La Base: microcosm of a New World

La Base is one of dozens of different occupied self-run social centers in Catalonia. It's famous for its food and learning coop skills in an area of near 20% unemployment.
La Base is one of dozens of different occupied self-run social centers in Catalonia. It’s famous for its food and learning coop skills in an area of near 20% unemployment.

La Base is a cooperatively-organized space opened by residents of the working class Poble Sec neighborhood of Barcelona in January 2014 in the aftermath of the 15M movement, which occupied squares and built general assemblies in neighborhoods across Spain.

La Base builds on the anarchist history that exists in Barcelona, as well as on the local culture where people spend time in the streets and the squares, young and old socialize together, and people often  trust and rely on each other.46_cercavila_inauguracioThe space operates as a bar, full kitchen, library, and office space, as well as a base for food co-ops, childcare co-ops, and political initiatives. The kitchen serves two meals day, six days a week. Food is obtained from nearby farms, meals are cooked by a cooking collective, lunch is an all-organic meal, dinner a low-cost set plate.

Last year the project celebrated its anniversary with the opening of a second space down the block, a cooperative workshop for construction, repair, and transformation called Ateneu D’Oficis  (workers trades).unnamed-300x78Aimed at empowering the neighborhood through learning “how it works” and developing techniques, the workshop offers courses in carpentry, electrical work, welding, tools and resources, as well as providing neighborhood repairs.

Here’s a bit of information on each one, if you’re interested or want to propose some you know, contactprojectes_base

The Egalitarian: There is a Jewish saying more true today than ever: “Who eats alone dies alone.” Recover at the neighborhood level, the tradition of the workers’ canteens, places where friendship, love or insurrection can grow in an atmosphere of brother/sister-hood and camaraderie.

Meeting space: a place to meet informally, where to eat or bring your tupper “take something” down to read or connect. A space to train and educate us. A tool for self-organization of the everyday and the exceptional.

Spontaneous Popular Library. “Reading makes us freer” A mobile library looking for a space, a selection of books on topics such as free education and cooperativism. Presentations, lectures and guided …

feminist self defense
feminist self defense

Consumer cooperative “La Seca”: “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.” Industrial agriculture not only doesn’t nourish us, it poisons the earth and takes us away from the earth. Manage access to food in order to get agro-ecological products, proximity and confidence.

Kids Space : Babala is a group of co-maternity and shared parenting that has become part of La Base. They have a place at Carrer Radas, nº 27.

Trades center: one side is a craft workshop to share knowledge; and other offers professional service reforms at home.  SEE VIDEO

Study Room: Space for horizontal and collaborative teaching and learning with youth from second to third ESO to Baccalaureate. The methodology is based on both individual and collective.

Original in Catalan

A continuació una mica d’infotmació de cadascun, si t’interessa o vols proposar-ne algun ja ho saps, contacta 😉

La Igualitària: Hi ha una dita jueva avui més certa que mai: “qui menja sol mor sol.” Recuperem, a nivell de barri, la tradició de les cantines obreres, llocs on podia créixer l’amistat, l’amor o la insurrecció en un ambient de fraternitat i camaraderia.

Espai de trobada: Un lloc on trobar-nos informalment, on menjar el tupper o “prendre algo”, baixar a llegir o a connectar-te. Un espai per formar i formar-nos. Una eina per l’autoorganització de lo quotidià i l’excepcional.

Biblioteca Popular Espontània. “Llegir ens fa més lliures” Una biblioteca itinerant que busca un espai, una selecció de llibres sobre temàtiques com l’educació lliure i el cooperativisme. Presentacions, lectures comentades i més…

Cooperativa de consum “La Seca”: “Que el teu aliment sigui la teva medicina i que la teva medicina sigui el teu aliment”. L’agricultura industrial no només no ens nodreix, sinó que enverina la terra i ens allunya de la terra. Autogestionem l’accés als aliments per tal d’obtenir productes agroecològics, de proximitat i de confiança.

Espai de criança: Babàlia és un grup de comaternitat i criança compartida que ha entrat a formar part de La Base. Tenen local al Carrer Radas, nº 27.

Ateneu d’oficis: D’una banda és un taller d’oficis, per compartir el coneixement; i d’altre, ofereix el servei professional de les reformes a domicili.

Aula d’estudi: Espai d’ensenyament i aprenentatge horitzontal i col·laboratiu amb joves des de tercer d’ESO fins a segon de Batxillerat (upper secondary school). La metodologia es basa tant en treball individual com col·lectiu.

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