The International Cooperative Alliance, the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises and DotCooperation have joined efforts to relaunch Stories.coop.
Originally launched during the first International Year of Cooperatives in 2012, the platform was part of a global, digital campaign to raise awareness of the cooperative model, its values and principles, and its impact on local communities. Throughout the year, it published a story each day to highlight the work of co-ops.
With the platform being relaunched ahead of the second International Year of Cooperatives, due to be celebrated in 2025. co-ops can submit stories for publication.
“It was just wonderful timing that we were launching it now ahead of the International Year of Cooperatives next year. We’re going to sort of really start building the momentum,” said Tom Ivey, Community Development Manager at DotCooperation.
The three organizations involved in the project hope to expand local and global awareness of the impact cooperatives have in every sector; give the global cooperative community a platform to celebrate their achievements; and promote the cooperative model as a viable option to improve social, economic and environmental challenges everywhere. The platform will be updated regularly.
“We’ve built this tool now and it’s really in the hands of the community to be able to use it,” Ivey added. “We’ve made this platform available so now the community can go forward and use it as a way to really promote themselves and celebrate themselves to draw awareness to what they’re doing. It’s another channel, particularly for those resource-strapped cooperatives that don’t have enough people or time to invest in a communication strategy. This is a shortcut for them, and an opportunity for them to become visible.”
Anyone can submit stories about their cooperative or the people within their cooperative community. While submissions must be in English, the website will automatically translate the published stories into 10 languages. Those wishing to submit stories can use the platform’s storytelling guide for advice on how to structure their story. Organizations and individuals submitting stories are also encouraged to share their social media handles to help promote these once they get published. The ICA, Euricse and DotCoop will also promote the stories on their social media accounts.
“The more success that grows out of it and the more input that we have, the more we’re going to be able to invest in it and hopefully be able to just build and grow. We’re off to a good start,” Ivey said.