Cooperativism is a social movement where sovereign humans collaborate and share responsibilities to achieve a common goal. Humans have collaborated for as long as we have existed. Meeting on eye-level and without hierarchy means responsibility, participation and interdependence.
As Youth Coop puts it well: “A co-operative starts as an association of several people who unite voluntarily to defend a common goal or cause. It aims to satisfy the economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations of members, without profit and through cooperation, mutual assistance and with respect for the cooperative principles.
Co-operatives are owned and run by and for all members where they have an equal say in what the organization is doing and a share of the resulting surplus. They based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.
Cooperatives are driven by value and not just for profit. In Portugal, they are organized in several cooperative branches and can carry out any economic activity. They are organisations of the civil society and Social Economy sector which, through the cooperative principle of sustainable development of their communities, classifies them as Non-Governmental Organization.”
<aside> 🫴🏼 CO-OPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
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The cooperative principles in Portugal are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.
1. Voluntary and open Access – Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to everybody that is able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of the membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
2. Democratic Management by its Members – Co-operatives are democratic organisations managed by it’s members, who participate actively in the creation of its policies and decision making.
3. Economic Participation of its Members – Members contribute in an equitable way to the creation of capital of their co-operatives and control it democratically. The surplus is used for the development of the co-operative, for the benefit of the members in proportion to their participation on the co-operative and on the support of activities approved by its members.
4. Autonomy and Independence – Co-operatives are autonomous organisations of mutual aid, controlled by it’s members.
5. Education, Training and Information – Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives.
6. Cooperation among Co-operatives – Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
7. Concern for their Community – Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
Read more about Cooperativism here.