the child rescue nepal ( formerly esther benjamins trust ) is a uk registered charity that promotes children 's rights in nepal .

as a result of the work of the trust it is now illegal to imprison nepali children alongside their parents or for them to work in indian circuses .

it has recently become one of the pioneers of deinstitutionalisation in nepal .

child rescue nepal

child rescue nepal has rescued 700 children but our work is far from over .
child rescue nepal frees children from slavery . we rescue children , keep them safe and reunite them with their families . child rescue nepal has rescued nearly 700 children but our work is far from over . we want to end child slavery in nepal and we won’t stop until every child is free .
we want to end child slavery in nepal and we won’t stop until every child is free .
chorachori sends child rescue teams into india to trace and rescue displaced and trafficked nepali children . that’s one reason why we are unique within nepal children’s charities .
operational director of chorachori - nepal and responsible for all the field work , including leading the child rescue team .
child rescue nepal frees children from slavery . today , there are over 40 million slaves globally , a . . .
to have a sustainable child rescue , repatriation , rehabilitation and reintegration infrastructure fully in place by december 2019 .
child rescue nepal aims to end child slavery in nepal . our mission is to rescue and care for trafficked nepali children who are sold for child labour and , as a result , are trapped in slavery . we save them from a life of physical and emotional abuse , provide medical care and counselling and reuniting them with their families where possible . our rescue fund pays for the rescue and care of children , in the long term where necessary .
every 30 seconds around the world , a child is sold into slavery . child rescue nepal wants to end child slavery in nepal and we will do this through a combination of rescue and prevention . we want to create an emergency fund so that we can react quickly and rescue children from dire and dangerous situations . we have already rescued 700 children , but there are thousands more that need our help .
child rescue nepal frees children from slavery . there are 5 . 5 million children in the world today who are trapped in slavery or similar practices .
my wife and i would like to contribute to child rescue nepal . we think the work you do is absolutely amazing . thank you .
in nepal , we estimate that there are almost 100 , 000 child slaves working in hazardous situations . these children are extremely vulnerable and often suffer from physical , emotional and sexual abuse . we rescue children , keep them safe and reunite them with their families . child rescue nepal has rescued 700 children but our work is far from over . we want to end child slavery in nepal and we won’t stop until every child is free .
prosecute any child traffickers and exploiters that we encounter during rescue work . this delivers justice for the children and prevents further trafficking
nepal has the third highest child marriage rates in asia , with 46 % of these arranged by family members without the child ' s input .
child rescue nepal hosted our spring reception on 8 may to meet with supporters and update them on crn ' s work , as well as on an exciting new partnership .
21 caregivers of the nepal children’s organization , balmandir have received extensive training on child care and development .
“ . . . banishing the exploitative and worst form of child labour by 2022 and all types of child labour by 2025 . ”
in 1999 the esther benjamins trust was set up by philip holmes in memory of his late wife . the charity was known as the esther benjamins trust up until 2015 when the name was changed , with the support of esther’s family , to child rescue nepal to more clearly reflect the work that we do . philip is no longer involved with child rescue nepal but continues to work in nepal through his charity chorachori .
in 2016 , we reviewed our progress and set ourselves an exciting new ambition : to end all child slavery in nepal . with a renewed focus on rescues , we won’t stop until every child in nepal is free .
on sunday 17 june , 10 : 30 - 12 : 00 , a humorous dog show and fundraising day will be held by a group of wonderful locals in sussex in order to support child rescue nepal .
we believe that children belong in families and not factories . we rescue children and reunite them with their families . we won ' t stop until every child is free .
» india - based child exploiters identified , arrested and charged by the police .
after reunification of two girls with their families in south nepal , the chorachori team has gone on to rescue more nepali children from north india .
are you a photographer looking to expand your skill - set when shooting on location ? steve brown of steve brown creative will be hosting a photography event at the offices of child rescue nepal , with all profits being generously donated to our work .
after children return to nepal they pass through our transit refuge in kathmandu . at the refuge we give each child a basic health check and any necessary rehabilitation . meantime our field staff trace families and confirm domestic circumstances are suitable for reunification . this usually involves a visit to the child’s home . once everyone is happy – including the child – we effect a formal return of the child to the family .
in nepal , we estimate that there are almost 100 , 000 child slaves working in hazardous situations . these children are extremely vulnerable and often suffer from physical , emotional and sexual abuse . we rescue children , keep them safe and reunite them with their families .
are you an amazon - addict ? have you signed up to amazon smile yet ? they are giving a percentage of all purchases to registered charities - and child rescue nepal are up for selection ! all funds are tripled until 29th june . sign up here :
» research in nepal with a chora chori nepal team , liaising with district and national authorities where appropriate .
in such situations , if you try targeted rescue and relief , it could be counterproductive as everybody is in need .
the early childhood development center ( ecdc ) in kathmandu , nepal was founded in 2005 by pushpa basnet , a young nepali woman who studied at kathmandu university . ecdc coordinates with jail administrators to rescue children from jail cells throughout urban and rural areas of nepal . ecdc is a registered non - profit organization with the nepali central child welfare board .
rec - nepal _ _ 1530079837violence - against - women - in - nepal - monthly - report - june . pdf
volunteering in nepal is not all about helping with the projects of volunteer society nepal . it is also about making .
38 traditional early childhood and primary classrooms have been restructured , reorganized and converted into child - friendly environments .
child wellbeing is at the core of our work . we always , always do what is best for the children .
nepali organisations work with local partners to bring nepali children in india home .
rescue operations are more effective when conducted in coordination with organisations there ,
says achyut kumar nepal of maiti nepal . but it ' s by no means straightforward . for a home to consent to release a child , either a parent needs to be present , or the organisation needs to furnish proof that it will take care of the child . the nepali embassy , which can vouch for such organisations , has an important role to play .
the chorachori field staff members are unrivalled in their experience of the cross - border rescue of nepalese children . led by operational director shailaja cm , the rescue team goes into india and , in liaison with the nepal and indian authorities , finds nepal’s lost children and brings them home . in 2016 the team repatriated 72 displaced nepali boys . we have reunited all but 15 of these children with their families . the remaining children are now staying at our kathmandu transit refuge .
chairman : andrew scadding andrew has 50 years’ experience of uk and overseas charities . he recently retired from being chief executive of the thai children’s trust , which works in similar areas to child rescue nepal . he is on the board of pointb , a us charity that trains community workers in burma , and is a contributor to civil society’s blog on the regulation of fundraising .
refuge supervisors , home parents , counsellor / rescue coordinator , district programme coordinator , development officer , project officer ( anti - trafficking ) , project officer ( education ) .
the charity has been rescuing and caring for vulnerable children in nepal since 1999 .
chorachori is still supporting villagers affected by august ' s nepal floods . | chorachori
lego ® for nepal is a program developed by volunteer society nepal in collaboration with the edulent foundation . lego ® for nepal is a two week long school exchange program for high school students between the age of 15 and 19 year old .
softvision ( f . k . a . spi nepal pvt . ltd . )
basnet : in nepal , still inside prisons , children are living with their parents with no basic facilities . but we at ecdc are working to rescue them and give them a better life and help to reintegrate and rehabilitate with their parents after release from prison .
kathmandu , july 9 : the government passed a master plan that prohibits child labor in all work sectors on sunday’s meeting of the council of ministers .
in nepal we operate through a legally registered local charity and the district education office .
an attempted rape in tipling , dhading district , nepal and chorachori ' s response .
over 100 babies & young children are living in prison in nepal with their mothers .
the chorachori rescue team goes into india to liaise with ngos and the indian authorities for hand over the children for repatriation and subsequent care . sometimes family members join the team as this usually facilitates child identification and release , not to mention subsequent reunification . costs involved are staff remuneration , travel and subsistence for the team and for returning children .
