Founded in 2015 in İzmir, Türkiye, by a group of young professionals, Genç İşi Kooperatif was created to develop alternative solutions to challenges such as access to decent work, livelihoods, and socioeconomic rights for disadvantaged groups.
Based on the principles of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), the cooperative operates as a non-profit, worker-owned, and bossless organization. Its mission is to promote a more democratic and inclusive economy through collective ownership, equality, and solidarity.
Working for decent work and social inclusion
Genç İşi Kooperatif works in education, research, consultancy, and capacity building. It produces knowledge, supports organizations, and contributes to policy discussions around decent work, employment, and the SSE.
The cooperative focuses on three main goals: strengthening the capacity of SSE actors and private sector organizations to create decent work opportunities, improving knowledge on working conditions, and increasing members’ access to fair employment through cooperative services.
The cooperative considers environmental sustainability, gender equality, and inclusiveness among its core values. In fact, it implements projects related to climate change, green transition, and the circular economy, while also developing capacities in these fields.
A workplace based on equality and participation
When it comes to the management of the cooperative, Genç İşi Kooperatif has no hierarchical management structure. Inspired by sociocracy principles, decisions are made collectively through different working circles, allowing members to participate equally in shaping the cooperative’s direction.
The cooperative applies the principle of extending the ILO’s equal remuneration Convention beyond the equality among sexes to equality between ages, profiles, and status in the cooperative. Therefore, income is distributed transparently and equally, according to worker members’ contributions and time worked, while
Its members are mainly young professionals from fields such as economics, social sciences, research, and project management. As of 2026, the cooperative includes 12 worker members and 16 experts in Türkiye and abroad. Non-member staff, such as volunteers, project-based experts, and consultants also contribute to the activities of the cooperative to meet project-based needs and support operational capacity.
Supporting people and strengthening the cooperative movement
Youth employment is at the centre of Genç İşi Kooperatif’s work, with a particular focus on supporting women, refugees, and young people facing barriers to employment.
Through training programmes, research, international projects, and digital tools such as KoopDestek, the cooperative helps expand access to cooperative knowledge and supports the development of new social enterprises.
Since 2019, KoopDestek has become an important resource for cooperative information in Türkiye, reaching hundreds of thousands of users and expanding its Arabic-language content across the Middle East and North Africa.
Building partnerships for a sustainable future
The cooperative also participates in projects supported by European Union programs, the International Labour Organization (ILO), regional development agencies, and various international organizations. These partnerships contribute both financial resources and institutional capacity-building opportunities
Despite challenges including economic crises and the COVID-19 pandemic, Genç İşi Kooperatif has continued to grow through flexible working methods, digital transformation, and strong partnerships.
The cooperative collaborates with national and international networks, including the International Cooperative Alliance Youth Committee, and became a member of CECOP in 2026.
Looking ahead, Genç İşi Kooperatif aims to continue promoting worker-owned, democratic, and socially impactful business models. Through its work, it demonstrates that cooperatives are not only economic organizations, but also powerful tools for social inclusion, decent work, and sustainable development.
To mark their 10th anniversary, Genç İşi Kooperatif created a video featuring insights from partners and experts while showcasing the cooperative and its achievements. English, Italian, and Spanish subtitles are available. Watch the video here!
