International seminar presented examples of solidarity economy in different countries

International Solidarity Work organised a seminar called Reclaiming sustainability – alternative development through solidarity economy on 17th of November 2014 in Tieteiden talo (Kirkkokatu 6, Helsinki). The seminar hosted speakers from Greece, Brazil and the Syrian Kurdish area Rojava. The speakers shared their experiences on solidarity economy in their respective countries.

Antonio Cruz (left), interpreter Aino Tuomi-Nikula, Ahmad Yousef and Georgia Bekridaki discussing about solidarity economy and development in the final panel.
Antonio Cruz (left), interpreter Aino Tuomi-Nikula, Ahmad Yousef and Georgia Bekridaki in the final panel.

Doctor Ahmad Yousef introduced the social economy in Rojava where social economy has been declared as a mission of the self-administration in an area that used to be discriminated by the Syrian regime. Antonio Cruz from the Federal University of Pelotas shared his experiences about solidarity economy and the social technologies used for facilitating solidarity initiatives’ spreading in Brazil. Georgia Bekridaki from Solidarity 4 All organisation presented examples from the Greek solidarity economy movement that has made people help each other for example through food and pharmacy banks especially since the beginning of the financial crisis.

In addition to the foreign speakers, Tuomo Alhojärvi from the Solidarity Economy Network and Ruby van der Wekken from Siemenpuu Foundation and Outi Hakkarainen from Kepa gave their insights to the topic.

The seminar was streamed to YouTube and you can find the videos through the following links:

Part 1 at 13.15-15.00 (GMT +2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JJb0cPd8NQ
Part 2 15.00-18.00 (GMT +2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wovJ-9DAw1E

 

SPEAKERS

Laura Tuominen (International Solidarity Work): Opening words

Tuomo Alhojärvi (Solidarity Economy Network) & Ruby van der Wekken (Siemenpuu Foundation): Tuomo Alhojärvi and Ruby van der Wekken

Doctor Ahmad Yousef (Minister of finance, Afrin canton, Rojava): Dr. Ahmad Yousef – Social economy in Rojava

Antonio Cruz (Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil): Antonio Cruz Social economy and social technologies

Georgia Bekridaki (Solidarity 4 All, Greece): Challenges and prospects of the social solidarity economy movement in Greece

Outi Hakkarainen (Kepa): Commentary

 

SPEAKER INTRODUCTIONS

Georgia Bekridaki

Georgia Bekridaki has been active in social movements for ten years. She is a founding member of a Greek organisation Solidarity 4 All. The organisation is a collective that gives practical support to various solidarity initiatives. She has also been involved in local time banks and other alternative economy initiatives.

Antonio Cruz

Antonio Cruz has been working on issues related to solidarity economy since the 1990s. He is currently working as a coordinator and a professor in a solidarity economy incubator at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil. He has also coordinated the network of Brazilian university incubators.

Ahmad Yousef

Ahmad Yousef is a central figure in building a self-administration and social economy activities in the Syrian Kurdistan, Rojava. He acts as the finance minister of Rojava’s Afrin canton.

Tue Kansainvälistä solidaarisuustyötä

Lahjoittamalla tuet Kansainvälisen solidaarisuustyön työtä oikeudenmukaisemman maailman eteen. Rahankeräyslupa RA/2022/1404.