100 children returned to nepal . assume that 80 of these can be reunited with families .
during this week , nepal youth foundation will be focused on building support for our projects in nepal that educate , shelter , nourish and empower youth to be all they can be .
voice of children ( voc ) started its mission in 1997 but was legally established in 2000 . it all started with the rescue of two children and now voc has helped over 1000 children and families .
in the border district of hetauda , in southern nepal , child trafficking is rife and the lack of border controls makes india an easy destination . for decades , nepali children , mostly girls , have been sought by indian circuses for their fair skin and beauty .
from extreme poverty . he was living alone on the streets of butwal in south west nepal .
thank you for your generous support of some of the most vulnerable children in nepal . namaste !
chorachori has been training trafficking - prone girls in nepal how to make felt products to earn a living .
faced with nepal ' s grinding poverty , exacerbated by earthquakes in 2015 , many children and young people cross the open border into india in search of a better life . they may go to india voluntarily but very often they are trafficked . once there they are difficult to find and retrieve but they can be found in childcare centres or following police rescue operations . there is no clear mechanism for their repatriation or subsequent rehabilitation / reintegration in nepal .
sue payne sue has worked in children’s services , in both voluntary and statutory sectors , as a qualified social worker and manager . she has extensive experience in working with traumatised children in child protection and children in transition . since retiring her focus has been on capacity building work with organisations , offering culturally appropriate child protection training , developing policies and tailored support which result in positive outcomes for children .
we recently rescued 7 boys from a factory in nepal . modern day slavery exists . help us to do more
» nepal - based traffickers identified , arrested and charged by the police . witnesses protected through to successful convictions .
the women center is one of the ongoing projects of volunteers society nepal which aims in empowering the nepalese women .
lego® for nepal is a two week long school exchange program for high school students between the age of 15 .
at age 21 , pushpa visited a women’s prison in kathmandu and came face to face with children living alongside their incarcerated mothers . she soon started the early childhood development center ( ecdc ) , the first step in a lifelong mission to rescue nepal’s imprisoned children . since then , she has founded butterfly home and has rescued and cared for over 500 children .
having just returned from wonderful nepal i am inspired by all the work going on there for these children .
at volunteer society nepal we do not only offer volunteering . we also offer tours and treks through our travel partner .
volunteer society nepal opened the talent school at the start of the new school year . the talent school is an .
sophie wilson sophie has eleven years’ experience in the media and communications sector in a career that has spanned broadcast , tech , digital , advertising , film and pr . after an inspiring sabbatical in the east in 2012 during which she spent time volunteering in nepal at a child refuge , a digital media fundraising campaign enabled her to raise the money to rescue a homeless boy , mausam and provide for two years of his life . on her return , she set up own ‘storytelling’ consultancy tuesday media , helping smes and ftse 100s companies with branding , messaging , marketing and business development .
flights to nepal . entry visa . departure taxes . vaccinations . local transportation . travel health insurance . laundry and internet .
as a volunteer , what is most important is that you get to know your surroundings and the beauty of nepal . .
volunteer society nepal has several types of locations to offer . we offer volunteering in the cities of kathmandu and pokhara . .
nick sankey nick has been involved with crn since 2004 , first a volunteer , then staff member in nepal and now as a trustee . whilst working for crn in nepal , he met his wife rama and learned to speak nepali . after returning to the uk he moved into a fundraising role at hope and homes for children . after stints at great ormond street hospital children’s charity and buttle uk , he is now head of philanthropy and partnerships at world child cancer .
the infant care facility improvement project ( icfip ) is an initiative implemented in one of the oldest and largest orphanages in nepal , the nepal children’s organization , in balmandir . this project upgraded the health , hygiene and sanitation of the facility , including :
the nepal & india border is infamous for # childtrafficking resulting in # forcedlabour . but everyone from himal to terai , from nepal to the uk , needs to be vigilant & communicate to end this trade in the vulnerable . # childlabour # worlddayagainstchildlabour # worldchildlabourday
if you love stunning mountain views or love to climb them , then nepal should be on the top of your bucket - list . of the top 10 mountains in the world lying above 8000 metres , 8 are found in nepal . this includes the world’s tallest mountain – mount everest . what’s more beautiful about nepal is you don’t really have to be near the mountain ranges to enjoy the view : you can see the mountains even from the terai . if you’re looking for extreme sport adventures , nepal is also your destination . river rafting , paragliding , trekking , mountain climbing , kayaking , boating , bungee jumping , mountain flights – you name it ; they are all available in nepal . you can also find the world’s most extreme zipline in pokhara , nepal .
internship vacancy for future teachers and pedagogy students ! many children in nepal are deprived of attention , homework help , and good .
it has opened doors and put us in the limelight . the recognition has brought in invaluable financial and moral support for ecdc to keep continuing its work to ensure that no child grows up in prison as a result of parental incarceration .
if i have to describe my nepal medical elective experience with vsn in a couple of worlds i would say : interesting , a .
convicted nepalese child traffickers face up to 20 years in prison . in our opinion imprisonment is the surest way of preventing trafficking . this is not only through taking criminals out of circulation but also by making an example of them to others .
“reaching persons with disabilities and other marginalized community members is always challenging . in disaster and risk situations , especially in the phase of emergency rescue and relief ( let’s say first two weeks ) the approach has to be blanket , meaning to address everyone . there are two major reasons for this :
child - based organisations and the police pick up street children from railway stations , bus stations and the places where they work , and present them to the child welfare committee ( cwc ) . the cwc then allocates them to juvenile justice homes , commonly known as children ' s homes or observation homes .
as private children ' s homes are reluctant to accept nepali children , they are compelled to go to government - run observation homes ,
says shailaja cm , director of ebmf .
myself and anika travelled to kathmandu , nepal in january 2017 . we spent a week volunteering with the vsn in pepsicola town planning , .
i am a teacher at graaf huyn college in the netherlands . i arrived in nepal on the 27th of july for four weeks to .
we will solve the problem by finding trafficked and displaced children , by rescuing and repatriating them and providing for their basic and educational needs . concurrently we will stop future trafficking by bringing trafficking agents and child exploiters to justice . in our experience the best way to prevent trafficking is to put such criminals behind bars . the sentence for trafficking in nepal is 20 years in prison without remission .
long term we will have an integrated arrangement between chorachori nepal and its indian partner ngos to bring care and justice to trafficked and displaced nepalese children .
volunteer society nepal is a local nepali organization , so we offer volunteering placements in nepal that are highly affordable and designed for everyone from young students to adult professionals . we know our country best and this allows us to reduce overheads while still providing fantastic service equal to the high cost international agencies .
prem joined ebmf in 2012 and has key responsibility for child protection and development . he also works with dilu to reintegrate rescued children . prem has a masters degree in development studies from kathmandu university and has also worked as a school teacher at a higher secondary school .
the open border also presents no obstacle to traffickers who prey on both boys and girls . there are no definitive figures for the scale of child trafficking . however an ilo rapid assessment from 2001 estimated that each year human traffickers take 12 , 000 girls across the border into the sex trade alone . there is no estimate for the trafficking of boys although that is also a major problem . girls tend to enter the sex trade or domestic service ( another form of slavery ) . boys usually end up in forced child labour situations .
we wish to appoint a researcher who can map indian government agencies , ngos , children’s shelters ( including major indian orphanages ) or juvenile correction centres . these will be primarily in north india , including the major cities of delhi and kolkata . while doing so the researcher will identify displaced and trafficked nepali kids for the rescue team .
90 orphan children , between the ages of 0 to 6 , were provided with overall facilities for their holistic development at the nepal children’s organization , balmandir .
chorachori in uk and nepal has a wealth of operational experience and a track record of success . during the period august 2015 to march 2017 it rescued 102 displaced and trafficked children from nepal . we have managed to reunite 80 children with their families while the remainder are in our care in kathmandu pending finding their families or making other long - term arrangements . chorachori - nepal is unique in being proactive in going into india , finding lost children and bringing them home .
there is # nosuchthing as a ' child prostitute ' - - they are victims and survivors of rape , not criminals . it ' s up to all of us to ensure our children are protected and that their exploiters are brought to justice . # endtrafficking # enddemand # nosuchthing urltoken
icri nepal partners with local , national , and multinational corporations to develop corporate social responsibility initiatives . icri links participating companies to grassroots community - based organizations , and works to bring new collaborators into the dialogue on how to best serve vulnerable families and communities in nepal . read more about the alliance for corporate social responsibility here .
icri nepal facilitated the formation of this coalition of grassroots organizations working to support prisoners and their children in 2001 . we have remained deeply involved with the organization and with its efforts to improve the wellbeing of families impacted by nepal’s prison system . in recent years , icri nepal and ncpd have received funding from the united nations development program to implement hiv / aids prevention , vocational training , and psychosocial support programs in nepali prisons . read more about the network for children , prisoners and dependents here .
beyond the tourist centres , nepal faces many challenge . access to services , already limited by poor infrastructure , was further seriously damaged by huge earthquakes in 2015 . extreme poverty means fragmented families and displaced children struggle to reunite and rates of trafficking and exploitation are high , and it is these children that childhope’s work focuses on in nepal .
this week we visited the aviation museum in kathmandu . our children were very excited and curious as they had never been inside a plane before . one child said : “it was a very informative outing . we got to know something more about aeroplanes & at the same time it was fun ! ” urltoken
pralad is one of thousands of children who reach india for work but end up in government - run children ' s homes . on 23 august , he arrived in kathmandu along with six other boys , in the aftermath of a successful rescue operation overseen by esther benjamins memorial foundation ( ebmf ) . while pralad had been trafficked , the rest had run away from home to find work .
