"I invite young people to explore the benefits of pursuing cooperative enterprise and other forms of social entrepreneurship. At the same time, I encourage the cooperative movement to engage with youth, in a spirit of dialogue and mutual understanding. Let us recognize young women and men as valuable partners in strengthening the cooperative movement and in sustaining the role of cooperatives in social and economic development."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the International
Day of Cooperatives, 2011
Theme for 2011: "Youth: the future of cooperative enterprise”
In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed, in its resolution 47/90 of 16 December 1992, the International Day of Cooperatives to be celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July.The aim of this International Day is to:
- Increase awareness on cooperatives;
- Highlight the complementarily of the goals and objectives of the United Nations and the international co-operative movement;
- Underscore the contribution of the movement to the resolution of the major problems addressed by the United Nations;
- Strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other actors, including governments, at local, national and international levels.
This year's theme highlights how the cooperative model of enterprise can successfully empower youth. It links to the celebration of the United Nations International Year of Youth, which encourages dialogue and understanding across generations and promotes the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, and solidarity.
More on this year's theme