Zunara Nauman
Education Specialist
On Saturday, 5 July 2025, communities around the world are coming together to celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay) under the inspiring theme: “Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World.”
This day is an opportunity to reflect on why cooperatives are necessary: to create spaces where people can collaborate, share resources, make decisions equally, and tackle common challenges. Cooperatives provide a powerful alternative to traditional models by placing people and the planet at the centre, helping to build fairer, more inclusive, and resilient communities.
“Cooperatives have long empowered communities. By boosting young people’s understanding and appreciation of cooperatives and cooperative banks, we strengthen youth-oriented structures and cultivate a culture of saving, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation. Let’s inspire youth to join, shape, and lead cooperatives—bringing fresh energy, ideas, and inclusive growth to the movement.” – says Roeland Monasch, Aflatoun CEO.
At Aflatoun International, we observe this day by celebrating how cooperative principles closely align with our mission to empower children, adolescents, and young people through social and financial education across the globe.
The Role of Cooperatives in Aflatoun's Vision
Cooperatives are enterprises owned and managed by their members, built on principles such as voluntary participation, democratic governance, economic participation, autonomy, education, collaboration, and concern for the community. These values resonate with Aflatoun’s vision for socially and economically empowered children and young people who actively shape a more just and equitable world.
Through our global network of partners and implementers, Aflatoun delivers age-appropriate curricula that equip learners with essential skills and mindsets. These include financial literacy, social responsibility, entrepreneurship, employability, Future-of-Work, digital finance, innovation, and climate-conscious decision-making.
Learning Through Doing: Practical Cooperative Experiences
Aflatoun’s educational approach not only teaches cooperative values but also enables learners to experience them. Our programmes support learners in forming classroom-based savings groups, social enterprises, fintech ventures, and youth-led cooperatives. These platforms help them develop practical skills in leadership, collaboration, responsible financial behaviour, and business development—all grounded in the spirit of cooperation.
Linking Cooperatives to Global Goals
Aflatoun’s integration of cooperative principles also supports environmental goals by encouraging sustainable practices through social enterprises and entrepreneurship education. Learners are guided to develop environmentally responsible ideas in sectors such as agriculture, clean energy, and digital solutions. In doing so, they contribute to climate adaptation efforts and community resilience.
This work also supports broader goals such as gender equality, financial inclusion, and accessible economic opportunities.
Together for a Better World
By embedding cooperative values throughout our educational approach, Aflatoun helps its learners not only imagine a better world but actively build it. On this International Cooperative Day, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusive, youth-led economic participation through education that champions solidarity, innovation, and sustainable growth.
We celebrate every young person who, with their small hands, is already making a significant change.