SWEDISH COOPERATIVE CENTRE

The Swedish Cooperative Centre, SCC, was created by the Swedish Cooperative Movement in 1958. Through long-term development work and “help to self-help” we equip poor people with the tools needed to fight poverty themselves. Through advocacy work we strive to convince more people to take stand for a world free from poverty and injustice. Our projects are financed through fundraising and by Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

News

3/9

Vietnamese farmers visit Thai Cooperatives

SCC arranged a study visit for Vietnamese rice farmers to meet their counterparts in northern Thailand. For many of the participants it was the first time they were outside of Vietnam. The group from Vietnam are members of a newly formed cooperative union of farmers from Hue in Central Vietnam. They wanted to see and learn how Thai cooperatives, with similar preconditions, went about their business.
Read More

6/8

The Struggle for dignified housing in the Philippines

In the Philippines the difference between those who have and those who don’t have are enormous. The housing situation is similar to that of Sweden in the 1920’s before the housing cooperative movement was established. Some people live in the numerous slum areas of Manila while others live in incredible luxury inside the walls of so called “gated communities”, with helicopter landing pads, wired fences and guards protecting the areas from outsiders. In the rural areas poverty is widespread and the struggle for a decent living situation is constant. The poorest of the poorest come no way near realizing their dream of a dignified living situation.
Read More

5/5

Support to chicken farmers in Palestine

In a village outside Ramallah in Palestine, Ahmad Alsheekh and his family have been chicken farmers for generations. At several occasions Ahmad has been forced to watch houses and buildings on his land be demolished by Israeli bulldozers.
Read More

23/4

Housing Saving Program in Vietnam

To own a house is an unreachable dream for most people in Vietnam. The national organisation Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) together with HSB and the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC) decided to do something about it and started a housing saving program based on the Swedish concept. The saving system will give more poor people the opportunity to buy a house or flat and to take control of their living situation.
Read More

6/4

Women's cooperative in Palestine finds new solutions

Women in Nileen came together in a cooperative to improve the chances of their children going to school. As the cooperation between the women took off their self-confidence grew and many new ideas were born.
Read More

SCC Region for Europe and Asia

SCC in Asia

The economic growth in many Asian countries has been high in the last years. Nevertheless economic wealth only reaches a small part of the total population. Poverty is wide spread, especially in the rural areas. In some of our partner countries such as the Philippines and Sri Lanka people are effected by military conflits. There is also a lack of democracy and respect for human rights and especially women are discriminated against. In Asia SCC work with cooperative development within the areas of; housing and habitat; rural development; funeral cooperatives and gender equality. Read more about our work in Asia here.

SCC in Eastern Europe

In general, the last decade was a period of economic growth and increasing prosperity in Eastern Europe but still poverty and vulnerability remain significant problems in the region. The average salary is not enough even to purchase basic products. In Eastern Europe SCC focuses on rural development. Many of the poor people in the region live in the rual areas and live on their small scale farms. By joining forces in cooperatives the farmers have a greater chance of being seen on the market and improve their living situation. SCC support the development of cooperatives through education on how to start and run cooperatives. Read more about our work in Eastern Europe here.

SCC in Palestine

The humanitarian situation in Palestine has deteriorated during 2008. The unemployment is increasing and it has become harder for people to support themselves. The end of 2008 meant a humanitarian disaster in Gaza with over 1300 dead. Our projects where also effected. The support from SCC to Palestine has been directed both towards humanitarian efforts and towards long term development programs. Read more about our work in Palestine here.