Success Stories

Donate to UCA by clicking here!

ACDI/VOCA

A Success Story in Paraguay:

Cooperative Guayaibi Unido, located in the Guayaibi district of the department of San Pedro, Paraguay, was established in 2000 to provide technical assistance, farm inputs and credit, and to stimulate commercialization of farm production. It consists of 105 member-producers who on average own and farm 8 to 10 hectares. Their primary cash crops are banana, pineapple and melon, and for personal consumption they grow cassava, beans and corn and raise small animals. The co-op is gradually displacing middlemen in the sales and distribution of its crops.

The cooperative owns the land on which an office and a warehouse are located. In much of Paraguay modern processing techniques and facilities such as cableways or packing centers are lacking, but the co-op’s warehouse at least allows for storing and handling of members’ harvests. Cooperative Guayaibi Unido has worked with the second-tier cooperative organization Cepacoop (Central Paraguaya de Cooperativas) to export bananas and pineapple to Argentina and Uruguay, and the ability to sort and properly pack those crops has been a factor in export success.

ACDI/VOCA identified the Cooperative Guayaibi Unido to receive a UCA grant. With the infusion of cash the co-op purchased three new computers and a printer, which both serve as valuable operational tools and as a source of empowerment for the community.

Information: 202.638.4661; www.acdivoca.org

The Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) Fund

CDF Grant & Loan Success Stories:

In recent years, CDF successes include: loans that provided the bridge to conventional financing for new senior co-op housing; loans for repairs or expansions of student housing co-ops; in the post-Katrina Gulf Coast, grants for repairs to co-ops and a business planning/feasibility grant for a new fishing co-op; in rural America, grants to support innovative housing and home care co-ops that meet the needs of senior citizens; and, across the country, scholarships for training that helps co-op boards and staff become better managers of their businesses.

Information: 202.638.6222; CDF; CDF Fund

The Cooperative Development Institute (CDI)

CDI Success Story: Sunny Success at the Pioneer Valley Photovoltaic Cooperative.

Demand for solar energy is on the rise in the Northeast and Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics or (PV)2 is growing to meet it. CDI supported the initial planning and launch of the co-op, and helped them secure financing to install 19 residential, commercial and PV systems. In two years (PV)2 has turned a profit and doubled its membership.

The worker cooperative currently operates year ‘round, installing and maintaining PV electricity and hot water systems in western Massachusetts and Connecticut. Worker-owner Kim Pinkham says, “As people become increasingly aware of how important clean energy is to healthy living, we are well positioned to meet our customers’ needs. We also find our co-op is a role model in the solar energy industry: we are successful, worker-owned, dedicated to strengthening our communities, and working to protect our environment.”

Information: 1-877-NE COOPS; www.cdi.coop

Cooperative Development Services (CDS)

A Food Co-op Success Story:

Chatham Marketplace in Pittsboro, NC, opened for business in May 2006. CDS assisted this new start-up with updates to their market analysis and business plan, preparation of financial pro formas, counseling on their equity drive, and board governance training. The co-op today has over 1,100 member-owners, over 24 employees and first year sales of over $2 million.

Information: 651 265 3678; www.cdsus.coop

CHF International

Success Story: Cooperative Development Mushrooms in Rwanda

Since 2005, CHF/Rwanda has been leading the $40 million USAID-funded Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Program (CHAMP), which is working side-by-side with Rwandan communities, grassroots service organizations and clinical providers to support and care for tens of thousands of Rwandans living with HIV/AIDS, including orphans and vulnerable children, along with hundreds of thousands more affected by the epidemic. Active in 20 of Rwanda’s 30 districts, CHAMP is increasing the quality and availability of community-based prevention, non-clinical treatment and support services for HIV affected populations; strengthening the linkages between communities and clinical service providers; and bolstering the ability of our Rwandan partner organizations to provide critical community-based HIV/AIDS support services.

