Sharing is Caring: Ireland's new gift economy platform

Moray, Cork Community Art Link [AL] : The community sector is under resourced, understaffed, and overstretched. As a community arts organisation we see this first hand and know that change can only come by self-organisation. By doing it ourselves. By helping each other through mutual aid. This platform is the first step towards developing a new system of making and sharing. A new way of doing things that is both sustainable for communities and the planet.

GDC : Please share the values that guide this platform.
AL : Mutual aid. Solidarity. Co-operation. Friendship. Humanity.

GDC : So, how does the platform actually work?
AL : Super simple. This is a gift economy so you give what you can and take what you need.

Go onto the platform and register as a member.
Then add a skill, equipment, or materials to the list on the platform.

It doesn’t have to be much. Only what you can afford to give. Perhaps you have time to volunteer, can bake bread, play music, fix engines, are a gardener, a carpenter, an artist, or are good at accounts. Maybe you have spare fabrics, are willing to loan tools, deliver equipment in your van, have access to a space.

The list is endless, but you get the idea. Everyone is good at something. Everyone can share. Everyone can help. Then, whenever you need something for your event or project you search the list for what you need and get in touch with that member.

GDC : What were the challenges in bringing this platform to life? How did your group overcome this?
AL: The biggest challenge has been to come up with a few words to convince people that their gift to the platform has value.

People are used to the cost of everything, but rarely consider the value of what they have to give. We have to persuade everyone that this platform is much more about social relations than exchange value. That the more we work together, the more we can overcome.

We haven’t got it right yet and are still working on it. Tweaking the language. Changing the emphasis. Articulating the message.

GDC : What does your platform hope to achieve?
AL : We hope that this platform will give people the space to try new things, explore possibilities, create new projects and events in their neighbourhoods, meet new people, dream. Make a better place to live.