Executive Director of Community Evolution Foundation (CEF), John Restakis, visited Qamişlo [Qamishlo / Qamishli / Al-Qamishli] in order to learn about the system of the cooperative societies. John is currently working on training the members of the administrations of cooperatives in Rojava. John Restakis went to Rojava and North Syria in order to learn about the way cooperative societies
Hevgirtin is the largest cooperative in Rojava, with branches across the region. It is somewhat similar to a UK consumer cooperative, but owned and run by its members in the local community. This project aims to help people in Rojava by providing them with their daily food needs and selling products at lower prices than other markets. This
This is an official booklet produced by the TEV DEM [Movement for a Democratic Society], by the Board of Agriculture and Economic Development. It lays out the basic principles under which co-operatives in Rojava run, based on decisions made after many meetings, which were attended by all of Rojava’s economic committees.
https://corporatewatch.org/sites/default/files/Struggles%20for%20autonomy%20in%20Kurdistan.pdf
In Kasrek [Qesrik] village of Dirbêsiyê [Derbesiye / Al-Darbasiyah], a co-operative society with 4,000 members started working on its economic, agricultural and livestock projects that will boost the community economy in the region. After a series of meetings of the people in the region, organised by the Economic Council in the Dirbêsiyê area, a new co-operative was formed
“Because this model” Dr. Yusuf says, “is the model by which the history of humanity will be brought back to life our chances of winning are high.”
The democratic confederal system in Rojava is still under development, the speed has been slowed by the constant attacks they have to deal with and the embargo imposed by the Turkish state. Yet many great steps have been taken towards establishing an alternative economic system that provides an alternative to the dualism of capitalism and communism.
Hesekê [Hesîçe / Al-Hasakeh / Hasakah] — The first cooperative of the Women’s Economy Council in Kongreya Star was successful in its first project and is preparing for more. Kongreya Star formed an economic committee for women with 20 members and 5 administrators in Hesekê on 18th June 2016, with the aim of letting women accomplish self-sufficiency, and providing work opportunities. After
Kongreya Star is a confederation of women’s movements throughout the region of Rojava, a predominantly Kurdish area of northern Syria, also referred to as West-Kurdistan. While Kurds make up the majority of Rojava and most of the population is Muslim, the area is home to many different peoples, including Arabs, Assyrians and Ezidis, as well
In their search for an alternative, solidarity form of economy, the Kurdish freedom movement has organized a series of events, workshops, podium discussions and bigger conferences under the motto, “Let’s communalize our land, our water and our energy, let’s build a democratic, free life!”
Anja Flach, Ercan Ayboğa and Michel Knapp are longtime activists in the Kurdish freedom movement, working in Germany and Turkey. Together they visited Rojava in May 2014, and with their language skills, contacts and knowledge of the Kurdish movement, they were able to do close fieldwork for a full month. Upon their return, they compiled