Recently, CHAMP also began to focus on expanding economic opportunities for our beneficiaries, in response to a new Rwandan law that requires all associations – including those representing people with HIV/AIDS – transition into for-profit cooperatives, as a means of ensuring their income generating activities can become financially sustainable. With Rwanda as the latest addition to CHF’s USAID-funded Innovating, Measuring and Promoting Poverty Alleviation by Cooperatives in Transition Societies program, which is also active in Bosnia, Mongolia and the Philippines, we are now working through CHAMP to move HIV-affected Rwandan communities from small household-level production towards the development of new productive enterprises and services, while strengthening the links between producers and higher levels of the market chain. As a result, these new cooperatives are learning how pooled resources and income generating projects can move them out of poverty to tackle the massive detrimental impact of HIV and AIDS.

Information: 301.587.4700; www.chfinternational.org

Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (FSC/LAF)

Success Story in a Cooperative-to-Cooperative Relationship

For the 2008 summer crop, the Federation/LAF member Indian Springs Farmer’s Cooperative in Mississippi purchased organic “hot” pepper seeds to be grown as seedlings by the Federation member People’s Cooperative in Nesmith, South Carolina. People’s Cooperative has built a sizable green house on one of the member’s property.

The People’s Cooperative grew 5,000 seedlings which were then shipped to the Mississippi Cooperative. Indian Spring was so pleased with the quality of the seedlings that they intend to contract for another seedling production with the People’s Cooperative.

This is an excellent example of a cooperative-to-cooperative relationship and a win-win situation for both cooperatives!

Information: 404.765.0991; www.federationsoutherncoop.com

The ICA Group

ICA Success Story: Vida Verde

In Boston, our work with the Brazilian Women’s group has led to the formation of Vida Verde, a cooperative association of Brazilian women active in the residential cleaning industry. Although extremely entrepreneurial, these workers are vulnerable to exploitation as many do not have legal status in the United States and speak little English. Ironically, they often find themselves exploited by fellow Brazilians who have mastered English, and advanced to the point of having their own cleaning businesses. Vida Verde is helping these women free themselves of this tyranny, build self esteem and confidence, and improve their earnings. In addition to helping these individuals obtain employment, the project promotes the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products. Through Vida Verde they are able to access training from Tufts University on safe cleaning practices and materials. Vida Verde helps them access cleaning jobs and assists with pricing and customer service. The Vida Verde cooperative currently has 20 members.

Information: 617.232.8765; www.icagroup.org

The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) Fund

An NCBA Fund Success Story:

The Fund provided scholarships for a group of future co-op leaders to participate in the 2006 Cooperative Summit that brought several hundred national and international cooperative leaders together to set a comprehensive agenda for the cooperative community.

Information: 202 638 6222; NCBA; NCBA Fund

The NRECA International Foundation

Success Story in Yei, Southern Sudan

Electricity is the cornerstone of development.
NRECA International Foundation funded fifteen volunteers from U.S. co-op members to travel to Yei, Southern Sudan, to help build the rural electric distribution system. “Little London,” as Yei was once known for its thriving commerce, is trying to recover from a devastating civil war. NRECA International Foundation, working together with its partners, was able to provide additional resources and man-power to bring lights to over 18,000 people. The U.S. volunteers also provided hands-on training to the newly established local co-op staff.

Information: 703-907-5629; www.nrecainternational.org

Sollars Fund for International Cooperation

Success Story in Senegal

Partners Worldwide receive a grant that was directed to the dairy project of the Herder’s Cooperative in Senegal, West Africa. This co-op will improve the incomes and lives of over 300 Pulaar people, especially the women who received training in milk production and processing.

Information: 202.638.6222; http://www.cdf.coop/Sollars

Shirley K. Sullivan Fund

Sullivan Fund Success Story

The Sullivan Fund has given thousands in grants for the education and professional development so that the cooperative story can be better told.

Information: 202.638.6222; http://www.cdf.coop/Sullivan

Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB)

A UHAB University Success Story

Graduates of UHAB University, current co-op shareholders, receive training in everything from bookkeeping to writing enforceable policy and procedures.

Information: 212.479.3300; UHAB.coop; UHAB.org

Women’s Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES)

WAGES Success Story:

Members of WAGES co-ops earn 50-100% more than they would make working for a conventional cleaning company and, unlike other workers in the industry, co-op members receive a full range of health, disability, and other benefits—ensuring them a stronger financial future and better quality of life.

Information: 510.532.5465; www.wagescooperatives.org