( cnn ) because nepal lacks the social safety net that exists in most western nations , many children there have little choice but to live in prison when their parents are incarcerated .
volunteer society nepal is reliant on volunteer ' s fees to fund its projects . we are tremendously thankful to those who have been supporting us by taking part in our volunteer programs in .
jamuna shrestha , country director nepal jamuna shrestha bhattarai has two postgraduate degrees and 19 years’ experience in the development sector . based in the kathmandu office of crn , she leads the crn team in nepal . she is interested in building resilience in communities and providing good quality education , healthcare and job opportunities for children and their families who are struggling to secure their basic needs and rights .
roshna lama , accountant roshna lama has worked at crn nepal since 2007 . she has a ba in management accounting and finance , and other qualifications in finance and accounting systems and computer training .
and nepal youth foundation will be competing for the $ 13 , 000 available in one - time matching funds . contributions up to $ 250 will be matched at 100 % while funds remain .
we feel very honoured and grateful to have had the support of the nando peretti foundation and hope that we can continue to work together as our work in nepal expands to meet the growing challenges .
poor financial status and difficult family lives push these children to leave home ,
says durga ghimire of abc nepal . while there are no records of nepali child labourers in india , it is estimated that every year 4 , 000 - 5 , 000 nepali children cross the border hoping to find work and a better life . this makes them vulnerable to trafficking . these children find jobs in restaurants , small factories , circuses and in homes , as domestic help . workplace abuse is rampant , which means many of these children end up on the streets .
in 2015 , a devastating earthquake hit nepal . more than 80 members of the ghyangfedi community were killed in the earthquake , and every single building , including all schools and health facilities , were destroyed .
ebmf research currently underway seeks to get to the bottom of the situation . what are these children doing in indian children ' s homes , and what can be done about it ? the initial impression is that many are child - trafficking victims who end up washed up on these desert islands that masquerade as childcare centres . ebmf ' s solution is direct action .
for many , nepal conjures up images of exhilerating treks through breathtaking landscapes , with mount everest at its heart . it is a beautiful country which gains income through tourism and which many people aspire to visit .
play is essential to development as it encourages creativity , dexterity , and contributes to the cognitive , physical , social , and emotional well - being of babies and children . through play , babies engage and interact with the world around them . in fact , play has been recognized as a basic human right of every child , by the united nations commission for human rights .
nepalgunj is a small town on the indian nepal border and the ‘gateway’ to humla . from the nepalgunj airport , tiny planes fly into the imposing himalayas ferrying cargo , people and goats to humla and other hard - to - reach towns in nepal’s north - west . many humli people come to nepalgunj to search out facilities not available in humla , such as healthcare , education and trade facilities . adara has an office in nepalgunj .
there are still many nepali kids in such homes in india , and an estimated 500 in delhi alone .
bilateral mechanisms have to be put in place so that there is proper networking ,
says gauri pradhan of the national human rights commission .
if the police , child - based organisations , and the embassy work effectively together , we can bring our children home .
in very rural nepal . rajan cannot return to his family alone because of violence and alcoholism . rajan is not only a fantastic performer , but is showing great interest and abiltiy in becoming the company ' s rigger .
adara has worked hand in hand with remote communities since 1998 . primarily , this work has taken place in humla , a remote mountainous region of nepal , home to over 50 , 000 people . our focus in humla is on long term sustainable support to improve health and education for the region . our health initiatives in humla aim to improve local health services , health awareness , nutrition , hygiene and sanitation . our education initiatives focus on school teacher employment and training ; school infrastructure and materials ; after - school activities ; and vocational scholarships . by improving education in the district we also aim to eliminate child trafficking .
the 1 , 200km open border between nepal and india allows free movement of each country’s nationals without any restriction . this means that many nepali children , mainly boys , cross into india in search of work , a better life or to escape domestic abuse . some may just be seeking adventure and a change from the grim realities of rural life in remote nepal . this flow of children increased because of the 2015 earthquakes that devastated hill village communities .
‘slavery’ is not an historical phenomenon , in nepal it is believed that 234 , 600 people are victims of modern day slavery ( mds ) such as trafficking for sexual exploitation , domestic work , forced labour or early marriage .
adara will continue to work hand in hand with the nepal government to help resource the school with materials , provide children with their midday meal , and to fund three additional teachers so that the school can run most effectively .
no mother should have to choose between bringing her children to prison , or abandoning them to the streets . our mission is to give mothers a better alternative , and to give children a home , a life , and a future . by sharing pushpa’s powerful story and showing people how they can help , we believe pushpa’s cause will keep growing—one screening , one donation , one child at a time .
five days after their journey began , five freed children reached nepalganj with their families . our sense of achievement was soured by akash having to return empty - handed . his only consolation can be that his brother , one of nepal ' s many lost and trapped children in india , remains firmly on ebmf ' s ' missing ' list . more trips south of the border will follow in an effort to bring nepal ' s children back to their rightful home .
# didyouknow ? # nepal ’s constitution prohibits all kinds of discriminations on the grounds of disability . people with disabilities have the provision for equal access to basic services & rights including healthcare , education , social assistance & employment # nowisthetime urltoken
after the successful rescue of three of the boys shortly after their arrival in delhi , the hopes of the ebmf team were high as they departed for the philwari children ' s home to retrieve the other three boys . the necessary paperwork was in place and significantly , family members were on hand to claim the boys . in spite of this , the father of 13 - year - old raju chhetri ( name changed ) maintained he would not believe his son was alive until he saw him with his own eyes .
november 2017 marked a tremendous milestone made possible by friends like you ( the inauguration of nyf’s new new life center - nlc ) ! the specialized treatment center is located on the grounds of the existing nutritional rehabilitation home in lalitpur , nepal .
nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity due to its varying altitudes and geographical position . the country covers altitudes from 60 meters above sea level to the peak of everest at 8 , 848m ! because of this , nepal has an incredibly diverse ecosystem including thick tropical jungles , teeming wildlife , great mountain ranges , forested hills and frozen valleys . its spectacular geography offers an astonishing range of sightseeing attractions and adventure opportunities , which are found nowhere else on earth .
offering an oasis from the social isolation , medical neglect , and physical and emotional abandonment that hiv - affected children in nepal often face , the new center will improve both access and quality to hiv / aids treatment and services for years to come .
volunteer society nepal is founded and run by nepali professionals ; we collectively have more than 50 years’ experience of working in leading international volunteer and development organizations in nepal . we frequently visit our project sites , meet volunteers , hold discussions with host families , local people and organizations , revise and set up new meaningful and rewarding programs . our staff and coordinators are consistently praised and recognized by our volunteers for their friendliness , hard work , and professional services . our staff are available 24 hours a day , 365 days a year to support you at your placement . the office acts as a point of contact with our staff and a general meeting point for volunteers . we are here to assist with any concerns , problems , advice , and general administration that may arise during your time in nepal .
the primary beneficiaries will be the nepalese children who are currently displaced or enslaved in india . secondary beneficiaries will be the trafficking - prone communities in impoverished rural areas in south nepal by closing down the operations of some traffickers . trafficking will be prevented and children protected .
thankfully , a local doctor referred bindu to nyf ' s new life center . the center provides medical care , treatment , shelter , nutritious diets , and education for children and their caregivers living with hiv / aids , one of the most stigmatized diseases in nepal .
we will create a pathway for the repatriation of trafficked and displaced nepalese children from india . once back in nepal we will reunite children with families or place them in care , providing for basic needs , education and training . we will bring traffickers and exploiters to justice .
phulwari children home . women and children development home . a heavily fortified and electrified haven for women and children . wow india is really serious about development of destitute women and children good to know that . what is worst : children living in a correctional institution , child workers , poverty stricken children and their family or all of the above . start the finger pointing game . blame the government . blame the society . blame the community . blame the family . well blame every body .
dilu has worked with ebmf for 10 years and is involved at the frontline of all our rescues . dilu is also one of nepal’s few trained counsellors and has developed a speciality helping trauma and trafficked children . dilu us passionate about rescuing children and giving them a new life .
beyond the geographical and weather - specific disadvantages , humla has also been damaged by war . during the civil war between the maoists and the government , desperate families fell afoul of child traffickers . the traffickers convinced some well - meaning parents to pay for their children to be taken to kathmandu under misleading promises of safety and education . thousands of children were taken and crammed into dismal homes in appalling conditions . these children were also at serious risk of ending up in the sex or slave trade .
the lack of infrastructure could be excused if the children were treated well . but they suffer physical and sometimes even sexual abuse from other children and supervisors .
they used to hit us on our legs and feet for even a small mistake ,
says 17 - year - old ashim nepal .
even before project completion the enhanced facilities have been put to good use with centralisation of long term child care at the old and new
white houses
. the
red house
was used as temporary accommodation for released circus children in january and after being reunited with their parents they were brought back to the red house in february for an
educational development opportunity
course . at time of writing the blue house is being prepared for the transit accommodation of 28 newly - released circus children who return from india this weekend .
with your support , the nlc provides transitional shelter and care for children and their mothers living with hiv / aids , one of the most stigmatized diseases in nepal . pediatricians and nurses provide the children antiretroviral treatment and medical attention while nutritionists educate mothers on how to care for their infected children and themselves .
