09/04/2026
It's fantastic to see how the https://worldmap.coop/ project is connecting cooperatives around the world, as the data grows, so will the utility. Coming soon will be some important visual changes and an on-boarding ramp for independent organisations, stay tuned!
How can cooperatives strengthen their digital identity and visibility in today’s economy?
This was one of the key questions explored during the Fireside Chat at the Youth Connect Cooperative General Assembly 2026, facilitated by YCC member Moriel Rabyn Dayrit and featuring Tom Ivey, Community Development Manager at DotCooperation, with YCC board directors Jay-vee Pangan and Vina Vida Rempillo.
The conversation unpacked how tools and platforms like the .coop domain, stories.coop, and the Cooperative World Map are helping cooperatives become more visible, credible, and connected, especially in a digital-first landscape.
This is particularly relevant for young cooperators, like YCC members, navigating freelance, gig, and project-based work, where visibility and trust directly impact access to opportunities.
Through ongoing collaboration, YCC has contributed to bringing 20,000+ Philippine cooperatives into the Cooperative World Map, helping strengthen the global visibility of the Philippine cooperative movement. Tom Ivey noted that YCC has been “pivotal” in building this dataset and promoting cooperative identity and branding tools.
Tom also emphasized why youth matter in this space:
“Young people always seem to understand the power of technology, the power of branding, and the power of having a cohesive, cooperative voice. They just get it.”
For YCC, this goes beyond digital tools.
It points to a larger shift:
👉 from visibility to credibility
👉 from participation to contribution
👉 from local engagement to global positioning
The work is clear: to help cooperatives not only exist online but connect and grow within it.
