Kurdistan, Rojava, Syria, Cizire, co-operatives, cooperatives, co-operative, cooperative, co-op, co-ops, solidarity, solidarity economy, workers co-op, workers co-operative, workers cooperative, cooperative economy, solidarity economy

Model of a Communal Village in Rojava: Carûdiye

This article first appeared in Turkish on ANHA, 15th September, 2016

The village of Carûdiye is weaving social life with a collectivised division of labour. The agricultural cooperative, founded with the leadership of the Şehit Kanî commune, is an example of a way to meet the needs of the community.

Carûdiye is located in the Berave region of Dêrik (Derik / Al-Malikiyah). The Şehit Kanî commune includes an agricultural cooperative with 26 members. In the 3 acre field, all cooperative members participate in the work. There are 6 groups with 5 members each. Every group works for one day, and every Friday all groups participate. The aim of the cooperative is to revive the communal and natural village livelihood. Accordingly, a common programme has been made to carry out farming and irrigation etc.

The cultivated products are sold in the Derik market and the revenue is distributed equally to all cooperative members.

Mihemed Şefa, a member, commented on the work being done: “There have been very successful results. Common work increases the sharing and solidarity between us.”

Another member, Nerîman Hesen, remarked that the preceding individual work has been replaced with communal work following the formation of the cooperative.

Finally, Cemîla Ebdî said that they will make further efforts to develop these projects and make this an exemplary model.

Children have also been involved in the activities. Going to the fields with their families, the children play with their peers in the spacious and communally-cultivated fields.

 

NEJBÎR OSMAN, DÊRIK