sheetal was trafficked to an indian circus when she was just 5 years old . she spent 9 years there alone in bonded labour before being recued by the esther benjamins trust and taken to their refuge in nepal . when rescued she knew neither her sir name or her cast . she knew nothing about her family . being outside of the cast system in nepal is like not being a proper person - lower than the lowest . now sheetal is one on the most hard - working and committed members of circus kathmandu and is also one if the most talented . with a passport she would have the opportunity for a thriving and rewarding career .
the program’s doctor , nutritionist , and staff provide educational activities for the children and helpful trainings for the adult caretakers . last year , 58 children received treatment , which includes nutritious meals , medical care , and psychological counseling . this holistic approach is the only program of its kind for hiv - positive children in nepal .
hiv affected children and their mothers are often treated as outcasts in nepal . the government offers limited treatment programs and hospitals refuse to provide medical care . schools shut their doors . non - infected children won’t play with them , and they’re banned from village activities . the children quickly become very sick , and feel brutally ostracized .
susan wright susan has worked as a consultant in the charity sector since 2009 helping organisations to optimise their fundraising activities . a chemistry graduate with an mba in international business & finance her corporate experience includes process improvement , systems implementation and change management . since 2009 susan has supported crn as a volunteer in both the london and nepal offices .
in the late 80s , audette exel and sharon beesley had the fantastic opportunity to go trekking in nepal and found it to be a country with incredible need . together , with a small group of friends and supporters they established the isis group ( now called the adara group ) in 1998 . audette travelled again to nepal to learn about the world of development and to identify the first places to start working . she hoped to work remotely with the most vulnerable people in underserved or forgotten communities , and began by looking for countries with some of the lowest quality - of - living indicators . her aim was to find support - worthy projects in remote areas that other aid organisations did not reach .
bindu was born with hiv and underwent many treatments in nepal , but they were all failing . both of her parents are also living with hiv and were already struggling to manage their health . bindu’s condition was only worsening as she was developing wounds all over her body . unable to afford all of the family’s medications and proper nutrition , their future looked bleak .
icri nepal has taken over the leadership of the national center for learning resources , an innovative approach to preschool and elementary school education , teacher training and school improvement and development programs . the program focuses mainly on young children to improve their learning achievements by making their experience and education creative , joyful , and meaningful . read more about the national center for learning resources here .
with effective emergency response in place , light for the world and karuna foundation then established a post - earthquake rehabilitation project to ensure that emergency relief became sustainable and truly inclusive . the project has since offered support to more than 1 . 016 persons with disabilities . along with specific rehabilitative needs , the project focused on mainstreaming disability and accessibility issues such as accessible reconstruction , inclusive and child - friendly teacher training and building new accessible classrooms . one aspect was to create awareness among stakeholders about the needs of persons with disabilities and ways to ensure disability inclusion and mainstreaming in disaster risk reduction . through the project , about 160 disabled and non - disabled students were enrolled in school
we have placed hundreds of international volunteers from 17 to 76 years old from all over the world . all of them have had a great experience while making a meaningful contribution to supporting local disadvantaged & marginalized communities . after returning to their homes safe and sound , some have already come back to nepal , and many more have made plans to come back and join us again soon .
kedar is our district programme coordinator in hetauda , ebmf . he has b . ed and bbs degrees from tribhuwan university of nepal and is currently studying for a masters in sociology . before joining ebmf , kedar was working for the women skill creation centre in partnership with free the slaves as programme coordinator in hetauda . kedar has also worked as a school coordinator for four years in a secondary level school .
ecdc developed butterfly nursery kits that include a great selection of toys and supplies for these kids . team members distribute these boxes to the 54 prisons in nepal that are housing young children , and spend a day showing the mothers how to use and care for the toys and supplies . team members do follow - up visits to ensure the items are being used properly , and to resupply items as needed .
nepal has the fifth highest prevalence of modern slavery globally ( walk free foundation 2013 ) with reports suggesting that up to 15 , 000 people are trafficked annually , of which a third are children . trafficked children are used mainly as bonded or slave labour in the informal sector , brick kilns and factories , as domestic servants or circus entertainers , for commercial sexual exploitation , forced marriage and for organ removal .
natural disasters and humanitarian crises hit vulnerable groups hardest . amongst these are persons with disabilities and their families whose numbers increase even more in crises situations due to , among others , injuries . persons with disabilities are often last to be rescued , to receive medical services , shelter or food due to stigma , oversight by first responders and non - inclusive humanitarian responses . not having proper information and inclusive disaster plans on hand also is an issue to be dealt with . light for the world , in cooperation with local partners , seeks to make sure that persons with disabilities are not left behind in disaster risk reduction , emergency response and post - emergency projects . during the devastating earthquake of nepal in april 2015 and its aftermath , murali padmanabhan , disability inclusion expert with light for the world , worked with karuna foundation nepal to ensure disability inclusion in their interventions .
according to the united nations , nepal ranks 138th in the world in overall human development , behind such countries as india and bangladesh , making it one of the least developed countries in asia . rural healthcare services are at best rudimentary , with government health posts often going unstaffed and undersupplied for years . nutrition is inadequate and vaccination rates are poor . access to education is irregular , and low literacy rates remain a barrier to economic progress .
karnasher tamang mbe , chairman karna has been involved with the work of crn from the start . before that , he had a long and distinguished career in the queen’s gurkha signal regiment and was decorated by hrh the prince of wales for his dedicated and loyal service to the crown . after retiring from the british army , he worked for the mod uk as hr manager for the british gurkhas nepal with responsibility for the management of over 350 civilian staff .
volunteers in nepal needed at a special needs children’s care center located in a suburb of kathmandu . this center is caring for physically challenged children by providing them with the accommodation , daily care , health care , medication in the form of corrective surgery and education . most of these children come from poor families who cannot care for them at home . currently there are more than 40 children being cared for , most of them between 10 - 12 years old .
kathmandu is the capital city of nepal and the largest city in the valley beneath the mountains . it is a vibrant city with many working people , bright colours and busy markets . though kathmandu is a bustling metropolitan region , it is still rife with poverty . it is also a central point for traffickers bringing children from the mountainous regions to be kept in usually very poor conditions . adara development and the isis children ' s foundation have offices in kathmandu .
volunteering in nepal will help you to see the world from a different perspective , which enables you to develop your critical thinking and cross - cultural skills . in addition , by leaving the familiar behind to go encounter new people and places , you will gain a better understanding of yourself and the world around you . experiencing another way of life firsthand will enhance your independence , understanding , education and self - awareness . these life - skills are all invaluable .
following the nepal earthquake in 2015 , adara’s remote community development work expanded to the district of ghyangfedi , a small remote community in nuwakot district , northeast of kathmandu . immediately after the earthquake , adara delivered emergency food , medical , and shelter support to this community . then , using the expertise gained delivering remote education programmes in humla over 19 years , adara has built a new earthquake - resistant school for 300 students . the shree ghyangfedi school opened in june 2017 .
volunteer fees go directly to the communities we serve , making real change . thanks to these fees plus generous donations and funds raised by our ever - growing volunteer society nepal family , we have already established several long - term sustainable projects such as the cbia school for 800 students , a day care center for intellectually disabled children and a women’s center , which are all continuously expanding . we provide scholarships for underprivileged children , supply nutritious food to our centers and donate school materials to different schools .
icri began working in nepal in december 2001 , when we were invited to assist local and international ngos with the development of a coordinated plan for housing and care of children with incarcerated parents . icri’s assistance and interest resulted in the birth of the network on children , prisoners and dependents ( ncpd ) in august 2002 . in 2003 , icri opened a full - time office in kathmandu , and hired our country director dhirendra lamsal , who continues to oversee a variety of projects that support nepali children and families .
nepal is one of the world ' s low development nations , placed at 145 out of 187 countries in the 2015 un human development index ( hdi ) ranking . india is only a little better , considered a medium development country , ranked at 130 . there is an open border between the two countries allowing free migration . this makes for easy human trafficking . nepalese children and young people are readily tempted by the apparent better prospects in india . an estimated 10 , 000 to 15 , 000 are trafficked each year .
humli people are rich in culture but are often forgotten in nepal . communities in humla suffer entrenched disadvantage and poverty as a result of the region ' s remoteness and harsh weather conditions . the situation for children and young people is dire . the education , housing and basic infrastructure are very poor , healthcare facilities are scarce , and most people have inadequate sanitation and limited food . there is almost no cash economy , which limits the prospects of gainful employment for adults and makes it hard for them to provide for their families .


the united states federation of worker cooperatives ( usfwc ) is a federation of worker cooperatives in the united states .

usfwc was founded at the u.s. conference of democratic workplaces in minneapolis , minnesota in may 2004 .

the federation was sponsored by the cooperative foundation in addition to other cooperative support organizations .

it was created partly in response to growing regional organizing among united states worker cooperatives and to foster the sharing of information and resources between national gatherings .

