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Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All – #IYC2025 – 4th Part ( Kathy -New Delhi – November 2024)
Attending the Global Conference on Cooperatives was an inspiring and thought-provoking experience. This summary focuses on my observations and reflections from Day 2 and Day 3, which were largely institutional in nature, showcasing the critical role of cooperatives in building a more inclusive and sustainable world. Inclusivity was a central theme, with a powerful intervention by Anne-Laure Degris, Co-CEO of SmartCoop, emphasizing the need for better representation of women within cooperative leadership. Her call to action highlighted a critical gap in gender equity that must be addressed to align cooperatives with their foundational values of solidarity and equality. I feel incredibly proud to be a member of SmartCoop, especially after Anne-Laure’s inspiring intervention, which underscored…
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Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All – #IYC2025 – 1st Part ( Kathy – Udaipur – November 2024)
French and Dutch versions below A Movement Rooted in Values The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) https://ica.coop/en/our-work/cooperative-mission defines a cooperative as: “An autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise”. At their core, cooperatives are more than just organisations—they’re communities driven by shared values like self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. These values are reflected in the ICA’s seven principles, which include voluntary membership, democratic control, economic participation, autonomy, education, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for the community. Together, these principles empower members, foster inclusive decision-making, and drive sustainable development. I am a proud member of SmartCoop https://smart.coop/countries and this…
Writing workshops around the world
