02 July 2021
Countless co-operatives and mutuals across Australia have a longstanding history, but others that are newly formed might not realise they’re part of a worldwide network of billions of people.
This year is the 27th International Day of Co-operatives, a worldwide celebration held annually on the first Saturday of July to increase awareness of co-operatives and mutuals, and promote the movement’s ideas of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace.
The day has actually been marked by cooperatives worldwide since 1923, but it was officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on the centenary of the International Co-operatives Alliance (ICA) in 1995.
Since 1995, the ICA and the United Nations, through the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), have jointly set the theme for the celebration of #CoopsDay – as it’s known on social media.
The theme for 2021 is “rebuild better together” and encourages co-operatives and mutuals around the world to showcase how they are meeting the COVID-19 pandemic crisis with solidarity and resilience and offering communities a people-centred and environmentally just recovery.
More than one billion co-operative members worldwide continue to prove that no one needs to face a crisis like the pandemic on their own.
BCCM is a proud member of the ICA and celebrates #CoopsDay each year by sharing our own members’ stories.
Follow our social media channels to see what we’ve done or share your own stories on your platforms and we’ll be sure to share them.
Download the #CoopsDay media pack to get started.
Watch this video from ATAC