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100th Int’l Day of Cooperatives marked with focus on women’s economic empowerment

By Maria Weldali - Jul 02,2022 - Last updated at Jul 02,2022

AMMAN — On the 100th International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay), observed annually on July 2, Jordanian women in cooperative associations shared their successes and challenges.

Celebrated this year under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”, CoopsDay sought to highlight and increase awareness of the contributions of the cooperatives movement.

According to the UN, the cooperatives movement is defined as associations and enterprises through which people can improve their lives while contributing to the economic, social, cultural and political advancement of their community and nation. 

Cooperatives employ 280 million people worldwide, representing 10 per cent of the world’s employed population, the UN added.

Women’s cooperatives provide social and economic empowerment to women and create a “shared identity” for its members, Jamila Mansour, a member of Women Leaders Welfare Association in Karak, told The Jordan Times on Saturday.

“There are many inspiring stories to hear, and as for me I became more resilient to crises than before and capable of relying on myself after I became a member,” Mansour said.

One of the challenges Mansour faced were gender norms in her community, due to being the first women to participate in the association.

“People always need cooperation. It is what builds strong communities and nations,” said Hala Bashiti, a Jordanian mother of three and a member of a local NGO, told The Jordan Times.

The inclusion of women in cooperatives, helps bring about better policies that let women be at high levels of decision making processes, she said.

Bashiti added that cooperatives help increase one’s productivity and the level of community participation.

 

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