As an organization that is often perceived as the representative of the youth cooperative movement in North America, NASCO is delighted that the United Nations has officially proclaimed both Youth and Cooperatives as priority areas for the international community. The UN recently passed two major resolutions: 2010 will be the International Year of Youth and 2012 will be the International Year of Cooperatives. United Nations observances are used to contribute to the achievement of the purposes of the UN Charter and promote awareness of and action upon, important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues. (http://www.un.org/observances/index.shtml [1])
The UN's decisions will place youth leadership and cooperative development at the forefront of movements for global justice. A report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon demonstrates the socio-economic impact of cooperatives on food security and rural development, the financial sector, healthcare, social wellbeing, and peacebuilding efforts. Cooperatives have proven to be effective models for youth to participate in democratic decision-making. In the upcoming years, the UN Programme on Youth [2] and the International Cooperative Alliance [2] will play key roles in contributing to the Millenium Development Goals, a global partnership working to eradicate some of the more dire impacts of extreme poverty by 2015.
What are the goals of the International Year of Cooperatives?
Some of the goals include:
- Raise awareness of cooperatives and their benefits
- Encourage co-op development through self-determination
- Advocate for legislation that supports cooperative development
- Promote the efforts of cooperatives to build community, democracy and peace.
- Build capacity of co-ops through research, information-sharing, and access to technology and affordable finance
- Support cooperative education in the form of training, technical assistance, and national & regional conferences
What is the UN Programme on Youth?
The UN Programme on Youth was aims to:
- Enhance awareness of the global situation of youth and increase recognition of the rights and aspirations of youth.
- Promote national youth organizing as an integral part of social and economic development
- Strengthen the participation of youth in decision-making processes at all levels in order to increase their impact on national development and international cooperation.
There are fifteen priority areas that guide the World Programme of Action for Youth:
- Education
- Employment
- Hunger and poverty
- Health
- Environment
- Drug abuse
- Juvenile delinquency
- Leisure-time activities
- Girls and young women
- Participation
- Globalization
- Information and Communication Technologies
- HIV/AIDS
- Youth and Conflict
- Intergenerational Relations
What are the goals of the International Year of Youth?
Some of the goals include:
- Encourage dialogue and understanding across generations
- Promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, and solidarity
- Encourage young people to dedicate themselves to fostering progress, including the attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
How can I get involved?
There are many ways to get involved in the youth cooperative movement in North America.
- Attend the Emerging Co-op Leaders Program [2] this Spring
- Run for the NASCO Board of Directors [3] in the Spring election this March or run for the board of your local co-op or credit union.
- Organize a regional cooperative conference, and let us know about it! NASCO members are currently organizing regional conferences in the Midwest and the West Coast, to be held this spring. The Ontario Student Cooperative Association holds an annual conference each fall.
- Follow National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) and the Canadian Cooperative Association on Twitter.
- Apply for an internship through Ontario's Cooperative Internship Experience Program [4]
- Learn more about the international cooperative movement from the International Co-operative Alliance. [5]