What is a neighborhood cooperative?
A neighborhood cooperative is a local exchange structure based on voluntary contributions from its members. Historically, consumer cooperatives (19th century Magasins Generaux) let workers buy together for better prices. COLHYBRI transposes the principle into the digital space with a SaaS tool.
What is the difference with an NGO?
An NGO lives off donations, subsidies and voluntary fees. It structurally depends on external funders (State, donors, willing members). COLHYBRI has no donations or subsidies: the model is self-funded by subscriptions (3 EUR residents, 10 EUR merchants). That is what guarantees sustainability and independence.
Why is it not charity?
Charity implies an asymmetric relationship: a wealthy giver and a needy beneficiary. COLHYBRI is symmetric: every subscriber pays the same fee and has the same chance to receive a service. Nobody is humiliated, nobody is labeled as poor. It is a neighborhood mutual, not a digital soup kitchen.