Originally, the project with AYNI proposed using the donation to conduct a meeting/exchange of experiences within the cooperative economy with other organized communities on issues of sustainability, environmental protection, and solidarity economy. The visit was to take place in another region of the country, where the experiences of the visited communities would be helpful for redesigning the own cooperative.
However, in addition to this training initiative, AYNI also worked on expanding its retail business, particularly in the areas of food, household cleaning, and personal care products. For this purpose, a dedicated store was planned, which, in addition to the online offering, would also serve as a meeting point for employees and, in general, as a place of responsible consumption, sustainability, and alternative economic models.
The board of the AYNI cooperative then decided to use the funds provided by our friends in Germany (Raschke Family Foundation) in a different way and allocate them to the fund for building and launching AYNI’s store. The store was to open in November 2023, maintaining a standard offering. Additionally, AYNI planned to introduce new products such as a cafeteria with prepared meals, hot and cold beverages, coffee products, as well as cultural activities in the fields of literature, illustration, music, and literature. The store was to be a point of sustainability, responsible consumption, and change in our city and region.
With the help of the Raschke Family Foundation and its own funds, AYNI was able to acquire, among other things, two devices necessary for the operation of the store: a double-sided refrigerator (10 compartments with a capacity of 755 liters) and a coffee machine (high-pressure coffee machine with two filters, Expobar brand). The invoices for these purchases are attached.
Attached are some images of the store’s opening from the final report.
