Date: 2 July 2011
Venue: Jan Smuts stadium, East London, Eastern Cape
Time: 09h00 to 17h00
Free entrance
1. Background
The International Cooperatives Alliance (ICA) first celebrated International Cooperative Day in 1923. The celebration of International Cooperatives Day was endorsed by the United Nations (UN) in 1994 and proclaimed to be celebrated on the first Saturday of July each year in 1995. The UN then requested all its members’ governments to support their cooperative movements to celebrate the day.
Cooperatives are acknowledged as a form of business that can play a significant role in the economic, social and cultural development. Cooperatives are especially important in alleviating poverty, particularly in rural areas and in both less developed and developing countries. In South Africa cooperatives are increasingly been recognised as a preferred form of business for entrepreneurs, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
2. 2011 Theme
The theme for the celebration of International Cooperatives Day is set by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the United Nations (UN) through the UN Committee for Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC). The 2011 theme is “Youth the future of Cooperative Enterprise”
For 2011, the event is aimed at raising awareness to young people about cooperatives as an alternative form of enterprise model which young people can use for their economic, social and cultural development, as well as the attainment of their aspirations. It is important to note that cooperatives can create massive employment opportunities, thus reduce unemployment and underdevelopment amongst youth in the country.
The 2011 theme is specifically relevant for South Africa because unemployment is a major challenge and young people are the largest unemployed population group. During the 2011 budget speech the Finance Minister indicated that 42% of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are unemployed and Statistics South Africa recently announced that the unemployment rate has increased to 25%.
3. Nature of the 2011 event
International Cooperatives Day will be celebrated on 2 July 2011 at Jan Smuts stadium in East London. There will be an exhibition where cooperatives will get an opportunity to showcase their products and services. Preference will be given to youth-owned cooperatives because of the 2011 theme.
In addition, organisations that support cooperatives, including the partners who are hosting the event, will also exhibit and offer on-site services.
4. Partners hosting the event
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), The Department of Trade and Industry (dti), the South African National Apex Tertiary Cooperative (SANACO) and Eastern Cape Province have partnered to host the event.
The partners’ involvement is informed by the following:
- The dti has a responsibility to regulate and support cooperatives and cooperatives movement.
- The South African National Apex Tertiary Cooperative (SANACO) has a responsibility given to it by cooperatives to represents their interest and defend the cooperative identity from any form of abuse.
- The Eastern Cape Province has volunteered to co-host the event.
- Given it’s mandate of supporting entrepreneurs, including cooperatives, and the 2011 theme which focuses on youth, the NYDA has also agreed to partner with the stakeholders
5. Objectives of International Cooperatives Day celebrations
The celebration is designed to bring together cooperatives, young people, government departments and agencies offering support services to cooperatives, and influential persons with the aim of increasing awareness and supporting the optimal development of cooperatives. The following are some of the key objectives of the 2011 International Cooperative Day celebrations:
- Promote the cooperative model among youth as a form of enterprise that they can use to drive their ideas and aspirations.
- Strengthen relations between cooperatives and government to work towards an integrated approach in the development of cooperatives.
- Create a platform for dialogue amongst cooperatives and representatives from the different tiers of government across the country for a collective effort in advancing and promoting cooperatives through assistance to enhance compliance to regulatory requirements and improved competitiveness of cooperatives.
- Contribute to the empowerment of cooperatives, especially youth-owned cooperatives, by creating a public platform for acknowledging the importance of cooperatives
- Provide opportunities for cooperatives to exhibit their products and services
- Join governments and cooperatives across the globe in celebrating International Cooperatives Day.
Source: Eastern Cape Economic Development and Environmental Affairs
