SayPro, in partnership with the United States Peace Corps, is boosting local economies by supporting cooperative business models. SayPro understands that in many underserved communities, traditional business models exclude small producers and workers from decision-making and profits. Cooperatives offer an alternative by promoting shared ownership, democratic governance, and community-based profit sharing. SayPro provides training in cooperative principles, management, marketing, and financial literacy. Peace Corps volunteers help SayPro facilitate workshops and mentoring for cooperative leaders. These businesses include agricultural co-ops, artisanal groups, and service-based collectives. SayPro ensures that women, youth, and marginalized communities are prioritized in co-op membership. By fostering collaboration and trust, SayPro turns economic activity into a tool for empowerment. Cooperatives supported by SayPro generate income, reduce inequality, and promote resilience in local economies. SayPro believes in building economies that serve the people—not just the market.
SayPro works closely with community members to identify viable cooperative opportunities based on local skills and resources. Whether it’s a farming cooperative, tailoring unit, or transport service, SayPro ensures members receive the tools and training needed to succeed. Peace Corps volunteers contribute business development knowledge and help connect co-ops with larger markets. SayPro facilitates access to microfinance, seed funding, and government grants, reducing financial barriers to success. Co-op members participate in regular capacity-building sessions focused on leadership, conflict resolution, and financial accountability. SayPro ensures that each cooperative has a clear governance structure and democratic voting procedures. Through this, SayPro creates economically just spaces where all voices count. Cooperatives also reinvest profits into community projects, multiplying impact. SayPro’s inclusive approach transforms cooperatives into engines of local development. It’s not just about earning—it’s about building community wealth and collective confidence.
SayPro tracks the growth of each cooperative it supports, helping them scale sustainably. This includes assistance with digital tools, packaging, branding, and e-commerce platforms. SayPro’s support continues long after initial formation, ensuring that co-ops survive market fluctuations and internal challenges. Peace Corps volunteers assist by conducting needs assessments and linking cooperatives with regional supply chains. SayPro promotes co-op-to-co-op exchange programs, where leaders from different regions learn from one another. These exchanges build solidarity, innovation, and long-term success. SayPro also partners with universities to study cooperative impact, refining models based on evidence. SayPro emphasizes that cooperatives are not charity—they are smart economics rooted in equity. With community ownership and shared responsibility, SayPro’s cooperatives become blueprints for resilient local economies. Each one reflects SayPro’s values of empowerment, collaboration, and sustainable growth.
SayPro’s cooperative model is being replicated in multiple sectors, including food processing, clean energy, textiles, and education. SayPro is now advising municipalities and NGOs on how to adopt this inclusive model. The Peace Corps plays a vital role by documenting these experiences and sharing them globally. SayPro plans to launch a national cooperative network to facilitate peer learning and policy advocacy. This will amplify the voice of grassroots businesses and help shape more inclusive economic policies. SayPro’s vision is clear: communities must own their resources, control their labor, and share their prosperity. With every new cooperative launched, SayPro moves closer to that vision. Together with the Peace Corps, SayPro is proving that collective business is smart, sustainable, and socially transformative. SayPro continues to redefine success—not by individual profit, but by shared progress.