Co-op Kanagawa

• What is the name of the organization? When and where was it established?
  • Co-op Kanagawa was established shortly after the end of World War II (1945) in Tokyo, Japan.
• Why was the organization established?
  • Co-op Kanagawa was established to secure food for Japanese people after World War II
  • However, it was not until later (1960s and 1970s), when pollution caused widespread contamination of food products and people needed safe quality food at reasonable prices that the coop began to thrive.
• How is it structured?
  • Co-op Kanagawa is a cooperative business owned by its members.
  • A unique feature of the Co-op is the han, the basic operating unit of the co-operative.
  • The han is the centre of Co-op activities and operates much like a buying club.
  • The hans are almost exclusively run by women.
• How have the members benefited from collective action?
  • The members have been provided with safe quality food products.
  • Women are taking an active role in the operations of the co-op.
• What are some of the current challenges facing the organization?
  • Political and economic instability in the country.
  • An aging population.
  • Relaxation of government regulations leading to reduction of food prices.
  • Consumers being less concerned about quality of the food and more concerned about price.
  • More women are joining the workforce and have less time to take as active a role in the cooperative.

Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op

• What is the name the organization? When and where was it established?
  • The Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op was established in September 1996 in an inner-city neighbourhood of Saskatoon.
• Why was the organization started?
  • The organization was started to provide an opportunity for youth, living in a disadvantaged area of Saskatoon, to own their own cooperative business where they would recycle products, make money, make decisions and be responsible for the outcome.
• How is it structured?
  • The co-op operates much like a workers’ cooperative. Members receive wages based on the amount of hours they work on a project and the amount of revenue the project generates.
  • CYNC is not legally incorporated as a cooperative because members need to be 18 years of age.
  • A board of directors, the Saskatoon Environmentor’s Cooperative Ltd., acts as in an advisory capacity and oversees the operations of the co-op.
  • There are part-time coordinators.
• How have the members benefited from collective action?
  • They are gaining many skills, including how to run a business, manage finances, and market products and services.
  • They are earning money.
  • They are learning how to be responsible through the ownership and operation of their own business.
  • They are learning the value of recycling.
• What are some of the current challenges facing the organization?
  • CYNC is not self-sustaining, which means it cannot operate without operating grants to pay the cost of the coordinators. The lack of consistent funding means that the coop has to spend time and energy searching for funding.

Free the Children

• What is the organization? When and where was it established?
  • Free the Children began in April 1995 in Thornhill, Ontario.
• Why was the organization started?
  • Free the Children was started because one young person believed that, together with his friends, he could do something to help create an awareness of the problems of child labour. The young people believed that they could make a difference by creating an awareness of the problem, persuading politicians to make changes, and raising funds to help children who were being abused and exploited.
  • Free the Children was formed as a way for children to help children.
• How is it structured?
  • The basis of the organization is “children helping children”.
  • Free the Children is a non-profit charity, whose operations are overseen by a board of directors.
  • The organization operates on a small budget with the help of many volunteers and donations.
• How have the members benefited from collective action?
  • The members have demonstrated how children can contribute to society and be leaders today.
  • The young people have learned that knowledge is power and that if you are knowledgeable enough, even adults and politicians will listen.
  • They now know that youth can make a difference.
  • They feel good about their contributions to a cause.
• What are some of the current challenges facing the organization?
  • There are 250 million of children around the world working in slave-like conditions.
  • Young people need to feel empowered and motivated to act.