Social Co-Operatives

Today we visited a small town Imola in the Emilia Romagna region. Population is approximately 60,000 and the town has 126 co-operatives. We visited three different co-ops. If you asked me what my favorite type of co-operative is, I would have to say that it’s the Social Co-Operative of Italy. We have visited two so far; Chi and Cooperativa Sociale Giovani Rilegatori and they both give you the same great feeling. When you walk through of the company, you can tell that every single person in those places absolutely loves their job and has total vocation.
In BC, we do have non-for profit organizations that do a similar job, but not at the same efficient and productive way Italians do it. As discussed in our dialogue sessions, there is a lot that we can take back home that we have learned at this these two organization. The concept behind the social co-op is that they are a co-operative business who provides work for mentally and physically disadvantaged individuals, or individuals who have substance abuse challenges. There is absolutely no government, public or private funding provided to social co-operates in Italy, and each one of them specializes in production of a certain product or service, or they tackle a few of them. We were warned that when we look at the individuals that worked at the co-ops, not to try and figure out what their disadvantages are, and not to look at them as people with disabilities who are working, but just as people who are at their Monday to Friday 9-5 job, just like you and I.
Someone asked the president of Cooperativa Sociale Giovani Rilegatori if they recycle. His answers was that they are starting to recycle more, but that they were in the business of recycling people. In a genuine way and very heartfelt statement, he explained to us, how they employ people with meaningful jobs who would otherwise be sitting at home and receiving government assistance. Social Co-operatives employ disadvantaged people and provide them employment and interrogation into society while running a profitable business. An awarding job and a successful business concept.