Dedicated to supporting young co-operators in the world of cooperative start-ups, the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific Committee Youth Cooperation (ICYC) organized the Regional Youth Workshop from November 3-5, 2023 in Manila, Philippines.
This was a part of the side-events of the ICA-AP Regional Assembly, which is scheduled from 6-9 Nov in Manila. The meeting brought the participants together for exchange of ideas, global networking, sharing best practices, and building enterprise sustainability through the Fifth Cooperative Principle on Education, Information & training. ICYC was organized with support from the 1CISP Life and General Insurance (1CISP) and MASS-SPECC.
Workshop objectives included identifying current challenges faced by youth in cooperatives, formulating solutions to address these challenges, creating an action plan to empower young cooperatives, and setting firm commitments to drive cooperative success.
Following the workshop, ICYC aimed to develop a two-year Youth Action Plan with a primary focus on sustainable goals. This plan will offer practical solutions and opportunities for youth cooperatives in the Asia Pacific region. The workshop concluded with a symbolic signing of the Pledge of Commitment, underlining the unity and dedication of the delegates toward achieving the goals outlined in the Youth Action Plan.
With the vision, dedication, and innovation of ICYC, the future of cooperative entrepreneurship appears promising, marking a significant step closer to achieving a 100% success rate for young co-operators in the world of cooperative start-ups.
The journey of ICYC began in 2018 when ICA-AP held its Regional Assembly in Iran with support from the Iranian Chamber of Cooperatives (ICC). During this event, ICYC organized a workshop focused on helping young participants create business plans tailored for cooperative ventures. The outcome was impressive, with young entrepreneurs developing innovative business proposals designed with cooperation in mind.
In 2019, during the ICA Global Assembly in Kigali, ICYC advocated for the collaboration between cooperators and IT experts to promote platform cooperativism. This initiative aimed to inspire young individuals with technical backgrounds to initiate their own cooperatives, fostering entrepreneurship and cooperative principles.
Today, ICYC is driven by a desire to further elevate their achievements, with a focus on achieving a 100% success rate for young co-operators. The organization is committed to exploring new ideas in platform cooperativism and deepening the practice of cooperation among young entrepreneurs, claims an official of the ICYC.
The goal was to offer training and education to equip young cooperators with the skills needed to effectively manage and promote their cooperatives and their members, he added.
