By Shirine Khoury-Haq

This Sunday, 21 September, is the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. It is a time to reflect on what peace means, what makes it possible and how we each play a part in shaping it.

We live in a world where conflict feels ever-present. Whether on our newsfeeds or closer to home, division is often easier to see than unity. But peace is not something out of reach. It is something we can build through cooperation, community and commitment.

My own background gives me a personal connection to the importance of peace. I know how quickly stability can be lost and how hard it is to rebuild. The power of people coming together sits at the heart of why I believe so strongly in co-operation. Not just as a business model, but as a way of living and leading.

Around the world, co-operatives are helping to lay the foundations for peace. In Guatemala, they provide livelihoods and stability for communities torn apart affected by conflict. In Rwanda and........

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