifest their love and patriotism in words & deeds. If the members of any community work as one unit, the community becomes well established and the members come closer to each other. As it’s wisely said

“United we stand, Divided we fall”

The building of community depends on “Unity, Discipline & Justice” and without these elements; the community neither builds nor remains alive. There are so many ways to build a community together, like provide cheap stationary to the community members, organizing field trip for the members etc. One of them is “An Educational ground”. Community is build where needs are fulfilled. Sometimes these needs cause to come or being the people together. While studying in class, we realize that our some classmates are not good at Chemistry but they are good at Maths. So we would like to call them and invite them to do “Combined Study”. Thus, in this way we can easily remove their weakness in Chemistry and they can give us support in Maths. So on the basis of give and take the community is established. In this circle of community we learn a lot and the concepts will become clear regarding the subject. The variety of thoughts gets in the minds of members of community. When community once gets generated many facilities are conveyed to one another. Learning becomes faster in community. The books are transferred to one another. We have the opportunity to share the study skills which we observe. We can share the informative points with other schoolmates. The community gives us motivation to study and make improvements at which we are weak & also give us encouragement. CONCLUSION:    It is practically clear that community gives us the lesson of brotherhood, justice, discipline and unity; these are the basic teachings of Islam and our founder Quaid-e-Azam also emphasized on these points In the long run we will say that one match stick can easily be broken by our 2 fingers but more than 20 sticks can not be   broken even by the force of 5 fingers.

Written by: Maryam Zahid

Class – IX

C.P. & Berar High School for Girls – Karachi, Pakistan

Essay Competition 2013: How to Build a Community Together (2nd Position Ms. Ayesha Khalid)

History in the terms of live is the lesson learned or the experience of our predecessors. Considering the cooperatives history and its aspects it’s hard to determine that the cooperative business model develop from evolutionary chain of events or the revolutionary factor of occurrence. According to the writer, it is debatable to identify where does it lie. In writer’s point of view the intersection of the evolutionary and revolutionary ladder that help to form cooperative business model.

According to research gathered and the data done, the origins of the cooperative business model originate from a man named “Robert Owen”. In modern times he is known as the father of Cooperatives. The followers of Robert Owen and its idea are called “Owenites”.

There are many things important in this world that helps us to build relationships, comfort and peace of mind. Perhaps the most important and memorable places is the community’s in which we live. Building a community takes many different elements and many different peoples to ensure a sound safe community. Within a community peoples have responsibilities to preserve and protect it. Being a part of community is to support each other and help each other.

Community programs are especially important when attempting to build a pleasurable and safe community. For instance, I want positive treatment out of each community member, such as respect, fairness and courtesy. Not everyone wants to help each other in need. But I am willing to sacrifice my time for things as baby sittings services and to aid other in need. I think a strong community is defined by the community members contribute such as volunteering and other community needs that our not always founded. By setting goals and plans will help in many missions, to aid each other.

For Example, if I am the student of class 10 and I have to educate the poor peoples of our community this could be called as Co-operating and developing the community and this is also one of the principle of the cooperative community. I would spread or convey my abilities to the children whose parents are not able to afford their fees. To elaborate further, if our school student cooperative community’s member made the group of 3 to 4 student, who shall bear the fees of one student by arranging the little amount from their fees, it would eventually contribute and benefit to the members of the community.

In the end, we should have to struggle to build our community more literate and it could be achieved by spirit and tolerance which will eventually help us to achieve our goal.   By this way my community becomes a strongest and most educated community in my region.

Written By: Ayesha Khalid

Class X

C.P. & Berar High School for Girls – Karachi, Pakistan

Essay Competition 2013: How to Build a Community Together (1st Position Ms. Zainab Raees)

Cooperation’s neither have bodies to be punished nor souls to be condemned. Basically co-operation is a word derived from co-operate which means “to work for betterment”. There are many examples and themes of co-operation but our idea which could be provoked for the betterment of the society is to form a co-operation. World is now facing day to day challenges regarding employment, production and consumption. Each and every one is trying its best to compete with the existing world. China is one of the dominant country of the world which has played its tremendous role to cope with the current issues world is facing now. Apart from work Chinese are working hard for the welfare of their people. They used to spend their non-working period for the welfare of the people. Pakistani too has this feeling of enthusiasm. Many people in our country wanted to work for the development of our country but they can’t afford it by money. They have such brilliant perceptions and sentiments to give but for that we should provide them a platform on which we can stand equally. The key for such type of co-operation is management, utilization of resources and to make people independent so they could make their future lives better.

