12 August is International Youth Day!

For #InternationalYouthDay we caught up with some of the International Cooperative Alliance youth representatives to hear what younger delegates are hoping to get out of the Global Cooperatives Conferennce #ICANewDelhi2024 – and how they see cooperatives building a better world.

What are you hoping to get out of #ICANewDelhi2024?

Dulce Bustamante (Vice President, Asia-Pacific) The global conference will unify leaders from around the globe. And with their collective strength and visions, I am hoping that this conference will not only solidify cooperativism but most importantly, establish and promote empowerment and inclusivity for the youth sector. 

Abubakar Sadiq Labaran (Vice President, Africa): I am hoping to see an interactive and educational conference where each member will be able to return to their home and implement the knowledge they receive, so as to have a progressive and sustainable cooperative movement. This will hopefully help to address current economic hardships and those of the future, and also give hope to the younger generation. 

Marcelina Zjawińska (Vice President, Europe): Through attending the conference, I aspire to elevate the visibility and recognition of the efforts made by both young cooperators and young cooperatives. Representing the voices of youth and women is both an honor and a duty. As my journey with the youth network comes to a close, I am focused on ensuring generational change and, thereafter, continuing to support the youth community and advance the role of women. 

The theme of the 2025 #CoopsYear is Cooperatives Build a Better World for All. How do you see co-ops building a better world? 

Dulce: I can see co-ops building a better world by creating a healthy environment and society for all - a world where leadership is not defined by age, nor gender, nor race. A world where what matters most is the capacity, character, and sustainability of leadership one embodies. A world where equality is not just defined, but is also lived by. 

Abubakar: I see cooperatives as a source of relief, with the current leadership leaning towards the younger generation in order for them to remain independent and not to be use as an agent of destruction in the future, but as a source of betterment.

Marcelina:I deeply believe that by working together and harnessing the powerful forces of solidarity and care, cooperatives can not only create better work environments but also play a transformative role in making the world a better place. To do so, the movement should focus on lowering entry barriers to becoming a cooperator and smoothing the path to cooperatives—ensuring it remains a cooperative journey rather than a struggle.

Photo (left to right): Dulce Bustamante, Abubakar Sadiq Labaran and Marcelina Zjawińska