The 4th European Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) Congress will take place in Athens on the 9/10/11th of June. Cooperatives, grassroots initiatives, SSE organisations, groups and people that work to promote and advance SSE from all over Europe will meet for the event.
RIPESS (Réseau Intercontinental pour la Promotion de L’Economie Sociale Solidaire) is a Network of networks and initiatives for the promotion of Solidarity Economy in Europe and the world.
RIPESS brings together, in Europe (as elsewhere on the five continents), thousands of concrete experiences that identify as solidarity economy: self-managed productive cooperatives, solidarity markets, responsible consumption and food sovereignty, time banks, services of proximity, environmental and ecological initiatives, financial alternatives (local currencies, ethical finance), structures for the promotion gender equality, innovative educational experiences, fair trade enterprises, local development associations and more.
RIPESS Europe organizes every two years a Solidarity Economy Congress with the local member networks (Barcelona 2011, Lille 2013, Berlin 2015 ).
In 2017, Ripess Europe organizes UNIVESSE 2017 the 4th European Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) Congress that will take place in Athens on the 9/10/11th of June, in collaboration with Greek partners:
From Athens:
Dock ‘Social Solidarity Economy Zone’
“Dock” is a permanent infrastructure that supports Social Solidarity Economy projects.
Its people are active members in the field of Social Solidarity Economy with constant participation in cooperative ventures, social actions and the networking of the ecosystem.
Hub (Komvos) for the Social Economy, Empowerment and Innovation
Komvos is a collective for the development and empowerment of projects in the field of Social Solidarity Economy. Through the production of programs and exchange of knowledge, it aims at strengthening the operational capabilities of active projects, at the maturation of new projects and the overall expansion of the field of Social Solidarity Economy. Its most recent action was the organization of training seminars for the Social and Solidarity Economy in cooperation with the Simon Fraser University of Canada.
Festival for Solidarity and Cooperative Economy
The Festival for Solidarity and Cooperative Economy from 2012 until now contributed in the development of Solidarity and Cooperative Economy in Greece and in its consolidation in people’s consciousness as a reality. Its role is important for the networking of all projects, the synergies and the birth of new initiatives and ideas.
Coordination of KOINSEP in Athens
KOINSEP are the social cooperative enterprises. Their goal is not the profit, but the creation of projects for unemployed workers who with their own forces try- in the crisis- to ensure their daily survival with dignity, while they are presenting another standard of collective living, working and creating.
Nationwide Coordination of Solidarity Schools
It is an attempt to coordinate nationwide the structures involved in education in the field of solidarity, with the primary purpose among others to formulate the accumulated experience. It launched in 2015 with the initiative of the Solidarity School of Mesopotamia, along with the Solidarity School of Keratsini.
Efimerida ton Syntakton – EfSyn (Journalists Paper)
“The newspaper of Editors”, which is issued by the “Cooperative of workers in newspapers and magazines” through the “Independent Mass Media Inc” and in which the Cooperative is the major shareholder, was formed mainly by former employees of the “Eleftherotypia” and “Sunday Eleftherotypia” – journalists, technicians and clerks- but also former employees of other media.
and from Thessaloniki:
Pro.s.k.al.o.
The Initiative of cooperation for Social Solidarity Economy (PRO.S.K.AL.O.) aims to contribute to an action plan that will establish a comprehensive system of work, consumption and life and will lead to the social liberation of human on a sustainable planet.
People’s University of Social Solidarity Economy (UnivSSE)
This is a self-managed cooperative collective, created in Thessaloniki in 2013. It aims to promote education, training, retraining and information of the participants in ideas, values and principles of social and solidarity economy, direct democracy and synergism.
During the 3day Congress, we are going to have the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas, experiences, expertise and common strategies around SSE.
RIPESS Europe considers SSE to be a dynamic space that spreads all over Europe, in which people organise their social and economic activity in many different ways.
This event is a great opportunity to enhance SSE’s visibility in Greece and to build strong connections amongst people, groups and coops on a European level.
We are also happy to announce that its 6th General Assembly of RIPESS EU – Solidarity Economy Europe will be held in Athens as well, as part of the Congress.
The undergoing programme of the Congress will include the following thematic issues :
1. Concepts, forms and fields of social solidarity economy and cooperativism
2. Responsible consumption, production and climate change
3. Practices of SSE on social integration with a special focus on refugees issues
4. Social innovation: Research, technology, education and tools for SSE
5. Commons: Approaches and practices on digital, natural, urban, cultural common goods
6. Public policies ( local, national, European level) promoting SSE: From whom, for who, what for.
7. Open space / Free zone
Contact :
Contact organizing team : call@universse2017.org – www.universse2017.org
Contact Ripess EU : info@ripess.eu – www.ripess.eu