The head of this co-operation will invest money and will provide a land for such co-operation. They will hire a plot where they will discuss their issues regarding society and in this meeting everyone can give their opinions and perceptions. They will develop that land for the orphans where they will apply a standard family system which is a part of Pakistanis culture. They will focus on the issues of family planning and a plan of setting a standard family they will divide people in a group like their will be one head with two youngsters and one mature personality and a child under 12years.These youngsters will earn livelihood for their respective families and will give their 20% income to the co-operation and 80% of his income he will use for his family requirements. With this 20% of donation co-operation will expand its activities and make shops and more ways for earning in that society. So that more youth can work to earn a better livelihood which resulted fully utilization of resources.

There will be 4 heads of this co-operation which will know to be the investors of this organization. They will work for the people and for the betterment of their future. The heads of this organization will find a better way or solution for the respective issues raised among the people. They will focus on how to make a complete family. These managers will decide that how the money could be used for the betterment of the co-operation.

The main theme of such organization is to make the people independent by providing them education free of cost so that every member of this co-operation can take part. The 20% of the income which every worker is donating is accumulazied for the business purpose of the youth of the families. They makes them educationally independent so that they can do their business independently but because of any reason if any person get jobless they offer them job opportunity and loan schemes. When they get financially independent the co-operation provide them with some amount to get married in this way they can live their happy and independent life. In this way others will get chance to make their future bright by being a part of such co-operation.

Concluding, such societies are symbol of unity bringing the neglected ones near and to be a part of family for the benefit for each and every person of the family. Our country needs such this type of welfares for the brightness of the future who can’t afford or have no one to fulfill their needs and requirements. For resources till the independence this chain would provide this community a tremendous growth which would attract others to work and invest in such co-operations. This co-operation gained a profitable society.

“It’s no important that there should be more people but few committed people can also do effective and creative work.”

“CO-OPERATION DOES NOT MAKE PEOPLE,

PEOPLE MAKE CO-OPERATIONS”

 

Written by: Zainab Raees

Class – X

C.P. & Berar High School for Girls – Karachi, Pakistan

Third Workshop on Introduction to Co-operative & First Essay Competition 2013, held in C.P. & Berar High School for Girls, Karachi, Pakistan.

The Communities in Pakistan, specifically in the 4 provinces lack the knowledge about how the Co-operative works in the Society, City, Country, Continent and the Globe. Thus, they are also unaware of the benefit that it bring with it.

Karachi Co-operative Housing Societies Union Ltd. under the leadership of Mr. Muhammad Sharif Bhaiji as a Managing Director with the Youth Co-operative Wing of Pakistan (YCWP) Program started to spread the message in the communities of Pakistan. Every year a workshop is conducted to promote youth in terms of Co-operative field and define its benefits in the societies and communities in Pakistan.

  

This year on 17 September 2013, another workshop was held to promote the Co-operative movement and aware the community about how Co-operative works in a society, city and country. Previously, we have always targeted the audience ranging from 18-35 years of age but this time we planned to target somewhat differently. This time we aimed to target 13-18 years of age and the results obtained were quiet intriguing.

This event was not only organized my Youth Co-operative Wing of Pakistan (YCWP) instead it was performed in collaboration with the Women Wing as well. The selected audience was all females this time and the total numbers of participants present were 42 belonging from C.P. & Berar Co-operative Girls High School, Karachi, Pakistan.

The workshop started with an ice breaking introduction, so that students can feel the freedom to relax and later on express themselves freely without any hesitation. Then the main course was served by providing the definition, history and working of co-operative in Pakistan and in the world. The workshop did not just focus on the Learning part but also on different activities so that the participation and the interest could be increased in the students. It served well by mixing it with Knowledge. This event just did not impart knowledge to the students but also it was designed to make them think about how the world and co-operative movement affect there live with respect to the communities.

The student on the personal level possessed an aptitude to face the challenges head on with surprising results. They were much faster and efficient in working on the projects as compared to any one that I trained before. Currently, the student lack a sense of maturity and the general knowledge related to Pakistan Government and currents events but still viewing there progress at this age was amazing and I hope that it will lead to a better future.

The feedback that I received from the students was excellent. The points of view of a few students are as follows:

–          They didn’t knew what co-operative was and how did it helped our country before this workshop session. So they were excited to know about such things.

–          Some of them enjoyed the activities and they were able to relate the actives to the co-operative process.

–          Some said that there should be another workshop so to clarify further ambiguities.

–          Others simple said that it was something new for them and it was nice to have such activities in school.

