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, theses associations unite to meet common economic, social, and cultural needs of its members.
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.
6 Main Co-Ops
Producer
Worker
Consumer
Credit unions
Purchasing
Social
Cooperatives offer many benefits to its members and surrounding communities. Some of those benefits include:
Helping to tackle poverty and create food security.
Providing more affordable finance options.
Developing and passing on business expertise.
Contributing to sustainable economic growth.
Beyond these benefits, cooperatives stimulate job creation by employing over 100 million people around the world.
HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalDayOfCooperatives
Cooperatives all around the world hold special events on this day.
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
Since 1923, the International Day of Cooperatives has been held on the first Saturday in July. The IAC, along with the international cooperative movement, are credited for establishing the day. 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. Recent themes include:
2020: Cooperatives for Climate Change
2019: Coops 4 Decent Work
2018: Sustainable Consumption and Production
2017: Cooperatives Ensure No One Is Left Behind
2016: Cooperatives: The power to act for a sustainable future
2015: Choose cooperatives, Choose equality
UPCOMING DATES FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF COOPERATIVES
6 July 2024
5 July 2025
4 July 2026
3 July 2027
1 July 2028
7 July 2029
6 July 2030