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International Day of Cooperatives

Celebrate International Day of Cooperatives and support local businesses - shop small, think big!
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Introduction

It's time to celebrate International Day of Cooperatives on the first Saturday of July! This day is all about recognizing and appreciating the value that cooperatives bring to our communities. Cooperatives have been around for centuries, but it wasn't until 1992 that the United Nations made this special day an official event. It's a great opportunity to honor and support the cooperative movement, which provides much-needed services such as access to food, health care and financial services. So let's come together and celebrate International Day of Cooperatives!

History of International Day of Cooperatives

International Day of Cooperatives Dates

International Day of Cooperatives Timeline

<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1844</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Rochdale Pioneers</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Rochdale Pioneers created the first cooperative, a cornerstone event in the cooperative movement.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1895</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Formation of ICA</div><div class='timeline-text'>International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), a non-profit international association, was founded to unite, represent and serve cooperatives worldwide.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1923</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Cooperative Party MP</div><div class='timeline-text'>A. J. Cook became the first Cooperative Party Member of Parliament (MP) in the UK, giving cooperatives political representation.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1946</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>UN Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>The United Nations recognized and reaffirmed that cooperatives are crucial in economic development and social progress.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1992</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Establishment of the Holiday</div><div class='timeline-text'>The United Nations officially established first Saturday of July as International Day of Cooperatives.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2012</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Year of Cooperatives</div><div class='timeline-text'>The United Nations declared 2012 as the "International Year of Cooperatives" highlighting the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development.</div></div></div>

How to Celebrate International Day of Cooperatives

<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a fundraiser</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Host a fundraiser for a local cooperative and raise money for their cause. Invite people to donate and offer fun activities to get involved in like raffles, silent auctions, bake sales, and more.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Spread the word</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take to social media and spread the word about cooperatives and how they benefit their members. Use your platform to share stories of successful cooperatives and get people talking.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Start a cooperative</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather up some like-minded individuals and start your own cooperative. Through collective action you can work together to achieve common goals and reap the benefits of being part of a larger group.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Volunteer with a cooperative</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Volunteer with an existing cooperative and help them out with their mission. You can offer your skills or just lend a helping hand when needed.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a cooperative event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Local cooperatives often host events to celebrate their successes or bring awareness to their cause. Attend one of these events and learn more about what cooperatives are doing in your area.</p></div></div>

Why We Love International Day of Cooperatives

<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Cooperatives promote worker autonomy</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Cooperatives put the power of decision-making in the hands of the workers. This helps to create a sense of ownership, responsibility and empowerment among employees who are part of a cooperative. It also serves as an example of how companies can operate with democratic government models that benefit everyone involved.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Cooperatives build communities</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Cooperatives often draw members from their local community, which helps to strengthen economic ties between businesses and the people they serve. Plus, cooperatives often look for ways to give back to their communities; whether it's providing employment opportunities or sponsoring local events, cooperatives help to promote greater social engagement and unity within local areas.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Cooperatives have higher job satisfaction rates</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Because cooperatives are owned by the workers, staff members often feel more motivated to do good work because their efforts directly benefit themselves and their fellow employees. As such, surveys show that employees who work at cooperatives typically experience higher job satisfaction than those who work at traditional corporate structures.</p></div></div>

5 Intriguing Facts for International Cooperatives Day

<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Cooperatives Contribute Significantly to the Global Economy</h3><p class='facts-content'>Worldwide, co-operatives are believed to be responsible for providing livelihoods for nearly 280 million people, or roughly 10% of the employed population.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The World’s Largest Cooperative is Based in India</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) is one of the biggest cooperatives in the world, with over 34,000 member cooperatives and an annual turnover exceeding $5 billion.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Every Sector Can Have Cooperatives</h3><p class='facts-content'>Cooperatives can exist in any sector including agriculture, banking, energy, healthcare, and many more. The common thread among cooperatives is democratic governance by member-owners.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Over 1 Billion People are Members of Cooperatives</h3><p class='facts-content'>There are three times as many member-owners of cooperatives as individual shareholders of publicly traded companies globally, proving the immense reach of cooperatives.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Cooperatives are Committed to the Community and Sustainability</h3><p class='facts-content'>Fuelled by local engagement and ownership, co-operatives are inherently focused on long-term sustainability. They're sustainable businesses that aim to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits for their members and the communities they serve.</p></div></div> 

International Day of Cooperatives FAQs

When is International Day of Cooperatives?

International Day of Cooperatives Dates

Year
Date
Day

2023

Jul 1

Saturday

2024

Jul 6

Saturday

2025

Jul 5

Saturday

2026

Jul 4

Saturday

2027

Jul 3

Saturday

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