Members of Javlacta Business Cooperative in Moldova were unsure of where
their milk went after being delivered to the collection tanks. Maura Schwartz, a
USAID Farmer to Farmer volunteer from Oregon, did more than show the
cooperatives the value of their raw product - she also increased members'
understanding of their impact on the dairy market.
Javlacta needed to be better organized, train their board of directors, and give
members a reason to participate in the cooperative. Maura Schwartz, through
several business cooperative trainings, introduced Javlacta members to methods
of attracting new members and organizing annual meetings. The board
members participated in training on a regular basis to ensure they had a clear
understanding of basic responsibilities. Guidance was also provided on
adjusting the cooperative charter to observe current interests and future
development trends. With this training provided by The Citizens Network for
Foreign Affairs and funded by USAID, producers were able to envision the value
of their organization and are becoming increasingly involved in its future.
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