International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July to raise awareness about cooperatives and their contributions to social and economic development. This year, it falls on July 5th. The day recognizes how cooperatives foster international solidarity, promote equality, and contribute to world peace. It also highlights the role of cooperatives in creating jobs, supporting sustainable business practices, and promoting social inclusion. 

The International Day of Cooperatives has been celebrated since 1923 by the International Cooperative Alliance and was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1995. Each year, the day is marked with a specific theme, and this year's theme is "Cooperatives: Driving inclusive and sustainable solutions for a better world" , says COPAC. The day is celebrated by cooperatives, governments, and organizations around the world to showcase the positive impact of cooperatives and their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Objectives of this year's observance

Raise Public Awareness:  Highlight the contributions of cooperatives to sustainable development.  

Promote Growth and Development: Strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and establishments for cooperatives.  

Advocate for Supportive Frameworks: Encourage the creation of enabling legal and policy environments for cooperatives globally.  

Inspire Leadership: Foster purposeful leadership and engage youth in the cooperative movement.

Background

The Co-operatives Movement

Co-operatives have been acknowledged as associations and enterprises through which citizens can effectively improve their lives while contributing to the economic, social, cultural and political advancement of their community and nation. The co-operative movement has been also recognized as a distinct and major stakeholder in both national and international affairs.

Co-operatives' open membership model affords access to wealth creation and poverty elimination. This results from the co-operative principle of members' economic participation: 'Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative.' Because co-operatives are people-centred, not capital-centred , they do not perpetuate, nor accelerate capital concentration and they distribute wealth in a more fair way.

Co-operatives also foster external equality. As they are community-based, they are committed to the sustainable development of their communities - environmentally, socially and economically. This commitment can be seen in their support for community activities, local sourcing of supplies to benefit the local economy, and in decision-making that considers the impact on their communities.

Despite their local community focus, co-operatives also aspire to bring the benefits of their economic and social model to all people in the world. Globalization should be governed by a set of values such as those of the co-operative movement; otherwise, it creates more inequality and excesses that render it unsustainable.

The cooperative movement is highly democratic, locally autonomous, but internationally integrated, and a form of organization of associations and enterprises whereby citizens themselves rely on self-help and their own responsibility to meet goals that include not only economic, but also social and environmental objectives, such as overcoming poverty, securing productive employment and encouraging social integration.

• Do kids prefer the Treasure Tower over a treasure box?
  Yes!  There is something "magical" to children about the combination of getting a token that tells them they're a "Super Patient" or a "Super Student" or they've earned the "Treasure Tower Award" and getting to make their selection, insert the token, turn the handle, and have their prize fall down the chute. It's a great last experience for them to remember before going home and gives them something to look forward to when coming back!