A cooperative effort worth making

By Rawle Lucas

Origins
Some of the young members are among the 44 percent of Guyanese who are not in the labour force.  Not happy with being among the least productive, they want things to be different for themselves, family and their friends, and have taken matters into their own hands.  They sought help and eventually formed the Technology Coopera-tive Society, Limited. Thirteen persons, consisting of eight females and five males, signed the application for the formation of the organization.  They all live in the county of Demerara. The force behind the initiative came from young ambitious Guyanese women who share a desire to change the direction of their lives and that of their families and friends.  They also want to avoid the vicious cycle of poverty that still threatens many families in Guyana.

The existence of the personal computer and the emergence of the internet and personal communication devices are seen as affording these investors an opportunity to pursue and achieve their desired goals.  With the registration of the Technology Cooperative Society on October 2, 2009 at Georgetown, Guyana, they are happily on their way to changing the social and economic prospects for themselves, families and friends.  The Cooperative is registered with a Meadowbrook address.

Purpose
An examination of its rules reveals that the Technology Cooperative Society will pursue multipurpose business objectives and intends to promote the use and development of technology for its members and customers. It is preparing to provide internet access and communication services and business services to its members and other customers.  However, a major component of its work will be education.  Leaders of the Cooperative understand the importance of giving its members the skill set to be self-employed or to work for others and learning events are central to achieving this goal.  The learning events will cater to both adults and schoolchildren and will include training in various popular computer applications and more cutting-edge technology for use in private industry and public service.

The members of the Cooperative are not financially well off.  However, they have decided to put their resources together to achieve the change for which they are looking.  It is an impressive effort under the circumstances.  They realize that, as currently endowed, they would not be able to make much progress without help.  Recognizing their own limitations, the members of the Cooperative have turned to experienced Guyanese for assistance.  In keeping with its focus, the Cooperative has placed current communication technology at its service and, with the use of the internet, has been able to leverage good-quality Guyanese human resources from home and abroad.

An advisory group, headed by Dr. Roslin Khan, an Associate Professor and long-time examiner for CXC, and including qualified computer, business, and environmental studies professionals, will support the efforts of the Cooperative in this area.  Dr. Khan, also a former schoolteacher and Lecturer of the University of Guyana, will lead a group of highly skilled Guyanese educators in designing, developing and implementing the learning events of the Technology Cooperative Society.

Focus
A conversation with its Chairman, Shonelle Daniels, reveals that this Cooperative is not consumed by the moment and has an admirable long-range vision.  With the desire of making the future brighter for Guyanese, all learning events will emphasize team building skills, critical thinking skills and enhancing productivity with modern technology.  The leaders of the Cooperative are confident that they understand some of the things that motivate Guyanese and that could make them better and more responsible citizens.  They believe this because they have gained the understanding that teamwork, for example, would be of benefit to themselves and their members.  They therefore feel that with the triage of team building, critical thinking and problem solving principles embedded in all learning events, members and other beneficiaries will be better equipped to pursue their personal ambitions and understand how to deliver social and economic advantages to their communities and to their employers.

The programs will be available to all persons who want to be part of acquiring and using cutting-edge technology to make life better for themselves and family, including those persons who want to reset the learning button and develop new skills, new careers and a more fulfilling lifestyle.

Recalibrating their life experience is as much a challenge for the members of the cooperative as it would be for anyone who is tormented by a bad addiction.  The members have made the first moves towards addressing their problems and have been pragmatic about it.  The Cooperative will be relying heavily on its advisory group to get the learning events moving and to set
participants in the right direction.  Significant progress has already been made in developing the programme and the Cooperative will be announcing some after-school learning events shortly for school-age children in the areas of forensic science, climate science and other cutting-edge technology.

The courses are suitable for high school students who are curious and who want to challenge their minds while learning important new skills and upgrading existing ones.  Based on what I know, these programmes will be entertaining and have the potential to add tremendous value to the social skills and learning experience of participants in areas such as math, life sciences and environmental science.  Once carried on continuously, these events could eventually help to strengthen Guyana’s capacity for effective law enforcement and criminal investigation over time.  It would also position participants to increase their understanding of the impact of global warming on the environment and to determine how to use their knowledge to shape their lifestyle for the future.  The Cooperative will rely on instructors with experience teaching these courses and working with high school students.

The courses will be adapted to meet the expectations of adults who also have an interest in becoming involved in these activities.  The adaptations will include topics that aim to offer adults the possibility of starting their own business or enhancing their experience at work.  The Cooperative is seeking to introduce the learning events next year and will seek to maximize the opportunities for students during the July to September break.

Inspiration from Victoria
The Technology Cooperative Society, Limited is embarking on its journey 170 years after the first cooperative movement in Guyana was formed.  As the Technology Cooperative Society thinks about the future, it is important to acknowledge the commemoration of this seminal historic event undertaken by the pioneers of Victoria.  Many groups of Victorians and other Guyanese will come together this month to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the land purchase that changed the course of Guyanese history.  These celebrations are therefore worthy of the support of all Guyanese since the courage of the people of Victoria inspired the development of villages in Guyana and the spirit of community and hospitality for which the country is well known.  Guyana has experienced many twists and turns since the creation of Victoria and the several other villages that followed the birth of the cooperative movement in Guyana.  The Technology Cooperative Society, Limited has emerged at a time when the country needs a rebirth of the civic-minded spirit of community.

In my view, it would be fitting for the Technology Cooperative Society to find a way to honour the people of Victoria on this 170th anniversary of the founding of the village and the pioneering of cooperation in Guyana.  Such an act would be a move in the right direction.