THERE is a Myanmar proverb that says: “What cannot be achieved by one person can be achieved by ten thousand.” This saying means that while a task may be difficult and exhausting if done by a single person, it can be completed easily and smoothly when many people work together in unity.
Cooperatives refer to the collective undertaking of various activities that would be difficult for an individual to carry out alone, through an organization formed by members working together. It also means sharing the benefits gained from such activities equally among the members. From its early beginnings to the present day, cooperative enterprises have been widely recognized as a form of activity that consistently relies on the strength of collective effort.
Cooperatives are based on the principles of self-help, self-responsibility, democratic governance, equality, equity, solidarity, and adherence to ethical values such as honesty and openness. They also emphasize social responsibility and care for others. This people-centred economic model, which embodies the core values of the cooperative movement, seeks to make the world aware of how such systems operate. The invitation extended to cooperative members around the world to promote and share this understanding is a contribution towards building a better world.
Cooperatives around the world operate across diverse economic sectors, and during times of crisis, they have faced challenges directly and demonstrated greater-than-usual resilience. Cooperatives engage in business activities, help protect the environment from degradation and climate change, promote decent employment opportunities, support food security, provide financial capital within local organizations, foster value systems aligned with ethical standards, and improve people’s physical needs and safety. Through these efforts, they contribute to genuine peace and continue to promote and strengthen such initiatives.
In 1993, the Central Cooperative Society became a member of the International Co-operative Alliance. Since the first Saturday of the first week of July 1995, Myanmar’s cooperative community has held International Cooperative Day celebrations yearly. The International Co-operative Alliance sets themes each year for International Cooperative Day and issues calls to cooperatives worldwide. The 2026 theme of the United Nations International Day of Cooperatives, “Cooperatives for a peaceful world,” affirms the contribution of cooperative enterprises to social justice, inclusion, and solidarity.
The success of cooperatives around the world, along with the adherence of cooperative associations worldwide to the principles established by the International Co-operative Alliance, has enabled cooperatives to effectively contribute to human welfare and environmental conservation, and their progress continues to advance steadily. Cooperatives demonstrate that the success of collective strength is present in every step of their development.
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