Co-op Development in Immigrant Communities Presenters: Melanie Conn, Devco & Gulalai Habib, Immigrant Services Society Gulalai Habib, Immigrant Services Society of BC/Malalay Co-op of BC/Malalay Co-op

Afghanistan History  A landlocked country in the heart of Asia  Population around 22 million  Three names: -Aryana in antiquity -Khurasan in the medieval era -Afghanistan in modern times

Culture and Ethnicity  24 dialects  Dominant languages Dari (Farsi dialect) & Pashtu  Blend of 26 ethnic races - ie. Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbecs, Hazars, Turkmen, Nuristanis and many others

War and Human Losses  Over 32 years of intensive war & occupation Over 32 years of intensive war & occupation  Over 2 million people killed Over 2 million people killed (20% children)  3 million people internally displaced 3 million people internally displaced  2-3% of the population disabled 2-3% of the population disabled  Over 6,700,000 become refugees Over 6,700,000 become refugees  Obliteration of infrastructure Obliteration of infrastructure

Life in refugee camps  Deprived of education  Poor nutrition  No legal protection  No citizenship rights or access to education  Dramatic decline of literacy & increase of child labour  Extremely rough environment, perfect for terrorist recruiting

Afghan Immigrants & Refugees in BC  Afghans are one of largest groups of Government-Assisted refugees (GARs) in BC for the past four years: 26.4%  47% of all Afghan clients settled in Burnaby in 2006  Majority of single parent families are women who lost their husbands in war

Settlement Issues and Obstacles (1)  War trauma & depression  Low literacy  Language barriers  Financial dependence  Economic inequality  Marginalization

Settlement Issues and Obstacles (2)  Raising children in an alien culture  Poor health conditions  Limited opportunities  Lack of culturally appropriate centres & other resources  Social isolation  Racial profiling since September 11 th

Malalay Co-op Beginnings:  2003  20 women  1300 volunteer hours  A community solution to move towards economic security

Three focuses of Malalay: 1. Develop the co-operative 2. Develop and test an experiential learning model for new immigrant and refugee women 3. Identify policy and program recommendations to create an enabling environment for new immigrant & refugee women.

“My dream of the Co-op is not only to be financially independent and prove that I have some skills to contribute, but also to regain my confidence and, above all, my dignity.” Zakia, Dec “My dream of the Co-op is not only to be financially independent and prove that I have some skills to contribute, but also to regain my confidence and, above all, my dignity.” Zakia, Dec. 2004

Diversity of Members  Language  Age  Ethnic background  Mental and physical ability  Language  Marital and social status  Rural and urban experience  Duration of settlement in Canada  Education

Supporters Project Team  The Immigrant Services Society of BC  CCEDNet  Devco

Financial supporters Vancity Community Foundation Vancity Community Foundation Status of Women Canada Status of Women Canada Vibrant Burnaby Vibrant Burnaby West Vancouver Unitarian Church West Vancouver Unitarian Church WomenFutures WomenFutures BC Co-op Association BC Co-op Association

In-kind contributions Afghan-Canadian Women’s Network of BC Afghan-Canadian Women’s Network of BC Immigrant Services Society of BC Immigrant Services Society of BC City of Burnaby City of Burnaby Burnaby School District 41 Burnaby School District 41 Burnaby Learning Network Burnaby Learning Network Devco Devco BC Muslim Women Association BC Muslim Women Association Housing Families in Need Society Housing Families in Need Society BC Co-operative Association BC Co-operative Association Burnaby Food Co-operative Burnaby Food Co-operative Individuals Individuals

Lessons Learned 1. A co-op can be a powerful tool for immigrant and refugee women to become active participants in Canadian society as well as in their own community Positive images of Muslim women Positive images of Muslim women A bottom-up approach to development A bottom-up approach to development Time-consuming Time-consuming

2. Role of the settlement worker Bridge Bridge Raise rights of members Raise rights of members Multi-skilled Multi-skilled

3. Policy Barriers Clawback Clawback Need for multi-year funding Need for multi-year funding

Co-op Development Practice  Unique situation Language Language Informal co-operation Informal co-operation Settlement issues Settlement issues

Co-op Development Practice  Governance  Finance  Operations  Lessons Learned

Co-op Development Practice  Governance Significance Significance Timeline Timeline

Co-op Development Practice  Governance Meetings Meetings Quorum Quorum Minutes Minutes Board of Directors Board of Directors

Co-op Development Practice  Finances Knowledge Knowledge Trust-Building Trust-Building Practice Handling Money Practice Handling Money

Co-op Development Practice  Operations Workspace Workspace Equipment Equipment Production Production Income Income Marketing Marketing Business Consultant Business Consultant

Lessons Learned 1. Applying the Co-op Model Working with a Colleague Working with a Colleague Interpretation Interpretation Translation Translation ESL, transportation ESL, transportation

2. Role of Co-op Developer Advisor Advisor Teacher Teacher Facilitator Facilitator Outsider Outsider

3. Women’s Participation Cultural issues Cultural issues Effect of war Effect of war Settlement issues Settlement issues Need for Patience Need for Patience

4. Autonomy Funding issues Funding issues Group issues Group issues Feasibility issues Feasibility issues

 Development is much more than material benefits, and is the sum of people’s own aspirations, efforts, and learning towards bettering themselves materially, socially, intellectually, and spiritually.

“If we had started a sewing co- op ten years ago for Afghan women we would not need Welfare today”. Jamila, Oct “If we had started a sewing co- op ten years ago for Afghan women we would not need Welfare today”. Jamila, Oct. 2006

D