ULCCS MENTOR CHAMPIONS YOUTH COOPERATIVES IN AFRICA

At the International Conference on Worker Cooperatives in Lusaka, ULCCS Chief Project Coordinator Kishor Kumar T. K. mentored African youth on cooperative entrepreneurship. He urged investment in youth-led cooperatives, stressing that empowering young people as entrepreneurs, owners and leaders is key to building inclusive economies and tackling unemployment across Africa.  

The International Conference on ‘Worker Cooperatives and Decent Youth Employment in Africa’, held in Lusaka from 24 to 26 August 2026, became a platform for a powerful exchange of ideas on how cooperatives can transform the future of work for Africa’s young generation. Among its distinguished voices was Kishor Kumar T. K., Chief Project Coordinator of Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Ltd. (ULCCS), who participated as a speaker and mentor. His presence underscored the growing importance of South–South cooperation in strengthening cooperative movements across continents.  
Kishor Kumar, who also serves as a Working Group Member on Global Cooperative Culture and Heritage of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and Vice Chairperson of the ICA Asia-Pacific Committee on Agriculture and Environment, delivered a presentation titled “Worker Cooperatives and Job Creation – Examples from Around the World and Africa.” Drawing on ULCCS’s century-old experience as a worker-owned cooperative in India, he illustrated how collective ownership and entrepreneurship can generate sustainable employment, foster innovation and ensure inclusive economic participation.  

A central theme of his intervention was the role of youth in shaping the cooperative movement. He emphasised that young people must not be seen merely as beneficiaries but as active entrepreneurs, innovators, decision-makers and leaders. “Empowering young people through cooperatives is not simply about creating jobs; it is about creating entrepreneurs, owners and leaders who can shape a more inclusive and sustainable economy,” he said, urging greater investment in youth-led cooperatives, cooperative education and leadership development.  

As part of the Africa Cooperative Entrepreneurship (ACE) Programme, Kishor Kumar mentored young cooperative ambassadors, encouraging them to explore cooperative entrepreneurship as a pathway to employment and empowerment. His sessions resonated strongly in a continent where youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, particularly in countries such as South Africa. He highlighted how cooperatives can provide decent work opportunities while enabling young people to participate meaningfully in economic life.  

The conference, organised by Cooperation Africa in partnership with ICA-Africa, brought together cooperative leaders, policymakers, researchers, development partners and young entrepreneurs from across the region. Discussions revolved around the potential of worker cooperatives to advance inclusive and sustainable development, with Kishor Kumar’s contribution reinforcing the importance of peer learning and international collaboration.  

By sharing ULCCS’s journey and mentoring African youth, Kishor Kumar strengthened ties between the cooperative movements of India and Africa. His engagement highlighted how cooperatives can serve as engines of employment generation, enterprise development and social progress, while underlining the value of South–South cooperation in building resilient, youth-centred economies.