생협복지의 의미와 실천- 서울 울림두레생협 사례분석

Abstract

This study discussed a possibility that social service could be provided by social enterprise, not nation nor market, and its effectiveness, with analyzing a specific case of consumer cooperative welfare practice. Consumer cooperative welfare means the practice of everyday social care which a welfare system in public realm and market realm fails to notice, by providing various living services on the basis of connection with various organizations and residents' active participation. This study analyzed the welfare activities of WoollimDure Consumer Cooperative in Mapo, Seoul, as a single case. The case most clearly showed the characteristics of regional consumer cooperative that grew with residents inside the region and carried out various care projects. According to the results of case analysis, there were 3 characteristics in the welfare activities of consumer cooperative. First, a possibility of welfare democracy increased owing to residents' participation and self-help activities. WoollimDure Consumer Cooperative regarded members' participation and democratic decision-making as the highest value, and had various institutional arrangements so as to realize that. Second, social care networks were being expanded through mutual aid and solidarity. This removed the blind spot of care, with which the problem was difficult to solve in public welfare and market welfare. Third, various regional welfare communities were formed. And owing to their activities, regional communities were changing. Through work community, a virtuous circle of regional production and consumption was formed. And through solidarity with business that local residents join, social economy was being realized. However, there are still many problems spreading and sustaining consumer cooperative welfare. This study presents 3 development strategies against those. First, the practice of customized welfare according to life cycle was suggested so that welfare could be promoted by reflecting members and residents' various characteristics, as individualization strategy. Second, we suggested training an active member who can connect member to consumer cooperative organization, and training a specialist member who can complement the specialized activities of consumer cooperative, as specialization strategy. Third, we suggested a strategy of solidarity and mobilization of various resources that exist in the community at large in order to realize wider range of community welfare.