102 2009 _ dawson et al _ united states federation of worker cooperatives . doc
united states federation of worker cooperatives is a
national grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives
founded in may of 2004 at the us conference of democratic workplaces .
the united states federation of worker cooperatives is the national grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives . its membership also includes democratic workplaces , cooperative , developers and organizations that support worker cooperatives .
the worker cooperative sector in the united states is represented by the us federation of worker cooperatives ( urltoken ) and an international apex organization , cicopa ( urltoken ) , represents the global worker cooperative community .
u . s . federation of worker cooperatives – farther . faster . together .
the u . s . federation of worker cooperatives is pleased to . . .
“the mission of the united states federation of worker cooperatives is to create stable and empowering jobs and worker - ownership through the development of a thriving cooperative movement . we advance worker - owned , - managed , and - governed workplaces through cooperative education , advocacy and development . ”
the united states federation of worker cooperatives ( usfwc ) is the national grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives . our mission is to build a thriving cooperative movement of stable , empowering jobs through worker - ownership . we advance worker - owned , - managed , and - governed workplaces through cooperative education , advocacy and development .
over the summer of 2011 , the group decided to formalize by adopting an official website , affiliating with the united states federation of worker cooperatives , and establishing a board structure . in march 2014 , the board incorporated as a membership not - for - profit business association—and formalized its membership structure to further align with the united states federation of worker cooperatives . in december 2014 , the irs awarded nyc nowc with its 501 ( c ) ( 6 ) tax - exempt status .
the majority of worker cooperatives in the united states are small businesses , with between 5 and 50 workers , but there are a few notable larger enterprises with between 150 and 500 workers . the largest worker cooperative in the united states is cooperative home care associates ( chca ) , a home care agency with over 2 , 000 workers based in the bronx , new york .
the united states federation of worker cooperatives is a national grassroots membership organization of and for worker cooperatives , other democratic workplaces , and the organizations that support the growth and continued development of worker cooperatives . we were founded in 2004 , the result of several years of organizing on the part of worker cooperatives and regional groups from around the country . our members are workplaces of all sizes and a broad variety of industries , from across the country , and our member workplaces comprise more than 1300 individual workers .
using data from our most recent annual census of worker cooperatives , we estimate that there are over 500 democratic workplaces in the united states , employing over 8 , 000 people and generating over $ 400 million in annual revenues .
the united states federation of worker cooperatives was founded at the u . s . conference of democratic workplaces in minneapolis , may 2004 . the conference elected a board and settled on an outline of the defining characteristics of the organization and its membership . in the two years since then , the elected board has been busy sorting out a structure , building a foundation and exploring possible directions for the federation .
the federation made history in 2005 when it joined cicopa , the international worker cooperative organization , making it the first time that the united states was represented in this world body . joining cicopa was the second highest priority of the conference with 20 votes . the first , with 21 votes , was creating group health care insurance benefits for worker cooperatives .
melissa hoover is executive director of the us federation of worker cooperatives . lillian “beadsie” woo is a senior associate at the annie e . casey foundation in baltimore .
ms . brockway has been working directly as a national speaker for the united states department of housing and urban development to train and work with the agencies to provide the successful development of homeownership opportunities .
united states federation of worker cooperatives ( usfwc ) history founded in 2004 by u . s . conference of democratic workplaces services offered purpose created to allow easier sharing of information between previously existing us worker cooperatives location has had meetings in . . . - new york ( 06 ) - new orleans ( 08 ) - madison ( 09 ) - san francisco ( 10 ) - austin ( 11 ) - boston ( 12 )
there is no uniform cooperative code in the united states , and definitions and incorporation guidelines vary from state to state . as a result , worker cooperatives can incorporate in a number of different ways . in states where there are cooperative incorporation codes , such as massachusetts and california , businesses can incorporate as worker cooperatives . in states where there are no such laws , a worker cooperative can incorporate as a c corporation , s corporation , llc , flexible purpose corporation , or any other corporate form , as long as the company meets the minimum requirements of operating as a worker cooperative .
nationally , there are 300 “democratic” workplaces , collectively employing more than 3 , 500 people , according to the u . s . federation of worker cooperatives .
the entire cooperative sector in the united states is represented by the national cooperative business association ( urltoken ) . the international cooperative alliance provides a cooperative definition , list of values , and principles on its website : urltoken .
the proposed structure for the federation is six membership classes : worker cooperatives , local and regional networks , other democratic workplaces , cooperative developers , associates , and individuals .
worker - owned cooperatives are rare in the united states , but in spain , where they are much more established , they’re often followed closely by a whole community . one study looked at the retail chain eroski , which has both worker - run and traditional stores , and found that the worker - run eroski stores grew “sales significantly faster” than those not run by workers .
the nyc network of worker cooperatives is dedicated to sharing and cultivating the educational , financial and technical resources of its members and supporting the growth of worker cooperatives for social and economic justice . we offer assistance to existing and new worker cooperatives in all communities within the new york city metropolitan area , with a focus on the development of cooperatives within marginalized communities .
the institute was created by the us federation of worker cooperatives ( usfwc ) to expand worker ownership in a movement that is adequately supported , effective , and strategically directed . our work ensures that our growth is rooted in worker cooperatives themselves at the same time as it reaches new communities most directly affected by inequality .
regional organizations include the network of bay area worker cooperatives ( nobawc ) , the eastern conference for workplace democracy , federation of workplace democracies , minnesota , ( fwd minnesota ) , south sound cooperatives in olympia , worker owned and run cooperative network ( worc’n ) of boston , the portland alliance of worker collectives , and others that are just getting off the ground .
melissa hoover is the executive director of the united states federation of worker cooperatives and a founding director of the democracy at work institute , the nonprofit education and training organization for worker cooperatives . for five years , melissa also worked with the arizmendi association of cooperatives in the san francisco bay area as a cooperative developer , helping start two new worker cooperatives and providing training and support in financial management for all arizmendi cooperatives . prior to that she worked as a consultant with worker cooperatives and other small businesses on setting up good financial systems . melissa got her start in cooperatives at inkworks press in berkeley and served as part of the management group there . she currently serves on the board of directors of the northcountry cooperative development fund and the ica group in boston . melissa holds a b . a . in history from stanford university , where she lived in a housing cooperative and did independent research on immigrant women’s contributions to the us cooperative movement of the 1920s and 1930s .
legal forms the corporate form for cooperatives varies . in states where there are cooperative incorporation statutes , businesses can incorporate as worker cooperatives . in states where there are no such statutes , democratic workplaces can take a variety of forms : s or c corporations , llcs , etc . whatever its incorporation status , a worker cooperative must create , in policy and practice , mechanisms for workers to make the decisions that affect the functioning and governance of the business .
a worker cooperative is a business that is owned and controlled by its workers , who constitute the members of the cooperative . the two central characteristics of worker cooperatives are :
types of businesses worker - owned business and democratic workplaces exist across the country , with the greatest concentrations in the northeast , the west coast and the upper midwest . the vast majority of worker cooperatives in the united states are small businesses , with a few notable larger enterprises . many are concentrated in the retail and service sectors . there are also well - established worker cooperatives in manufacturing and the skilled trades . traditionally there has been a strong cooperative presence in food production , processing and and sales . in the past ten years , we have also seen the growth of worker cooperatives in the technology sector and home care .
it is true that the cooperative economy is strong and in some cases better developed in other parts of the world , and that worker cooperatives have grown to be influential actors in the economies of spain and italy , in particular . however , cooperatives also have a long history here in the united states , from farmers coming together in agricultural cooperatives to the rural electrics wiring the countryside to the earliest worker cooperatives that emerged from artisans’ guilds and labor unions . cooperatives happen anywhere people come together to meet their needs – the cooperative form is international , flexible , and adapts to the conditions in which it emerges . we see concentrations of worker cooperatives in parts of the world where there is governmental and policy support for the cooperative form . there is great potential for cooperative development in general and worker cooperative development in particular to make cooperatives a larger part of the u . s . economy in the coming decades .
one perennial criticism of worker co - ops is that they can’t afford the high - flying talent that would help them innovate . but not every company needs to innovate . many just need to mop floors , sling burgers or clean linens . and it is usually those companies whose workers struggle most . “we’re not trying to create an amazon that pays jeff bezos to do what he does , ” says melissa hoover , the executive director of the united states federation of worker cooperatives . “we’re trying to remove jeff bezos from the equation and have everyone else make a little more money . ”
this past weekend , june 23 - 25 , three c4 tech & design members traveled to boston to attend the biennial united states federation of worker cooperatives ( usfwc ) 2012 conference and the daylong intensive on cooperative development . anna boyer , david boss , and jason want spent the three days sharing information with other cooperators representing businesses , cooperative alliances , and cooperative development organizations . we all came away from the conference with a better understanding of and commitment to the seven co - operative principles , found at the uswfc website :
in austin alone , there are worker - owned green cleaning cooperatives and collectively - run thrift stores , worker - run brewpubs and worker - owned internet hosting cooperatives . taxi drivers , threatened by uber and lyft , are talking about starting a taxi cooperative .