Workshop was only one aspect of this event; the other aspect of the event was the essay competition which was on topic “How to Build the Community Together”. The purpose of the essay was to encourage the thinking process of the upcoming rising stars. The youth needs to think of different ways to build their community on their own thus they need to work on ideas in order to develop their own community and identify the actual challenges they could face. To encourage the youth in the essay competition, cash prizes are awarded to the top three winners. Their names are as follows:-

1^st Position (Won Rs. 5000) – Zainab Raees

2^nd Position (Won Rs. 3000) – Ayesha Khalid

3^rd Position (Won Rs. 2000) – Mariyam Zahid

Following the feedback received does let us know how co-operative is dormant in our societies and we need to cultivate by bringing the communities together. Awareness about the co-operative movement is just the first step. In the second phase we need to develop and create projects to involve community specially the youth, so to sustain the economy and therefore build a better Pakistan.

Introduction to Co-operative: Second Workshop held in Karachi, Pakistan

Karachi Co-operative Housing Society Union Ltd. initiated the Youth Co-operative Wing Program in 2011 in order to make the new or the upcoming generation aware of the Co-operative Model and its impact on the youth of Pakistan.

For this purpose the Youth Co-operative Wing of Pakistan (YCWP), looking at the deficiencies of the current youth knowledge and information regarding Co-operative and its way of doing Business, introduced Co-operative workshops which is there to aware the youth about the Co-operative Model and history and also open discussion related to Co-op in Pakistan.

In order to keep the sprit high and keep revolving the message of Co-operative Movement in Pakistan we conducted 2^nd Introduction to Co-operative (Intro to Coop) workshop in Muhammad Ali Jinnah University (MAJU), Karachi Campus.

For this particular event, few individuals were selected to be in the event organizers team, their names are as follows:-

• Umair Latif Khan (Supervisor)
• Shumail Aqeel
• Qamar-Ul-Arfeen
• Muhammad Adeel Qureshi
• Valeed bin Arif
• Waleed Ahmed
• Shariq Saleem
• Asma Siddiqi
• Muhammad Uzair Zahid

Each of these individual worked as voluntaries and were given the task suited to their capabilities. Each of these participants performed there task with zeal and devotion to the full extent of their capabilities. Further on the willingness to cater the 200 participants were remarkable and there results were beyond expectation i.e. they performed efficiently while serving the needs of the participants.

Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur was the Organizer, Manager and Trainer to conduct this event. He was solely responsible to Co-ordinate between Muhammad Ali Jinnah University (MAJU) and Karachi Co-operative Housing Societies Union Ltd.

Approximately, 200 participants came to attend the lecture. Only looking at the number is enough to see the eagerness of the youth to participate in this event and similar events. The youth which were targeted as the audience, were mostly business students of different specialization. In the beginning of the session, everyone was bit confused and curious to know about what was it all about. Finally when the curtains were up, they really began to ponder on different possibilities with or without government support. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, therefore to make things interesting few activities were incorporated in the events to make participants understand how things work and to give the idea that unseen barriers may exist which can be overcome. The activities were not only for work they serve to entertain the crowd as well but that’s not all prizes were distributed so to encourage the participants to provide the maximum output, in whatever way they can extend in these activities. Now the challenge for the youth is how or in what way to implement in the society or societies.

The main purpose of the workshop is too aware the youth as well as makes them think about the near future. For this purpose different activities were introduced in the group in order to make them understand as well as create a more entertaining and active workshop. Feedback forms were given to the participants, in order to get a much better picture of the workshop. Some of the comments are as follows:

“I got more knowledge about the Co-operative principles and values”

“We learned to achieve our goals with in limitation”

“I enjoyed all the activities”

Professor Mumtaz Ahmad Khan, Chairman and Associate Dean of Muhammad Ali Jinnah University, was the person who approved the Idea to conduct the workshop in this respective university. He welcomed the Idea to conduct the workshop on Co-operative and supported the event by encouraging the youth to participate in this event.

At the end of the session, Professor Mumtaz A. Khan was presented with the shield by Mr. Ahsan Ali Thakur on behalf of Mr. Muhammad Sharif Bhaiji, Managing Director of Karachi Co-operative Housing Societies Union Ltd. The Shield was the reminder of the Co-operative and cultural sprite of Pakistan and the ‘Flame of Will’ of co-operative should be passed to the upcoming generation.

All in all, workshop was a tremendous success and young people are motivated and encouraged to grow in Co-operative field. Encouraging and making the youth aware about the co-operative movement is no simple or easy task and it’s a huge responsibility to spread the message of Co-operative but a simple candle can light up the path of success.

People make Co-operative and Co-operative makes the Community.