We are pleased to invite ICA Youth Committee members to the next Annual Plenary Meeting! This year, it will take place on 3 July in Manchester, United Kingdom, during the week of the Festival of Co-operatives.
The President of the Youth Committee, Ana Aguirre, will be stepping down from her position. The Annual Plenary Meeting will have the purpose of filling the vacancy until her term ends in 2026.
Message from the Youth Committee President, Ana Aguirre:
Dear cooperators,
As youth representative I come to you with both a joyful and somehow sad message. After some years serving as youth representative at the ICA Board, an unexpected turn of events has me jump jobs and take a step back in the cooperative movement, so I will not be a worker-owner cooperator in my everyday life in the upcoming years, or at least for now.
I could have stayed for the remaining time until the 2026 elections, but as you all know, a lot of the strength and legitimacy I feed from when representing youth comes from knowing that while I may be a representative some times, I am a worker owner and cooperator all the time. I breathe cooperative and I consistently live the ups and downs of our beloved form of business first hand.
So, after a long process of reflection, I shared with our Youth Executive Committee that I will serve as President until July and we will run elections in Manchester in person.
We have a great year ahead as IYC2025, but this is neither a starting point nor a finish line, it is a stepping stone to a great journey that looks far back and even farther into the future, and we, as youth, are the ones that will be here for the longer run.
We are opening the election process, you can read more in the call for candidates. Manchester will be a time to celebrate and come together so please, as young cooperators call on your cooperatives and organizations to support your participation, and as ICA members, support your youth. 2025 is a special year, and Manchester will be a special youth event. We need as many representatives as possible there to choose the person that will lead this youth executive committee and represent all of us cooperative youth at the ICA board. It is the time to be there for democracy and participation!
My journey in the international cooperative area started back in 2015 and I was incredibly lucky to find inspiring people that I not only admire at the professional level but can proudly call friends. It is the international movement's inspiration, sharing and strength that made me the cooperator and the person I am today. What a journey it has been!
All I have is a deep sense of gratitude and the commitment to take a step back but remain close.
I hope to see you in Manchester!
If you are interested in becoming the next President of the Youth Committee or attending, click here to learn more!
This is an amazing opportunity to represent your fellow ICA Youth Committee members, and be a key force in driving a youth-powered, co-operative future!
You can find more information about registration and logistics for the activities during the Festival of Co-operatives in Manchester and Rochdaleon the Festival webpage.
As part of the Festival, the cooperative movement in the UK will hold a National Youth Summit on 5 July in Rochdale Town Hall! They are offering 50 free spaces for International guests under 30 years old to attend this special event.