as of january 2014 , just 23 worker - owned co - ops existed in new york , of which only chca employed more than 70 people . nationwide , according to data from the u . s . federation of worker cooperatives , roughly 300 worker - owned cooperatives average 11 workers each . lack of public awareness and funding , as well as a weak support system , holds co - ops back , researchers say , and cumbersome city paperwork doesn’t help .
what would it take for worker cooperatives to rapidly develop in the united states and are these conditions realistic ? a panel discussion - january 11th , 2015 david hammer , executive director , the ica group melissa hoover , executive director , democracy at work institute ariana levinson , university of louisville louis d . brandeis school of law christopher michael , nycnowc erik olsen , university of missouri at kansas city department of economics joyce rothschild - whitt , virginia polytechnic institute and state university school of public and international affairs
“we’re hoping that at least a third of the 300 - 400 worker cooperatives in the country that we know of join the federation and build a formidable and representative worker cooperative movement in this country , ” said usfwc staff person melissa hoover . “the time is ripe for workers to have input into and control of our economic lives . ”
many worker - owned cooperatives operate by consensus , meaning that the objections of one worker can scuttle plans . when black star first opened , some workers wanted to wear uniforms to distinguish themselves from patrons . one worker , dana curtis , strenuously objected .
legal tools for worker cooperatives and the sharing economy - february 5th and 6th from 9am - 5pm in new york city .
worker cooperatives exist across the country , with the greatest concentrations in the northeast , the west coast and the upper midwest .
administered by the federation of protestant welfare agencies ( fpwa ) , the city’s new funds will go to 10 nonprofits ( among them , green worker cooperatives and the center for family life ) . the groups must create “234 jobs in worker cooperative businesses , reach 920 cooperative entrepreneurs , provide for the start up of 28 new worker cooperative small businesses , and [ assist ] another 20 existing co - ops . ”
to address these concerns , the federation board discounted dues for any co - op that already pays dues to a regional organization . in addition , the regional membership category is a member by virtue of their work organizing other cooperatives .
“we have to pay dues ( to cicopa ) , and dues will be an important part of the grassroots fundraising mechanism of the federation , so we hope that people will donate as much as they can to cover our work and to help us meet our obligations , ” said omar freilla , of green worker cooperatives in the bronx .
to ensure that cooperative member - owners and workers from 100 % worker - owned esops wield the most power in the federation , votes are weighted . the votes of worker - owners and regional / local networks would count as three votes . these include cooperative developers that are organized as worker cooperatives . the vote of other democratic workplaces – 51 percent owned esops and other organizations count as two vote , and associate members count as one .
definition a co - operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic , social , and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly - owned and democratically - controlled enterprise .
the blockbuster economics book of the season , thomas piketty’s “capital in the twenty - first century , ” argues that the great equalizing decades following world war ii , which brought on the rise of the middle class in the united states , were but a historical anomaly . armed with centuries of data , piketty says the rich are going to continue to gobble up a greater share of income , and our current system will do nothing to reverse that trend .
linda brockway is currently the treasurer of the national association of housing cooperatives , inc . , and has served on the board of directors since october 2000 .
in a worker co - op , the workers own the business and decide what to do with the profits ( as opposed to consumer co - ops , which are typically stores owned by members who shop at a discount ) . historically , worker co - ops have held the most appeal when things seem most perilous for laborers . the present is no exception . and yet , despite their ability to empower workers , co - ops remain largely relegated to boutique status in the united states .
ms . brockway is the president of economic consultants for housing opportunities , inc . economic consultants for housing opportunities , inc . ( echo , inc . ) is a full service homeownership / economic development consulting firm that works with residents , housing authorities , cooperatives , city governments , county governments , non - profit organizations , financial institutions , united states department of housing and urban development , and other organizations to develop strategic plans , self sufficiency programs , welfare reform programs , economic development , homeownership programs and other self sustaining programs for low income families to support the development of affordable housing , including the development of housing cooperatives .
worker cooperatives are values - driven businesses that put worker and community benefit at the core of their purpose . in contrast to traditional companies , worker members at worker cooperatives participate in the profits , oversight , and often management of the enterprise using democratic practices . the model has proven to be an effective tool for creating and maintaining sustainable , dignified jobs ; generating wealth ; improving the quality of life of workers ; and promoting community and local economic development , particularly for people who lack access to business ownership or sustainable work options .
in worker cooperatives , decision - making is democratic , so each worker has one vote , and policies can’t be determined by an investor whose only priority is profit . ( most profit - minded investors probably wouldn’t touch a worker cooperative with a ten - foot pole anyway . )
the board , elected at that conference , has been working since then to build a foundation for the federation and to plan ways to carry out a prioritized list of member mandates .
we will be using the us federation of worker co - operatives ( usfwc ) as the example to examine the larger question of “authority versus liberty” ; of which authority can be defined as a federation where co - operatives are members of a larger organization and therefore limiting individuals control over certain aspects and decisions ; and of which liberty can be defined as the autonomy of individual co - operatives and their members to control their fate . by way of comparison , we will briefly look at some us worker co - op networks as well as similar networks in other countries and co - op sectors – specifically canadian credit union networks and the masters of co - operative management program .
there are many different types of cooperatives . there are consumer cooperatives , which are owned and governed by customers ( such as new york city’s park slope food coop ) ; producer cooperatives , which are owned and controlled by independent producers ( such as florida’s natural growers ) ; multi - stakeholder cooperatives , which are democratically governed by workers , consumers , and producers , or some combination thereof ; and there are worker cooperatives like red rabbit , austin’s donut co - op , which are equally owned and democratically governed by workers .
editor’s note : on the eve of the first official membership meeting and second annual conference of the us federation of worker cooperatives ( usfwc ) taking place in new york city from october 13 - 15 , we asked melissa hover , the first usfwc staff person to review the accomplishments of the new organization and its future plans . hoover has been a cooperative activist nearly all of her working life and is currently a collective member at inkworks press , a worker - owned and - managed print shop which serves the bay area progressive community .
why are cooperatives more common in other countries than in the u . s . ?
today , blue hawk serves 231 members with 1 , 270 branches in 49 states representing over $ 6 billion in sales . rapidly , blue hawk has become the largest purchasing entity in the hvacr industry .
thank you and congratulations to the founding members of the us federation ! we expect membership to double ( at least ) in the rest of 2006 . for an application and explanations of membership and dues , see the
how to join
section of our website at : urltoken incorporation
“there is no greater medicine for apathy and feelings of living on the edges of society than to see your own work and your voice make a difference , ” says a report on co - ops by the federation of protestant welfare agencies in new york .
after 17 years as a home health aide at cooperative home care associates ( chca ) , the largest worker - owned co - op in the united states , ramos recently celebrated her daughter’s college graduation . she’s paying half of her son’s tuition at a catholic school , and she’s a worker - owner in a business where she enjoys flexible hours , steady earnings , health and dental insurance , plus an annual share in the profits . she’s not rich , she says , “but i’m financially independent . i belong to a union , and i have a chance to make a difference . ”
this year , the democracy at work institute is working with the national center for employee ownership ( nceo ) to offer a day on worker cooperatives at the employee ownership conference , including workshops and conversations on the uses and practices of worker cooperatives as well as developments in the field . worker cooperative experts will address a range of topics relevant to the larger employee ownership field such as ownership transitions , policy initiatives , capital access , and employee education . ( learn more
the new york city network of worker cooperatives was founded by a community of local worker - members , labor organizers , developers , lawyers , and academics on december 18 , 2009 during the 5th annual sister mary geraldine symposium , entitled
fair work : building and strengthening ties within the worker - owner cooperative community in new york city .
the symposium was organized by the center for family life in sunset park and hosted at the cuny murphy institute for worker education and labor studies . sitting in a large circle , over 50 individuals and organizations voted unanimously to establish a new organization dedicated to promoting worker cooperatives in new york city .
cooperatives are businesses owned and controlled by their members on the basis of one member , one vote . given enough time , worker - owned cooperatives tend to increase wages and improve working conditions , and advocates say a local co - op generally stays where it’s founded and acts as a leadership - building force .
we are continuing negotiations with the national organizers alliance ( noa ) to offer our members a pension benefit through the noa . we are also researching the possibility of health benefits and post - retirement medical benefits for usfwc members . directory of worker cooperatives
even as the number of worker cooperative continues to grow , the access to capital remains one of the major hurdles for startups and growth - oriented cooperatives . at democracy at work institute , we are interested in supporting worker - owners and cooperative developers to seek out positions on the boards of lending institutions and build their capacity to be effective . one of the barriers to participating on boards in general , but in particular of cdfis and other lending institutions for many worker - owners and cooperative developers , has been the lack of experience and knowledge of board governance and financial management .
