The Concept | Vidàlia

Vision

To renovate and restore Colonia Vidal to found and develop a community project to live, work

and grow that brings meaning, belonging and freedom to the lives of the people involved. A

project that supports the personal lives and projects of its members and, as part of a wider

network, serves to create a more sustainable, just and supportive world.

Mission

To realize this vision we will found and manage a “Cooperativa Integral”, encompassing a

housing, consumer and labor co-operative as a legal entity that provides transparency and

promotes participation and autonomy. This structure will allow us to attract people from

Catalonia and Europe to form a community and transform, while respecting the territory and

its historical essence, the former colony Vidal into a center of reference for an inspiring and

meaningful life.

Purpose

To provide access to fair housing, sustainable food, meaningful employment, personal

growth and community engagement.

Values and Principles

Vidalia as all co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility,

Sociocracy, equality, equity and solidarity. We believe in the moral values of honesty,

openness, social responsibility and caring for others. We will employ the co-operative

principles as stipulated by the International Co-operative Alliance (http://ica.coop/en/whats-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles) as guidelines to put these values into practice.

Voluntary and Open Membership

Vidalia will be, open to all persons able to use our services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

Democratic Member Control

Vidalia will be a democratic organisation controlled by its members, who actively participate in setting its policies and making decisions through a sociocratic governance system

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociocracy). The Men and women serving as elected

representatives will be accountable to the membership.

Member Economic Participation

Members will contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of the different

primary Vidalia co-operatives (e.g. housing, labor, consumer). The industrial and residential

capital of the former Colonia Vidal will form the common property of the members of the

primary co-operatives. Members of the co-operatives will receive compensation on capital

subscribed as a condition of membership. Members can allocate surpluses for any of the

following purposes: developing the co-operative, setting up reserves, benefiting members in

proportion to their transactions, and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

Autonomy and Independence

The Cooperativa Integral Vidalia will be an autonomous, self-help organisation controlled by

its members. If we enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or

raise capital from external sources, we will do so on terms that ensure democratic control by

our members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.

Education, Training and Information

Vidalia will provide provide education and training for our members, elected representatives,

managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of the

different co-operatives. We will inform the general public – particularly young people and

opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

Co-operation among Co-operatives

Vidalia will work together through local, national, regional and international co-operative

structures to serve our members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative

movement. We will aim to be a point of reference and nexus for the Co-operative movement

in Catalonia and Europe.

Concern for Community

Vidalia will work for the sustainable development of its community and harmony amongst its members through communication, personal wellbeing and conflict resolution policies approved by its members.