The Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives (KFCC) organized a workshop at the Myanmar Saemaul Undong Academy in Yangon, Myanmar to promote the Saemaul Geumgo Movement. Nine former and current officials from Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of Myanmar took part in the workshop organized from 22 August to 2 September.  The Saemaul Geumgo development model has two pillars – 1) sustainable financial development, stressing savings and 2) self-help development highlighting the co-operative principles. The workshop touched upon the application of cooperative principles, establishment and organization, savings, loans, and accounting. Thanks to the voluntary participation and discussion, textbooks were successfully published based on Myanmar circumstances.

The officials who successfully completed the workshop will start delivering lectures to Myanmar village leaders from October. KFCC plans to support the establishment and operation of Saemaul Geumgo, and promote Saemaul Geumgo Movement to make seeds of hope blossom into a beautiful reality. Former President of Thalyin Cooperative University, Mr. Thein Tun said, “Saemaul Geumgo development model based on savings is what Myanmar really needs, so I will modify and supplement it and make it take strong root in Myanmar, contributing to the Myanmar rural development”. KFCC hopes that this small step of education can create big change in Myanmar rural development.