this $ 1 . 2 million won’t end poverty , but it’s a step in the right direction , says christopher michael of the new york city network of worker cooperatives . “we have all the raw ingredients of a successful policy initiative : engaged groups , a bit of a track record and support in the city council…
a collective is a general term for groups where management decisions are made democratically , usually by some form of consensus . the term can apply to businesses , nonprofits , or volunteer groups , including worker cooperatives . collectives are often organizations that do not have ownership buy - in or profit - sharing . cooperative is a more formal term signifying that the entity is a member - benefit organization designed to meet community needs , with economic participation and democratic governance by members . in addition to worker cooperatives , which are found in many industries and sectors across the economy , there are also sector - specific cooperative forms , such as housing cooperatives , agricultural producer cooperatives , consumer cooperatives , and credit unions .
any business can be a worker - owned and - controlled business . worker co - ops have been successful in many different sectors and industries . some examples are :
benefits cooperatives are the only form of business centered around membership , and member and community benefit is at the core of the cooperative model . worker cooperative businesses are owned and run by their members , the people who work in them , and they operate for the benefit of these members .
the organizing conference took place may , 2004 at the university of minneapolis and was attended by more than 100 participants , most of them members of worker cooperatives and other democratic workplaces such as 100 % worked - owned employee stock ownership plans , democratically - run nonprofit businesses and volunteer organizations .
founding organizations included the center for family life in sunset park , green worker cooperatives , the community development project of urban justice center , fordham law school , national domestic workers alliance , lsa family health service (
the little sisters
) , workers justice project––and worker cooperatives cooperative home care associates , sí se puede , beyond care , colors , the sharing place , and third root community health center .
legal professionals , accountants , and community development organizations are invited to a two - day workshop on legal structures and strategies for cooperative development and sustainable local economies . this workshop will have a special emphasis on worker cooperatives , freelancer - owned cooperatives , land trusts , and alternative capital structures .
financing is an especially difficult proposition for worker cooperatives . by definition , every worker - owner has an equal vote and gets an equal share of profits . this is not appealing to investors who would choose a company because they want to get a big return on their investment or because they want to take control .
new york city is going—in a big way—for worker - owned cooperatives . inspired by the model of chca and prodded by a new network of co - op members and enthusiasts , mayor bill de blasio and the new york city council allocated $ 1 . 2 million to support worker cooperatives in 2015’s budget . according to the democracy at work institute , new york’s investment in co - ops is the largest by any u . s . city government to date .
“we think of local networks and regional organizations as partners , ” said board member kirsten marshall , of rainbow grocery cooperative in san francisco . she said that when the idea of a federation was first talked about , a concern of many local co - ops was of the national organization taking funds away from the locals . also , people were concerned that local organizing remains the priority .
worker cooperatives are not new , but they’re seeing new life as progressive - minded employees seek out remedies for the nation’s growing economic inequality . worker cooperatives are equally owned and governed by employees , who also earn money from the profits of their labor . there are no ceos here making multi - million dollar salaries while workers receive minimum wage . nor are there ceos with decades of experience and education to successfully guide the company through the up and downs of the dog - eat - dog business world .
the federation is currently working on incorporation , negotiating a pension plan , researching post - retirement benefits , and is working out finding insurance coverage . board members expect to have more concrete information by the october conference .
ms . brockway has also spoken for the national association of housing cooperatives , midwest association of housing cooperatives , the national association of housing and redevelopment officials , ncba , and numerous local associations . ms . brockway has also worked to develop the governance training course , mortgage pay off course and strategic planning courses , which are offered by nahc .
throughout its five - year history , nyc nowc has been an entirely volunteer - run organization . recently , thanks to funding from new york city council , nyc nowc has been able to provide additional direct services to worker cooperatives in new york city—with a special focus on engaging worker cooperative service providers to provide marketing , website , bookkeeping , and digital media services to the nyc worker cooperative business community . finally , nyc nowc also provides pro bono legal services to nyc ' s worker cooperative businesses .
this january , as a new mayor ( who ran on combating inequality ) and a progressive majority of the city council were taking office , the federation’s report inspired councilmember maria del carmen arroyo to think about co‑ops . “a bulb went off , ” she said .
community benefits are clear too . successful worker cooperatives tend to create long - term stable jobs , enact sustainable business practices , and develop linkages among different parts of the social economy . worker - owned businesses have not only a direct stake in the local environment but the power to decide to do business in a way that is sustainable for us all . the worker cooperative movement is increasingly recognized as part of the larger movement for sustainability and a new economy based on people’s needs .
harvey served as a professor and agribusiness extension specialist serving cooperatives for 10 years at oregon state university ; he was a senior officer of the spokane bank for cooperatives for 10 years ; and for the past 24 years has advised cooperatives of all types and sizes as an independent certified management consultant . for over 30 years , he served as a faculty member of the executive institute for northwest cooperatives ( an annual board training event for directors of cooperatives ) . this year the 12 - member co - op ceo focus group he founded celebrated its 20th anniversary coming together to exchange ideas and perspectives . and , this past january he launched an annual director - training course for pacific - northwest co - op directors and management that was well attended .
since its founding in 2009 , nyc nowc has primarily served as a co - marketing service for all of new york city ' s worker cooperative businesses—and to promote visibility and understanding of workplace democracy as a principle of corporate governance . over the last several years , nyc nowc has also engaged in lobbying at the city and state level—to establish public funding for worker cooperative business development and to pass legislation for the worker cooperative business community . in addition , nyc nowc organizes the annual nyc worker cooperative conference .
anna boyer represented c4 as a worker cooperative and the us south region as usfwc regional board member . she was excited to connect with the many worker cooperatives and cooperative developers attending the conference from the south . anna ' s says ,
i was excited to see the involvement of many new cooperators . at the same time , i noticed the evolution of ideas from previous conferences maturing into actionable steps to grow our community .
she was re - elected by the usfwc membership to another 2 - year term where she will continue to support worker cooperatives throughout the south region . next month , anna will continue connecting with cooperatives in the south at the coop econ on july 27 - 29 in epes , alabama .
lance has been an active participant at the ncba annual conferences for purchasing cooperatives and has served on past advisory councils .
with their emphasis on people before profit , creating community , and equitable compensation and participation , worker cooperatives are a concrete example of using business as a force for social good . additionally , a large percentage of existing cooperatives in the u . s . were specifically developed to meet the needs of people who lack access to business ownership or even sustainable work options . as a result , worker cooperatives can be defined as social enterprises and are often associated with larger movements , including the new economy movement ( which is also referred to as the alternative economy , the fourth sector , or the social sector economy ) , the solidarity economy , as well as various causes from immigration rights to labor rights .
cooperatives have a long history as a way for working people to create good , dignified jobs that they control , particularly for people who lack access to business ownership or even stable work options . organizations undertaking economic development to build wealth in poor communities and communities of color have used worker cooperatives as a powerful vehicle for addressing economic inequality . worker cooperatives have been shown to provide better working conditions and wages for typically low - wage work , and to increase household wealth for low - income workers . worker cooperatives can also play an important role in building movements for economic justice and social change . as institutions where real democracy is practiced on a day to day basis , they are a model for the empowerment we will need to create the change we envision . as economic engines , they meet material needs , anchoring capital and jobs in communities .
as a membership and advocacy organization , we connect worker cooperative members to benefits , to each other and to the larger cooperative and economic justice movements . we amplify our members’ voices to advocate for worker cooperatives at the local , state and national level . we provide consulting and technical assistance to cooperatives old and new . and through the education , training and organizing work of our partner organization , the democracy at work institute , we are committed to ensuring cooperative business ownership reaches those who need it the most .
cleaning ladies in the san francisco area and home - care workers in new york have banded to pool resources as worker - owners of profitable enterprises . white - collar workers are getting involved , too : one of the most successful cooperatives is isthmus engineering , a wisconsin firm where engineers bought the company from its owner .
support for full - fledged co - ops has inched into the mainstream as communities have grown weary of waiting for private investors to create good jobs — or sick of watching them take jobs away . in cleveland in 2009 , hospitals and a university gave seed money to a new group of businesses , the evergreen cooperatives , and now contract with them for laundry , energy retrofits and fresh produce . last month , a government commission in wales announced that “conventional approaches to economic development” were insufficient ; it needed cooperatives . that same month , the new york city council held a hearing called “worker cooperatives — is this a model that can lift families out of poverty ? ”
joe marraffino is the co - director of the cooperative conversions program at the democracy at work institute . joe was the finance manager for the 12 , 000 member greenstar cooperative market in ithaca , new york . previously he was a worker - owner of arizmendi bakery in san francisco and worked as a business developer for the arizmendi association of cooperatives to help launch two new worker - owned bakeries . joe was a founding member of the of the new york cooperative network and the democracy at work network . he has a ma from the new college of california in culture , ecology , and sustainable community .
