Cooperatives across the world celebrated important milestones in 2020. In addition to the International Cooperative Alliance’s 125th anniversary, the movement celebrated the centenary of the ILO’s Coop Unit. Created in 1920 at the suggestion of the then ILO Director general Albert Thomas, the unit forms part of the ILO’s Enterprises Department and manages the ILO's activities on cooperatives and wider social and solidarity economy enterprises (SSEEs).
In the UK, cooperators were preparing for a double celebration – the 150th anniversary of apex Cooperatives UK and 176 years since the Rochdale Pioneers founded the cooperative store widely recognised as the model for the modern day cooperative movement. A festival of cooperation in June was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Co-operative Heritage Trust is organising an event on 21 December to celebrate the 176th anniversary of the opening of the Rochdale Pioneers Store on Toad Lane.
Participants will listen to a passage from George Jacob Holyoake's description of the original opening night, followed by a ceremonial lighting of a candle in the front shop window at 8pm.
The CHT is encouraging cooperators to light their own candle at home as you watch the livestream to celebrate 176 years of cooperation. More details are available here.
Likewise, Bulgaria had planned a series of events to mark the 130th anniversary of the country’s cooperative movement, some of which were cancelled due to Covid-19. Instead, the movement focused on the needs of local communities affected by the pandemic. The Central Cooperative Union ran 10 mobile Coop shops and one mobile Coop healthcare centre for members in remote areas who needed access to essential goods and services.
Professor Petar Stefanov, President of the Central Cooperative Union said: “We have proven that, as difficult as it is, we are capable of planning our own survival and development, without forgetting, not even for a split second, that people are what is most important to us. Therefore, I would like to thank you once again for the support to the myriad of projects that we implemented together. They are proof that together we can overcome any crisis and continue forward stronger, more successful and more social than ever.”
In Colombia, cooperative federation ASCOOP celebrated turning 60 during its annual meeting, which for the first time took place virtually. The event featured 35 speakers from 10 countries. To mark the anniversary Pope Francis sent a written message to the conference. “The Holy Father encourages you to face the current situation with hope, courageously welcoming initiatives that seek and allow the conceiving of an economy in which the person is placed at the centre, no one feels excluded and the commitment to common good is a concrete reality in all areas of society," he wrote.
The year also saw a centenary for Cooperativa Obrera in Argentina. The cooperative was set up by a group of 172 neighbours who wanted to fight price fixing within the bakery sector. It is now one of the country’s main supermarkets with a 4.25% market share and the second largest consumer cooperative in Latin America. To mark its centenary on 29 October, Cooperativa Obrera opened two new distribution centres, one for refrigerated food and another one for home deliveries.
"This positions us on a par with the rest of the large supermarket chains," said the Logistics Manager, Nicolás Redondo. Both facilities use advanced technology to package and process the large volumes of merchandise that shoppers require.
Another standard bearer of the cooperative movement in Argentina, Sancor Seguros, is celebrating its 75 anniversary. On 21 December 1945, the cooperative insurer Sancor Seguros was formed in the town of Sunchales (Argentina). A formal ceremony was held on the morning of 21 December 2020, which brought together government authorities, the President and CEO of Grupo Sancor Seguros with the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the 75 years of the cooperative insurer.
Also during the celebrations, the inauguration of the new building of the Cooperative Institute of Higher Education (ICES) took place. The building took approximately 24 months to be completed and the new space will house the ICES facilities and the offices of the Fundación Grupo Sancor Seguros, on which the Institute depends. Sustainability is always high on the agenda in any project from Sancor Seguros and so a key focus in the design and the build of the Institute was to ensure a sustainable energy performance and use of sustainable construction procedures and standards. ICA President Ariel Guarco, took part in the events. More information here
60 years of ICA-AP
The ICA’s Asia-Pacific office was another organisation for which 2020 marked an important milestone. The ICA’s engagement in the Asia-Pacific region started 60 years ago with the opening of the Regional Office and Education Center (ICA ROEC) on 14 November 1960, by India's first Prime Minister, the late Shri Jawaharlal Nehru.
Since then cooperatives in the region have shown their relevance, proven their resilience, and demonstrated their endurance in the face of adversity, be that natural disasters or man-made events. The challenges and urgency have magnified post pandemic and the relevance of cooperatives in the region has never been greater.
ICA-AP celebrated its 60th year with a webinar on 13 November. Welcoming participants, Regional Director Balasubramanian Iyer thanked the 109 members from 32 countries, the international community of cooperatives from all the ICA regions, the regional board members and leaders, partners and staff members for their unrelenting commitment and support.
ICA President Ariel Guarco sent a video message in which he congratulated the region and said that during his visits, he had met dedicated members, who are steadfastly committed to principles and upholding the cooperative identity. Read ICA-AP’s report on the webinar here.
Today ICA-AP serves 109 member organisations from 32 countries and looks forward to driving cooperation in the region for the next 60 years.
While 2020 was a year of change, cooperatives have proven they are well-equipped to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Did you celebrate an important milestone in 2020? Let us know so that we can celebrate the movement’s resilience together!
