---
id: "https://www.chngmkr.org/cecosesola#entity"
name: "Cecosesola"
type: Organization
url: "https://www.chngmkr.org/cecosesola"
location: "Barquisimeto, Venezuela"
city: "Barquisimeto"
country: "Venezuela"
coordinates: [10.0678, -69.3467]
recommended_by: ["Florian Guillaume"]
collections: ["Food Transition", "Co-Being", "Climate Action"]
website: "https://cecosesola.org/"
image: "https://www.chngmkr.org/photo/og/chngmkr-cecosesola-barquisimeto-735b96.png"
sameAs: ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1052455", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CECOSESOLA"]
languages: ["en", "fr", "it", "es", "zh"]
date_added: "May 2026"
---

# Cecosesola

Barquisimeto, Venezuela

## Why Florian Guillaume recommends Cecosesola

> “A hundred thousand families have run their own markets and clinics by assembly since 1967. I feel small next to that.”
>
> Florian Guillaume, founder of CHNGMKR, May 2026

## About Cecosesola

A Venezuelan cooperative network operating since 1967 in Barquisimeto, Lara State. Cecosesola runs 50 member cooperatives providing food markets, healthcare, funeral services, savings and credit to over 100,000 families across seven states. No managers, no hierarchy, decisions made by weekly assemblies of all workers. Each member receives the same base payment. Survived hyperinflation, political repression and economic collapse while continuing to expand. Winner of the Right Livelihood Award (2022). The oldest and largest functioning assembly-based cooperative in Latin America.

## About this card

- Recommended by: [Florian Guillaume](https://www.chngmkr.org/correspondents/florian-guillaume.md)
- Collections: [Food Transition](https://www.chngmkr.org/directory/food-transition.md), [Co-Being](https://www.chngmkr.org/directory/co-being.md), [Climate Action](https://www.chngmkr.org/directory/climate-action.md)
- Website: https://cecosesola.org/
- Page: https://www.chngmkr.org/cecosesola
- Français: https://www.chngmkr.org/fr/cecosesola
- Italiano: https://www.chngmkr.org/it/cecosesola
- Español: https://www.chngmkr.org/es/cecosesola
- 中文: https://www.chngmkr.org/zh/cecosesola

## Français

> “Cent mille familles gèrent leurs propres marchés et dispensaires en assemblée depuis 1967. Je me sens petit à côté.”

Un réseau coopératif vénézuélien actif depuis 1967 à Barquisimeto, dans l'État de Lara. Cecosesola réunit 50 coopératives membres qui offrent marchés alimentaires, soins de santé, services funéraires, épargne et crédit à plus de 100 000 familles dans sept États. Pas de managers, pas de hiérarchie : les décisions se prennent en assemblées hebdomadaires de tous les travailleurs. Chaque membre reçoit la même rémunération de base. Le réseau a survécu à l'hyperinflation, à la répression politique et à l'effondrement économique tout en continuant de grandir. Lauréat du Right Livelihood Award (2022). La plus ancienne et la plus grande coopérative d'assemblée en activité d'Amérique latine.

## Italiano

> “Centomila famiglie gestiscono i propri mercati e ambulatori in assemblea dal 1967. Mi sento piccolo accanto a questo.”

Una rete cooperativa venezuelana attiva dal 1967 a Barquisimeto, nello Stato di Lara. Cecosesola riunisce 50 cooperative associate che offrono mercati alimentari, assistenza sanitaria, servizi funebri, risparmio e credito a oltre 100.000 famiglie in sette Stati. Niente manager, niente gerarchia: le decisioni si prendono in assemblee settimanali di tutti i lavoratori. Ogni membro riceve la stessa retribuzione di base. La rete è sopravvissuta all'iperinflazione, alla repressione politica e al collasso economico continuando a crescere. Vincitrice del Right Livelihood Award (2022). La più antica e la più grande cooperativa assembleare in attività dell'America Latina.

## Español

> “Cien mil familias gestionan sus propios mercados y dispensarios en asamblea desde 1967. Me siento pequeño a su lado.”

Una red cooperativa venezolana activa desde 1967 en Barquisimeto, estado Lara. Cecosesola reúne a 50 cooperativas asociadas que ofrecen mercados de alimentos, atención sanitaria, servicios funerarios, ahorro y crédito a más de 100.000 familias en siete estados. Sin gerentes, sin jerarquía: las decisiones se toman en asambleas semanales de todos los trabajadores. Cada miembro recibe la misma remuneración base. La red ha sobrevivido a la hiperinflación, la represión política y el colapso económico sin dejar de crecer. Ganadora del Right Livelihood Award (2022). La cooperativa asamblearia en activo más antigua y más grande de América Latina.

## 中文

> “十万个家庭从 1967 年起以大会的方式经营自己的市场和诊所。站在这件事旁边，我觉得自己很小。”

一个自1967年起活跃于拉拉州巴基西梅托的委内瑞拉合作社网络。Cecosesola 汇集50家成员合作社，为七个州的10万多个家庭提供食品市场、医疗、殡葬服务、储蓄和信贷。没有经理，没有层级，决策由全体工人的每周大会做出。每位成员领取相同的基本报酬。它挺过了恶性通胀、政治镇压和经济崩溃，并持续扩展。2022年获“正确生活方式奖”。拉丁美洲历史最久、规模最大、仍在运作的大会制合作社。