On 12 August, the world celebrated International Youth Day under the theme, Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages, aiming to amplify the message that action is needed across all generations to achieve the SDGs and leave no one behind.

The ICA Youth Committee reminds cooperatives are a successful and democratic movement from which much can be learnt to better address some of the major challenges that we face as humanity and build a more just and equitable world.

“Co-operatives are a tested tool for generating economic empowerment, social development, decent work, mutual support and autonomy at work for youth while enhancing their voice in society as already stated by the United Nations’ World Youth Report. As we have recently echoed during the International Day of Cooperatives, a different world is not only possible, but we are already building it. A human-centered economy run democratically, rooted in the territories and who cares for the people and the planet. This is the world we want and the one we are building as cooperators”, said Ana Aguirre, ICA Global Youth Network Representative. 

Watch Ana Aguirre’s video message to learn more:

More information about the International Youth Day on the dedicated UN page.

What is the ICA Youth Network?

The Cooperative Youth Network represents youth who are interested in cooperatives and cooperation, connects youth by creating spaces for reflection, discussion and training and advises youth by facilitating opportunities to promote time and space for reflection, discussion, exchange, research and training.