2012: UN International Year of Cooperatives
The International Year of Cooperatives aimed to raise awareness of how cooperative enterprises can reduce poverty, create jobs, and foster social integration.
2012, the International year of Cooperatives.
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The United Nations (UN) declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) and International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.
Cooperative enterprises
Cooperative enterprises are owned by the members that they serve, so decisions made are not just for profit but also for the interest of members and their communities. The UN recognized that cooperatives, in their. various forms, help boost economic and social development, as well as contribute to reducing poverty.
Boosting growth of cooperatives
IYC focused on boosting the growth and establishment of cooperatives worldwide. It also encouraged people to recognize the role of cooperatives in helping to achieve various goals such as reducing poverty, boosting education and healthcare, and sustaining the environment. Various activities included conferences, photo exhibitions, and website launches specifically to promote the year.
Cooperatives logo
The logo for the International Year of Cooperatives is based on the slogan for the year, which is "Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World". The logo shows figures of people working together to lift and support a cube. The cube represents the various projects, goals and aspirations on which cooperative enterprises are built, and the achievements that can be made.