The great challenge (and opportunity) of cooperativism – Ateneo

Cooperativism faces one of the most valuable challenges of recent years: generational relief. With many cooperatives made up of decades ago and led by people close to retirement age, the need to guarantee the continuity and sustainability of the cooperative model becomes a preference for the sector.

According to recent data, a distinguished percentage of cooperatives is administered by knowledgeable members who, sooner or later, will have to deliver the testimony to a new generation of co -operatives. This raises both challenges and opportunities. The main adversities are difficult to find relief within the same organizations, the deficiency of a particular planning in cooperative leadership and the need to adapt to a changing economic and technological environment.

However, generational relief also involves a great deal of transforming governance structures, nourishing digitalization and enriching the competitiveness of cooperatives. The incorporation of new professional figures with innovative approaches can strengthen the possibility of the model and its capacity for attraction for young people.

To simplify this process, different cooperative entities and federations have begun implementing education and counseling projects to ensure advantageous transfer. These insert initiatives such as mentoring programs, cooperative management courses and strategies to foster the participation of young people in decision -making.

Cooperativism, with its values ​​of economic democracy, solidarity and sustainability, has enormous potential to continue to grow and adapt to the new times. But to do this, a well-planned generational transition will need to be needed and with the proper support for new leadership. Only in this way can it be assured that this model remains a benchmark in the social economy in the future.