Young Voices welcome special visitor

Gabriela Ana Buffa with “Young Voices” members

Young members from the Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) Young Voices group had a special visitor last week - the global representative for young co-operators.

Gabriela Ana Buffa is the youth representative on the board of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the umbrella body for co-operatives and mutuals across the world. Gabriela is from Argentina and stopped off in Rochdale on Monday 2 June on her way to the ICA board meeting in Belgium to meet RBH Young Voices members.

RBH Young Voices is our new scheme for young people whose parents are RBH members (tenant or employee members) or who live in RBH neighbourhoods. RBH Young Voices is a way for young people to be part of the mutual RBH, have their voice heard and get involved with us. Since their launch in May, over 100 young people have already signed up to join, and the young members are working with the Co-operative College to help shape the new organisation.

The Young Voices members took the opportunity to ask Gabriela about her role and learn more about the benefits of mutual societies across the world.

Gabriela said: “It was great to meet an engaged group of young co-operators, with lots of creative ideas, I know they will get good results from their activities, because they know what they are doing and have great goals. They should enjoy themselves as much as they can and do things together, so I hope they can invite even more friends so they can grow as a group!”

RBH Young Voices member Letitia, 14, said: “Gabriela’s visit was very inspiring because the ICA shows how much co-operation means, not just locally but to the world”

Young Voices membership is open to all young people aged 8-17 who live in a neighbourhood managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing.