What is teaching us cooperativism? – Athenaeum

In a world marked by the precariousness of life, healing have become an urgent, structural and unavoidable question. But also in an opportunity to rethink how we live, how we work and how we hold ourselves collectively.

In the face of the crisis of care – invisibility, female overload, commercialization and lack of recognition -, co -operatives and social and solidarity economics (ESS) are providing alternative looks and practices, putting people, relationships and the community at the center.

Care as an axis, not as a service

Cooperativism teaches us that care is not an added service, but an essential dimension of life and any collective project. In this context, many initiatives in the Baix Llobregat are betting on forms of work that recognize interdependence, co-responsibility and the need to support each other.

From dependency care projects or mental health to networks of mutual support, education cooperatives or community spaces, care is practiced not only as a professional activity, but as an organizational and political value.

Experiences that transform

There are many examples in the territory: cooperatives that offer support and care services from a feminist and community perspective; initiatives that work for conciliation and co -responsibility within their own structures; or projects that put the care at the center of the organizational strategy.

Also at the institutional level, experiences like the project Sant Feliu Cuidadora City —With the support of the Ateneo and various local entities, they show that Collaboration between administration, community and social economy can generate innovative models to deal with inequalities and promote a decent life for everyone.

A bet for everyone, not just for “who cares”

It is necessary to overcome the idea that care is only the responsibility of certain groups or professional sectors. Cooperativism, with its commitment to internal democracy, intercooperation and community dimension, offers tools to redistribute, make visible and dignify care inside and outside the work spaces.

In this sense, talking about care is not only to talk about social services, but also how we organize ourselves as a society: what values ​​we put at the center, how we distribute time, resources and responsibilities, and how we guarantee collective well -being.

Toward a sustainable lifestyle

From the Ateneu Cooperativa del Baix Llobregat, we argue that taking care must cease to be an individual burden and become a shared, structural and recognized responsibility.

That is why we will continue to accompany projects that work from this perspective and put the care as the transversal axis of the social and solidarity economy.

Because sustaining life, too, is to transform the economy.