With the objective of strengthening the formation of the cooperative movement amongst its associates, COOPETRABASUR has recently developed three training courses at its facilities in the South Pacific and Caribbean areas of Costa Rica.

At the union’s facilities in the South Pacific, members of the Administration Council attended a lecture on Philosophy and the Cooperative Movement Organization lead by attorney Carlos Granados.

The program was complemented with training on Fair Trade.  Inés Mendoza, representative of the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations Internacional, FLO, was the person in charge of this training.

At the facilities of the Algarva Ranch in the Caribbean, attorney Granados lead a workshop on the Cooperative Movement and Fair Trade.

There is a proposal of workshops ready for the remainder of 2008 that includes field workers, money collaborators, administrative staff and the community in general.

In the case of field workers, it is intended to train them in the use of pesticides, agriculture practices (trimming, propping, and bagging, amongst others) and first aid to be able to assist in the case of a snake bite or an accidental cut.

Plant workers are intended to be trained in food handling, cleaning and disinfection, as well as first aid.

The administrative workers are expected to attain knowledge in regards to first aid, computer package operation and basic accounting.

And lastly, the community will be able to count on first aid training, community security, drug use prevention, youth, use of computers and domestic violence.