Co-op News

Young Mindanawon co-operators gathered at the scenic Mt. Guru in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental, on December 19-20, 2024, for the 4th Junior Cooperators’ Camp (JCC). Organized by MASS-SPECC’s Youth Arm — the Co-op Youth Parliament (CYP) — in partnership with the Sustainable Co-operatives (SCOOPS) Program, the camp inspired participants to embrace their roles as future co-op leaders and climate advocates.

This year’s camp focused on equipping young leaders with a deeper understanding of the co-operative movement, sharpening their leadership skills, and mobilizing them for climate action, particularly under United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) No. 13.

Sixteen youth leaders from MSU-IIT National Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Bansalan Cooperative, Panabo Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative, First Community Cooperative (FICCO), and Tagum Cooperative enthusiastically took part in this transformative two-day event.

Kicking off the camp with a deep dive into the co-op movement’s history, principles, and values, Ms. Justine Lynn C. Limocon, Operations Manager of Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative, energized participants with her session, “Training on Empowering Youth for Sustainable Co-operative Development: Climate Action and Leadership in Focus.”

Meanwhile, the 2nd day of the camp began on a hopeful note as participants planted 70 native tree seedlings during the Tree Growing Activity. Each tree symbolized their pledge to protect the environment and support global efforts to combat climate change.

Throughout the day, participants delved into key topics. Ms. Shiena Marie Lagura, SCOOPS Focal Person and Environmental Analyst, led an eye-opening session on “Sustainability Appreciation.”

Atty. Dulce Bustamante Delmo, Chairperson of the International Cooperative Alliance – Asia and the Pacific (ICA-AP) Committee on Youth Cooperation, captivated the group with her talk on “Green Skills and Green Technology,” sharing practical tools to champion eco-friendly initiatives in their communities.

The camp culminated with a commitment-building activity that challenged participants to step up as active co-op members and climate champions. Together, they pledged to promote co-operative values and drive environmental preservation in their communities, embodying the spirit of the International Year of Co-operatives (IYC) 2025 theme, “Co-operatives for a Sustainable Future.”

The Junior Cooperators’ Camp showcased MASS-SPECC’s unwavering dedication to empowering the next generation of co-op leaders. By blending leadership training with environmental action, the camp inspired young leaders to take bold steps toward sustainable development, ensuring a brighter future for their co-ops and communities.