Fahim Yousuf

Fahim Yousuf’s public involvement began through conversations with workers and small livelihood groups who were dealing with problems that were difficult to solve individually. He became interested in the role of cooperatives because they offered a way for people to combine information, bargaining strength and responsibility without losing local ownership.

His early work brought him into contact with workers’ groups and fisherfolk communities. He helped members understand procedures, keep basic records and raise common concerns through the appropriate organisations. What interested him was not only the immediate issue but the question of why the same difficulty kept returning.

A memorable experience involved a group of young workers who had reached a point where they were unsure whether to continue working individually or join a cooperative initiative. The discussions were slow and not everyone agreed. Fahim learned that building a collective organisation requires patience because people are not simply deciding on a structure; they are deciding whether they can trust one another enough to share responsibility.

That experience shaped his later work. He has supported cooperative discussions around livelihoods, access to services and practical training, while encouraging younger members to take on organisational responsibilities themselves.

Fahim is also interested in the changing nature of work and the pressure younger workers face when traditional livelihood structures are under strain. He believes local institutions need to adapt without losing the relationships that make them useful.

At 29, his public journey is still young, but it already reflects a clear preference for collective solutions. His contribution is grounded in the idea that stronger communities are built when people understand both their rights and their responsibilities to one another.