Manchester City Centre, United Kingdom – Cooperative leaders from the Philippines gathered in Manchester City Centre from February 10 to 21, 2024 for the prestigious Global Cooperative Executive Masterclass, a transformative educational program aimed at honing leadership skills of coop leaders, executives, and next-generation cooperators. 

The Masterclass was organized by CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative, the National Federation of Cooperative Primaries in the Philippines (NaFeCoop), in collaboration with the Co-operative College (UK).

The 10-day Masterclass offered diverse activities designed to immerse participants in the rich history and principles of cooperation. Highlights included a learning tour at the Rochdale Pioneer’s Museum, widely recognized as the birthplace of the worldwide cooperative movement, where coop leaders delved into the foundational ideas that shaped cooperative principles. Additionally, the coop leaders toured Cooperative Group UK Old Buildings, engaged in classroom sessions at Manchester City Centre, and visited the London Interdisciplinary School.

With a focus on interactive learning tours, networking sessions, experiential learning sessions, classroom lectures, and group discussions and activities, the Masterclass provided the coop leaders with a comprehensive understanding of cooperative practices and their global significance. 

Notable cooperatives represented at the event included Tagum Cooperative, represented by Nenita R. Malbas, CPA, MBA, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and Vivelyn D. Fronteras, Chief Operations Officer, Tam-an Banaue Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Perpetual Help Multipurpose Cooperative (PHCCI) from Tacloban and Dumaguete, Metro Ormoc Community Multi-purpose Purpose Cooperative (OCCI), Mindanao Consolidated Cooperative Bank (MCCB), Makilala Multi-Purpose Cooperative, CESLA Multi-Purpose Cooperative, CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative, Coop Life General Insurance & Financial Service Agency (CLIFSA), DCCCO Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Barangka Credit Cooperative, and Holy Cross Savings and Credit Cooperative. The Global Cooperative Executive Masterclass offers an opportunity for coop leaders, executives, and next-generation cooperators to immerse themselves in a dynamic and culturally diverse learning experience. Coop leaders are expected to be well-equipped to navigate the complexities of today’s Philippine Cooperative Movement with confidence, ensuring the continued growth and success of cooperatives both locally and globally. Yna Gracelle J. Amores