News

#SCIS2020: The Digital Summit with European Institutions and former participants

4 December 2020

Over the last 5 years, the Social Cooperatives International School (SCIS), organised by CICOPA member Confcooperative Federsolidarietá, promoted social cooperatives and social enterprises internationally, hosting speakers and participants from all around the world in the beautiful city of Naples, Italy.

Due the pandemic, and the impossibility for any physical gathering, this year on 26th of November, the #SCIS20 took place for the first time online becoming a digital summit, where European Institutions representatives and former participants of the International School could reunite to discuss various topics for future of social enterprises.

CICOPA vice-president and CECOP president, Giuseppe Guerini introduced the first panel on ‘A European Strategy for Social Enterprises’, presenting the work of CICOPA’s European regional organization CECOP together with other European institutions for the promotion and representation of the Social Economy in Europe.  With the participation of Stefano Granata, President of Federsolidarietá, Patrizia Toia, Member of the European Parliament, and Ann Branch, Head of Unit of the Directorate of Employment of the European Commission, this panel provided useful insights in Europe’s social economy recent developments.

During the second panel ‘Next Generation Impact’, alumni of previous participants shared their visions, experiences and ideas about the future of the cooperative movement. CICOPA board member, Esteban Kelly, who participated at the #SCIS2017 edition, shared the experience of worker cooperatives in the United States of America, highlighting how the cooperative movement in the US is often deeply rooted in marginalized communities, such as persons of colour, migrant communities, and LGBTIQ+ communities.

Congratulations to Confcooperative Federsolidarietá on this successful event!

You may watch the video recordings here.

See you in 2021 (hopefully in Naples again!)