By HarrishThirukumaran
“Let’s rebuild together.” This is the 2021 theme for International Day of Cooperatives that is annually observed on July 3. This first Saturday in July and beyond will be an opportunity for cooperatives to demonstrate how they are meeting the COVID-19 pandemic crisis with solidarity and resilience. It willalso offer communities a people-centred and environmentally just recovery. The campaign is known as #CoopsDay.A cooperative is defined as a business setup that is owned and operated by all those who work for it.
In the fields of health, agriculture, production, retail, finance, housing, employment, education, social services and many other spheres where cooperatives are found, the more than one billion cooperative members worldwide continue to prove that no one needs to face a crisis like the pandemic on their own.
#CoopDay will be the occasion to spread the word about how a human-centred business model, sustained by the cooperative values of self-help and solidarity and the ethical values of social responsibility and concern for community, can reduce inequality, create shared prosperity and respond to the immediate impacts of COVID-19.
Co-operatives have been acknowledged as associations and enterprises through which citizens can effectively improve their lives while contributing to the economic, social, cultural, and political advancement of their community and nation. The co-operative movement has been also recognized as a distinct and major stakeholder in both national and international affairs.
Co-operatives’ open membership model affords access to wealth creation and poverty elimination. This results from the co-operative principle of members’ economic participation: ‘Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative.’ Because co-operatives are people-centred, not capital-centred, they do not perpetuate, nor accelerate capital concentration and they distribute wealth in a fairer way.
This day of observance has been marked by cooperatives worldwide since 1923. It was officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on the centenary of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)in 1995.
Generally, the aim of #CoopsDay is to increase awareness of cooperatives and promote the movement’s ideas of international solidarity, economic efficiency, and equality. The ICA has contributed greatly to bringing awareness around cooperatives across the globe. It represents and serves cooperatives worldwide.
Founded in 1895, it is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations. It is also one of the largest ones measured by the number of people represented: 1 billion cooperative members on the planet. Its mission is to advocate the interests and success of cooperatives, providing a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and co-ordinated action.
Through #CoopsDay, local, national and global policymakers, civil society organisations and the public in general can learn about the contribution of cooperatives to a just future for all.
As Ontarians and Canadians, we can celebrate #CoopsDayby getting involved in a 2021 #CoopsDay campaign or share your story on how your involved with a cooperative on media@ica.coop.More information on ways to get involved in this cause now and beyond can be found at this link: https://www.ica.coop/en/events/international-day-co-operatives.
Let’s rebuild together through cooperatives to ensure an equitable and resilient post COVID-19 global society.
