INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CO-OPS

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CO-OPS

National Day Calendar celebrates International Day of Cooperatives on the first Saturday in July. This International Day celebrates the cooperative movement and highlights the goals, objectives, and contributions of cooperatives around the world.

#InternationalDayOfCooperatives

Cooperatives, are organizations that purchase and market the products of its members. Also known as co-ops, these associations unite to meet common economic, social, and cultural needs of its members. Co-ops offer many benefits to its members and surrounding communities, including:

  1. Helping to tackle poverty and create food security.

  2. Providing more affordable finance options.

  3. Developing and passing on business expertise.

  4. Contributing to sustainable economic growth.

Beyond the obvious benefits, cooperatives stimulate job creation by employing over 100 million people around the world.

6 Main Co-Ops

  • Producer

  • Worker

  • Consumer

  • Credit unions

  • Purchasing

  • Social

The oldest cooperative was formed in Scotland in 1761. In 1895, the International Cooperative Alliance (IAC) was founded. Today, there are 3 million cooperatives in the world.

HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalDayOfCooperatives

Cooperatives all around the world hold special events on this day. To participate:

  • Enter the IAC annual photo competition.

  • Make a list of the cooperatives in your community and think about how they make a positive impact on your life.

  • Volunteer for a local cooperative or become a member of one.

  • Share this day on social media tagging #InternationalDayOfCooperatives.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF COOPERATIVES HISTORY

International Day of Cooperatives has been held on the first Saturday in July since 1923. In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed a resolution to make the first Saturday of July in 1995 the official International Day of Cooperatives. This date marked 100 years since the formation of the IAC. Since 1995, the UN and the IAC have partnered with one another to organize the annual event. The Committee on the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) also plays a role by selecting a theme each year.