El Arte del Buen Vivir was founded by a team of determined and experienced women in Almeria, Andalusia. Their goal: to merge their know-how and skills together to provide support for people in their final stage of life. Determined to do so through a value-oriented mode of entrepreneurship, founder Ysa Marín and co-founders Nagore Fuentes, Dr Elvira Pérez, Marta Carús and Martina Caballero opted for a social cooperative.
As aging becomes an increasingly important topic in European countries, the role played by El Arte del Buen Vivir is crucial. Yet, death remains an often-overlooked theme, even in the social economy. The members of the cooperative fill this void by investing their skills and goodwill to accompany people. Through dedicated, emotional and human support, as well as innovations and technological developments, the cooperative focuses not only on the person in the last stage of their life, but also on their loved ones. This comprehensive approach is the reflection of the highly diverse members who are part of the El Arte del Buen Vivir cooperative. As each member has their own specialisation, the cooperative hosts a wide range of skills such as mindfulness techniques, the use of art and free movement, expertise in ethical and responsible technological innovation in health, as well as thanatology.
The cooperative governance model is the perfect means to untap these skills, as the democratic governance allows each voice to be heard on an equal footing with others. This governance is a key pillar in El Arte del Buen Vivir, since the co-decision making and horizontal structure of the cooperative allows each partner to carry out specific functions according to their talent, experience, and expertise, allowing for an efficient organisation combined with a collaborative culture.
Currently, the cooperative is made up of four worker members and one investor member, all united by a shared vision and committed to the values of the project. As they continue to grow, they remain open to welcoming new members who share their philosophy. Their strategy is based on continuous training and the development of teams of trainers through our own methodology, focused on human-centred support, practical experience, and alignment with the essence of the project.
This growth is also supported by the social economy family that they have joined by creating a cooperative. As a social economy enterprise, El Arte del Buen Vivir can count on a sturdy network of value-oriented and human-centred actors such as FAECTA and the Spanish Palliative Care Network. The balance between values and economic viability is neatly summarised by one of the members of the cooperative:
"We chose the cooperative model because we believe in a way of entrepreneurship where care, cooperation, and social impact are just as important as economic viability."
However, many challenges remain, especially the lack of recognition of the work undertaken by the cooperative. As a taboo and delicate subject, death is rarely talked about. El Arte del Buen Vivir seeks to shift the conversation around by normalising a moment that eventually concerns us all. They are achieving just that with their training and support programmes, with the hope that their field will become a broader movement in favour of a more compassionate understanding of death and bereavement.
El Arte del Buen Vivir is affiliated with COCETA, our Spanish member.
