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People learning about cooperative finance in a classroom setting in Paraguay
Independent Cooperative Education · Paraguay

You deposit every month.
But do you know what happens to your money?

Four focused sessions that give cooperative members in Paraguay the knowledge to understand their cooperative, exercise their rights, and participate meaningfully in the annual assembly.

Fully Independent No cooperative affiliation
Four Sessions Structured learning path
For Active Members Who save regularly
Based in Asunción Paraguay
A cooperative member reviewing their savings booklet with an educator in Asunción
4 Sessions From passive to informed member

Most members deposit. Few understand.

Thousands of cooperative members across Paraguay make their monthly deposits faithfully — yet very few understand what their cooperative actually does with those funds, what decisions are made in their name, or what rights they hold as member-owners.

This program was designed specifically for that gap. It is not a promotion for any cooperative, nor a recommendation of where to save. It is purely educational — structured knowledge for people who deserve to understand the institution they belong to.

Where savings go How funds are used and managed
Your rights As a member-owner of the cooperative
Reading a balance Simplified financial statements
Assembly participation Questions that matter

Knowledge that belongs to every member

Each topic in this program addresses a real gap that most cooperative members experience — but rarely talk about.

Session 1

How a Savings and Credit Cooperative Works

Understand the cooperative model from the ground up — how it differs from a bank, who owns it, how decisions are made, and what happens to the money members deposit every month.

Key Concept

Member = Owner

Unlike a bank customer, a cooperative member is also a part-owner of the institution.

Key Concept

Democratic Control

One member, one vote — regardless of how much you have saved.

Session 3

Reading a Simplified Balance Sheet

Financial statements do not have to be intimidating. This session teaches members how to identify the key figures in a cooperative's annual report — assets, liabilities, member equity, and surplus — using clear, plain-language explanations.

Session 2

Your Rights as a Member

Information access, voting, profit sharing, and how to raise concerns.

Session 4

The Annual Assembly: Questions That Matter

Most members never attend. Those who do often feel unprepared. This session provides a practical framework for understanding what is discussed, what to look for in reports, and what questions any member is entitled to ask.

Four sessions. One clear path.

Each session builds on the previous one, creating a complete picture of how cooperatives work and how members can engage meaningfully.

Session 01

The Cooperative Model Explained

A clear introduction to how savings and credit cooperatives function in Paraguay — the legal framework, the role of INCOOP, the difference between a cooperative and a commercial bank, and what it means to be a member-owner rather than just a customer.

Cooperative vs. Bank INCOOP oversight Member ownership
01
02
Session 02

Member Rights and Responsibilities

A detailed look at what the law and the cooperative's own statutes guarantee to every member — the right to information, the right to vote, the right to receive a share of surplus, and the channels available for raising concerns or filing complaints.

Right to information Voting rights Surplus distribution Complaint channels
Session 03

Understanding the Simplified Balance Sheet

Financial literacy tailored to cooperatives. Participants learn to identify the main sections of an annual financial report — what assets and liabilities mean in a cooperative context, how to read member equity, and what the surplus figure represents for members.

Assets & liabilities Member equity Annual surplus Liquidity indicators
03
04
Session 04

Participating in the Annual Assembly

The annual assembly is the most important democratic moment in any cooperative's year — yet most members skip it. This session covers what happens there, what decisions are made, how to read the agenda, and a practical list of questions every member can ask.

Assembly agenda Board accountability Questions to ask Voting procedures

Ready to understand your cooperative?

This program is designed for cooperative members in Paraguay who want to move from passive participation to informed engagement. No prior financial knowledge is needed — just curiosity and a desire to understand.

Contact Us About the Program

Independent educational program. We do not promote any specific cooperative.

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