CRESAÇOR – Cooperativa Regional de Economia Solidária dos Açores

CRESAÇOR, the Cooperativa Regional de Economia Solidária dos Açores, was formally set up in 2000, within the Projeto de Luta Contra a Pobreza (IDEIA). Based on São Miguel, it works across the whole Azores archipelago. Its mission is to promote solidarity economy and local, community-based development in the region. The cooperative represents the Rede de Economia Solidária dos Açores, a network that has grown to 37 cooperating institutions. It also helped found the Rede de Responsabilidade Social das Empresas e Organizações dos Açores, which now counts around 27 members, and has belonged since its early years to the Rede de Economia Solidária da Macaronésia, alongside Cabo Verde, the Canary Islands and Madeira. CRESAÇOR runs several thematic agencies, covering entrepreneurship and microcredit, social and territorial cohesion, and inclusive tourism under the banner Açores para Todos. Current activities include Vozes Migrantes, a project on migrant voices and community support networks funded by the Direção Regional das Comunidades in partnership with the Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada; Open Doors, an Erasmus+ project on accessibility in European tourism; and BioMUST4All, focused on experiencing Azorean biodiversity in inclusive ways. By its own count, the cooperative has organised more than 8,520 guided visits, built 141 partnerships, run 248 events, supported the creation of 312 companies (around 620 jobs) and welcomed 3,262 senior visitors to the islands across 425 projects. It also manages the Rede CORES market and a directory of solidarity-economy businesses. Training sessions, such as one on tourism accessibility held at the Azoris Royal Garden, are open to tourism operators, guides and students, usually free of charge but requiring prior registration.