we are currently building an online document library , which will include models and sample documents from worker cooperatives , as well as step - by - step help with incorporation , conversion , and establishing democratic ownership and management practices . looking ahead
in this webinar , democracy at work institute and project equity discussed approaches to generate new types of business ownership and creating ecosystems that support worker ownership on a broader scale . the session covered opportunities and strategies to develop or expand networks for worker - owned businesses and advance economic progress for our communities . two of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations , which are members of the asset building policy network , also discuss the implications of the worker ownership movement within their respective organizations and local affiliate networks .
erbin crowell serves as executive director of the neighboring food co - op association , a regional federation of food co - ops and start - up initiatives in new england . for over a decade he was a member of equal exchange , continuing his career in co - ops with the cooperative fund of new england , the cooperative development institute , and the valley alliance of worker co - ops . erbin has taught courses on the co - operative movement at the universities of connecticut and massachusetts , serves on the board of the new england farmers union and is a founding board member of the valley co - operative business association , a regional , cross - sector federation of co - ops and credit unions . he received his master in management : co - operatives & credit unions from st . mary’s university in nova scotia , thanks to a scholarship from the national co - operative bank ( ncb ) . erbin lives in western massachusetts with his partner kristin and their son elias . he may be contacted at
for four years , aaron dawson has held the elected position of board member for equal exchange , a fair trade massachusetts worker co - op with over 150 employees , 125 co - op members and almost a 30 year history of growth , fair trade and democratic practice . he also held the elected position of worker owner coordinator for equal exchange for two years . additionally , he has served on the board of the us federation of worker co - ops for four years and completed his masters in management , co - operatives and credit unions at st . mary’s university in halifax , canada . aaron has been at equal exchange for thirteen years , where he is a customer service manager . involvement in worker co - ops runs in aaron ' s family . his father , steven dawson , is a co - founder of the ica group , an employee ownership consulting firm and helped to set up cooperative home care associates in new york city .
the board and staff are looking forward to the general membership meeting at the upcoming conference as an important point in the growth of the federation : there we will review the bylaws , create structures for effective member participation , take on new projects , and set a direction for the federation over the next few years . we hope all members can send a voting representative ( or several ! ) to the conference and meeting , and we are committed to helping make that possible . our work as a vibrant , powerful grassroots organization is just getting started .
tim brings extensive experience in worker cooperatives to cccd’s board . he is an attorney and a founder of the arizmendi association of cooperatives , a cooperative composed of nine member businesses : six bakeries , a landscape design - build cooperative , a general contractor , and a technical support collective . as part of the association’s development & support cooperative , tim participates in writing business plans , raising start - up capital , and training workers in democratic business management ; he also serves as in - house legal counsel . tim serves other cooperatives as an attorney as organizational trainer / consultant . tim completed his undergraduate studies at the university of michigan and his law degree from uc hastings college in san francisco . he lives at a housing cooperative in oakland .
our federation represents nearly 200 business and organizational members representing 6 , 000 workers across the country . we organize through local cooperative networks while building power with national and international partners to advance an agenda for economic justice rooted in community - based , shared ownership .
dues are payable financially on a sliding scale and by voluntary contribution of labor . the lowest financial request is $ 50 but can go as high as $ 5 , 000 for workplaces with gross profits in the millions . workplaces without income could work at a rate of $ 25 an hour helping with administrative tasks and collaborating on organizing with the federation .
the democracy at work institute advances the worker cooperative field in order to create a fairer economy and better jobs .
our federation is led by a 100 % member - elected board of directors , member councils , and a small but mighty staff with offices in oakland , ca and philadelphia , pa . annual membership dues are our primary funding source , supplemented by small grants , consulting and program contracts , and individual contributions .
arroyo , incoming chair of the community development committee , represents a south bronx district that’s still one of the poorest in the nation , even after years of “development . ” national retailers , attracted by tax breaks , typically pay low wages and squeeze out local businesses . partly in response , the bronx is also home to an array of co‑ops , from the large chca to the small green worker cooperatives , which incubates local green businesses .
among the co - op members who testified was yadira fragoso , whose wages rose to $ 25 an hour—up from $ 6 . 25—after becoming a worker - owner at si se puede , a cleaning co - op incubated by the brooklyn - based center for family life . translation at the hearing was provided by caracol , an interpreters’ cooperative mentored by green worker cooperatives .
just last month , the un declared 2012 the international year of cooperatives . it’s urging governments worldwide to collaborate with the co - op movement to reduce poverty and create more productive societies .
although the term employee - owned can be used to describe many different business structures ( including worker cooperatives ) , it is most commonly used to describe companies with an employee stock ownership plan ( esop ) . an esop is a federally governed benefit plan ( like a 401 ( k ) or profit sharing plan ) that can be used to share an ownership stake with employees . while an esop company can be 100 % owned by its employees and operate according to worker cooperative principles , very few esop companies currently qualify as worker cooperatives . the national center for employee ownership has extensive resources on esops available on their website , urltoken .
many people think of co - ops as the hippie - dippy grocery store that sells organic goods . in fact , a 2009 study by the university of wisconsin center for cooperatives found more than 29 , 000 cooperatives in the us , which make $ 500 billion in annual revenue , support 853 , 000 people , and pay $ 25 billion in wages and benefits . they include national firms such as credit unions , and local businesses such as the alvarado street bakery in petaluma , calif . , or the evergreen cooperative laundry in cleveland . [ editors note : the original version of this essay misstated the number of workers supported by cooperatives . ]
a multi - stakeholder cooperative is a cooperative that has more than one class of members . for example , a grocery store might have consumer members and worker members . the different classes of members might have different rights to participate in the surplus ( or profits ) of the company , and different roles in decision - making . multi - stakeholder cooperatives can come in many different forms and structure the business in a variety of ways . a recent trend is the development of multi - stakeholder food coops in local food systems .
prior to blue hawk , lance spent five years working with other purchasing cooperatives , four as vice president of amarok , formerly a drywall distribution co - op , and one as recruitment manager for three cooperatives : amarok , nemeon ( a roofing distribution co - op ) , and yaya ! bike ( now part of the bike cooperative ) . this experience provided him with invaluable knowledge of the cooperative business model and the benefits it affords independent business owners .
as a think - and - do - tank , the institute brings on - the - ground experience with cooperative business to a birds - eye view of the national stage . we develop standards and leaders , gather models and best practices , coordinate existing resources , and advocate for worker cooperatives as a community economic development strategy .
since microbreweries are capital intensive , 4th tap set up a separate llc for investors , which john stecker , one of the co - founders , says will give investors a competitive return but also protects the integrity of the worker co - op . it also secured a small business loan from the small business administration , which stecker believes is the first worker cooperative in the nation to receive an sba loan . ( the sba says it does not track loans to cooperatives , and could not confirm . )
but this was a very time - intensive process . when every worker is an equal owner , a worker - owner with bad credit can scuttle a loan . red rabbit , the donut company , is trying to raise $ 15 , 000 to open a retail location , and is considering going to kickstarter because of the challenges of getting traditional financing .
burley’s transition to a private business after being a cooperative for so many years raised the question of whether cooperatives could really compete in the private market . but sociologist joel schoening looked more deeply into the fall of burley , and came to a different conclusion . in interviews with burley members , he found that burley had hired too many people who didn’t buy into the idea of a worker co - op , rendering the structure unworkable .
communication is key to working together and making good decisions . this webinar is meant to help worker - owners unearth strategies and structures to promote intentional , robust communication throughout their workplace . you will hear how successful cooperatives support and encourage meaningful cooperative - wide participation , make information accessible , and educate their worker - owners to do their best work . together as a group , we will identify what communication systems you already have and how to build off of that .
the newest worker cooperative in austin is a microbrewery called 4th tap , set to open later this summer in a renovated office park .
the training is an effort to support worker - owners and cooperative developers interested in a professional and leadership development opportunity , in particular becoming prepared to serve on the board of a lending institution .
the membership call comes 10 months from the second annual usfwc conference planned for oct . 15 - 17 at the institute for worker education and labor studies at the city university of new york .
still , curtis , a one - time union organizer , says she’d choose the worker - run structure over a traditional hierarchy any day .
in addition to their economic and governance participation , worker - owners often manage the day - to - day operations through various management structures .
ana martina is the membership director of the us federation of worker cooperatives . born and raised in mexico city , her work with community media took her to california and arizona where she collaborated with different independent media outlets . once she moved to philadelphia , she served as the technical director of the prometheus radio project supporting communities and organizations across the country in their efforts to access community owned media . from 2011 to 2014 ana martina helped organize the spanish speaker network gathering at the allied media conference celebrated in detroit . in 2014 ana was invited to join the rhizomatica project where she helped install mobile phone networks owned by autonomous indigenous communities in oaxaca , mexico . early spring 2016 , she moved back to philadelphia where she lives now with her partner and 21 month old toddler . back in her community now , she is working towards the creation of a bilingual media tech coop radicante media .