STOCKHOLM – Cecosesola (Central de Cooperativas de Lara), a network of community cooperatives providing affordable goods and services across Venezuela, is receiving the 2022 Right Livelihood Award for creating an alternative societal model that supports its community members in all aspects of life.
Founded in 1980, the Right Livelihood Award honours and supports courageous people solving global problems. To date, 190 Laureates from 74 countries have received the Award, including Edward Snowden (United States of America), Dr Denis Mukwege (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Greta Thunberg (Sweden).
Since its founding in 1967, Cecosesola has routinely evolved its ways of working in order to best address the problems oppressing Venezuelan society. Today, Cecosesola provides cooperative funeral services, food markets, a health centre, and savings and loans services. Cecosesola’s goods and services are almost entirely self-financed and are offered well below retail prices.
The network maintains a flat organisation where all voices are valued equally and decisions are made in the collective. Cecosesola embodies a cultural transformation that is free of capitalist and hierarchical structures, and instead, is guided by transparency, mutual support and equity.
Right Livelihood’s jury said that Cecosesola was receiving the award “for establishing an equitable and cooperative economic model as a robust alternative to profit-driven economies.”
“This Award increases the possibility to share our more than 50 years of experience at an international level,” Cecosesola said. “And, to create new relationships with organisations and people who are also committed to building a world of solidarity.”
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“With more than half a century of experience, Cecosesola has improved the lives of thousands of families, providing them access to healthcare, education, and food. In the midst of their country’s economic and political crises, Cecosesola operates in an open, horizontal, and cooperative way to meet the needs of communities. Their success proves that we can build societies – and economies – on trust, solidarity and sustainability instead of greed, competition and short-sightedness,” said Ole von Uexkull, Executive Director at Right Livelihood.
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The other 2022 Right Livelihood Laureates are:
- Fartuun Adan and Ilwad Elman of Somalia
- Oleksandra Matviichuk and the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) of Ukraine
- Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) of Uganda
The 2022 Laureates will be honoured during a televised Award Presentation in Stockholm on Wednesday, November 30.
Find more information about the other Laureates here.
Photos and videos of the new Laureates can be found here.
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Media contacts
International media: Emoke Bebiak, emoke.bebiak@rightlivelihood.org, +41 78 333 84 84
German media: Julia Naumann and Nina Tesenfitz, presse@rightlivelihood.org, +49 170 5763 663
Spanish media: Nayla Azzinnari, nayla@rightlivelihood.org, +54 9 11 5460 9860
Swedish media: Sydney Nelson, sydney.nelson@rightlivelihood.org, +46 73 043 13 01
Eastern European media: Marina Shupac, marina.shupac@rightlivelihood.org, +41 76 746 13 59
Photos, videos: Mikaela Fredrikson, mikaela.fredrikson@rightlivelihood.org
About Right Livelihood
Established in 1980, Right Livelihood honours and supports courageous people solving global problems. Housed under the umbrella of a foundation, Right Livelihood is a courage-powered community for social change committed to peace, justice and sustainability for all.
Each year, Right Livelihood highlights change-makers through an Award. To date, 190 Laureates from 74 countries have received the distinction. By recognising the actions of brave visionaries and building impactful connections around the world, Right Livelihood boosts urgent and long-term social change.
However, the work of Right Livelihood goes beyond only presenting the Award: they provide these change-makers with life-long support. Right Livelihood is a megaphone and a shield for the Laureates: raising their profile, providing them protection when their lives and liberty are in danger, and educating people on their innovative solutions.
Right Livelihood is headquartered in Stockholm, with an office in Geneva. The Foundation has Consultative Status with the UN.