The co-ops’ GAD efforts are also a long story to tell. In the 1980s to early 1990s, the co-op primaries and federations in the Philippines and other Asian countries were already becoming aware of the gender issues in society that permeated co-ops--and they wanted to act on these issues. Now, the GERC Inc. is sharing its experience on mainstreaming GAD in co-ops, gained from years of promoting gender equality for development in and through co-ops, starting from the activities of its precursor the Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF). By sharing its GAD mainstreaming experience, GERC Inc. also gives tribute to the first co-ops and cooperators who bravely and passionately took the initial steps to gender equality and now ENJOY the fruits of their GAD efforts (e.g., lessened delinquency; improved policies and programs; increased membership; more actions on women's and men's concerns), and INSPIRE other co-ops now who dare say that “We are for gender equality.” Together, let us work together even more as we flex co-ops strength (and in partnership with co-op-supporting organizations) toward achieving our goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that the voice of every cooperator—women and men, youth and adults--is heard and taken into account.

And through GAD, may co-ops become even more a “countervailing force” against gender inequality, climate change, violent extremism, issues young people face, and all other forces that threaten people’s very life and existence. (See http://cda.gov.ph/resources/updates/news/1232-2019-cooperative-month-theme)
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