From Small Savings to Big Dreams. Kendra Prestin, a Grade 5 student in Negros Oriental relates her Cooperative Journey before a worldwide audience of co-op leaders at the ICA Global Conference in New Delhi. Here is her testimony word-for-word.

Mabuhay!

Namaste!

A pleasant day to all of you, our distinguished guests and honored co-op leaders.

Today is a magnificent day for me. I have experienced many “firsts” in my life: my first time riding a plane, my first time traveling outside the country, my first time joining an international event, and most importantly, my first time sharing with a big crowd like this. Experiencing these firsts with my mother, who is also here today, is such a joyful time in my life and will be a part of my core memories. And my first International Year of Cooperatives! I am incredibly thankful and blessed for this opportunity to share my journey and experiences as a young member of the co-op in my country, the Philippines.

My name is Kendra Faith Ramirez Prestin. I am 10 years old and currently a Grade V student at Sagrada Elementary School in Negros Oriental, Central Philippines. I have a brother, and I am the youngest in my family.I have been an Aflatoun member of DCCCO Youth Zone Laboratory Cooperative (DYZLC) for 1 year and 2 months now. Aflatoun is a social and financial education program for children and youth in the Philippines, initiated by our co-op federation, National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO). Our laboratory cooperative operates under the supervision of DCCCO Multipurpose Cooperative, a primary cooperative in the Visayas region of the Philippines. Since its founding in 1968, DCCCO with a membership of 192,000 and assets of $170.5M, has helped many Filipinos plan for their finances, pay for their necessities, start and grow their enterprises, send their children to school, build homes, and achieve their life’s dreams. Over time, our cooperative has provided opportunities for the Filipino people to access holistic and inclusive financial services, community development programs, and infrastructure.

DCCCO, in collaboration with the esteemed National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO Network), has introduced the Aflatoun Program in schools. This partnership aims to empower young people by promoting social and financial education, equipping them with essential skills to build a sustainable future. Our teachers are trained in the core elements of saving and spending, planning and budgeting, social and financial enterprises, and self-awareness. They encourage us to open savings accounts and start saving even just a few pesos. Since I like to save, I told my parents about it, and I was happy that they supported me. Each day, I save 10 pesos (about seventeen cents) from my 30 pesos allowance or ‘baon.’ By the end of the school week, I have saved up 50 pesos (approximately 85 cents)! Sometimes, when my parents go to DCCCO to pay their loan because they are also members of the coop, they add to my savings if they have extra money. DCCCO visits schools and organizes savings days for all of us. We get excited every savings day! We bring our passbooks and line up as if we are saving in a bank. It’s a happy feeling to see my savings grow.

We are not rich; we live a very simple life. My family is a recipient of the government’s conditional cash transfer, a government initiative in the Philippines that supports families living below the poverty line. With this financial support, I am able to go to school. Even with this assistance, my parents work hard and do not solely rely on government aid. My dad works as a store merchandiser, while my mom is a store attendant. Their active membership in the co-op also helped our family.

I decided to join DCCCO’s Aflatoun Program because I heard that they hold fun activities where we can learn new skills, hone our talents, and make new friends.

We hold our Annual General Assembly where all young members of our lab coop gather for meetings. Through this event, I meet other young co-op members from different places—some in person and others online! We dance, engage in discussions, elect our leaders, and approve plans and budgets. Since becoming a member, I’ve been saving money regularly; this year, I was thrilled and proud to be awarded as one of the Top Depositors in my entire school! I could hardly believe that even with my small but consistent savings, I became one of the top depositors—surpassing even my more affluent classmates. Thanks to what I've learned in school through the Aflatoun Program and the encouragement from my parents and teachers, I have become more confident and participated in various school activities such as the Inter-School Folk Dance Competition, Little Miss Manjuyod pageant, and Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

Being part of the Aflatoun Program taught me the importance of saving money and being responsible with what I have. I've learned that even small amounts can add up significantly if saved regularly. I can proudly say that from saving just 15 pesos (about twenty-six cents) over one year, my current savings amount to P12,509.32 pesos (approximately $212.80).

I also learned how to be part of a team and how decisions can be made even at a young age. It’s fun to participate in activities and discuss plans with my fellow youth. I see how people can help each other make a difference together. My teachers have had a significant impact on me; they taught me about managing money, setting goals, and being disciplined. These experiences are instilling good habits that will benefit me as I grow up. Saving money, planning ahead, and being responsible will help me achieve my dream of becoming a nurse while handling challenges along the way.

My advice for young people like me is to start small and be patient; even just a few pesos a day can make a difference over time. Try to save a little from your allowance or any extra money you receive. I hope cooperatives all over the world will create spaces for young people like me where we can learn about money management while saving money, making friends, and practicing how to become good leaders.

I hope that our cooperatives and schools will continue empowering children both socially and financially. It is immensely helpful that at such a young age we have opportunities to enhance our capabilities, guide our decisions, and build resilience as we grow older to face many challenges ahead. Who knows?

Perhaps one day I could be an employee or even a manager or leader within my cooperative.

Thank you so much for listening to me today! I am truly grateful to the organizers of ICA, NATCCO, and DCCCO for giving me this chance to be part of this important event. I also thank my school, teachers, and family for always supporting me as I grow. I promise to do my best every day to become a better person. While I still have a long journey ahead of me, I will not be afraid of life's difficulties because God, my family, and my lab coop will always be here to accompany and guide me.

On behalf of the kiddie cooperative leaders of my school, I wish you all a very happy International Year of Cooperatives 2025, where we all continue to live through the ideals and principles of cooperatives.

Thank you! Long live the cooperative movement!