Cultural Cooperative of Esperanto Speakers

The Cultural Cooperative of Esperanto Speakers (Kultura Kooperativo de Esperantistoj, KKE) is a Brazilian cultural cooperative founded on 14 July 1951 in Rio de Janeiro. It was established out of the need for a neutral and financially strong institution that would supply the Esperanto movement with books in and about Esperanto, and provide services considered indispensable for the development of Esperantism in Brazil. The foundational idea originated within the Esperanto Association of Rio de Janeiro (AERĴ), and three figures stood out at its founding: Braz Cosenza, Cedilha de Oliveira Neto and Ismael Gomes Braga. KKE quickly became one of the most prominent publishers of books in and about Esperanto. Among its main titles are the Granda Vortaro Portugala-Esperanto by Ismael Gomes Braga, Veterano? by the same author, Paroladoj kaj Poemoj by L. L. Zamenhof, Rakontoj kaj Poemoj by Khalil Gibran, and Ellernu! by Ferenc Szilagyi. Although KKE no longer operates its own printing press, it continues to publish and distribute books (especially didactic ones) and compact discs, including Esperanta Voĉo by the singer Vera Jordan. The cooperative's early goals included acquiring its own headquarters in downtown Rio, which was realized on 15 December 1956 at Avenida Treze de Maio, no. 47, mezzanine 208. There, from Monday to Saturday, classes, lectures, conversation circles, meetings and artistic presentations take place. The headquarters also houses one of the largest book services in the Americas and a rich library. A second goal was the establishment of its own printing press, realized on 17 December 1956; the so-called Presejo Esperanto operated in the São Cristóvão neighborhood until the mid-1980s. A third goal was the creation of a retreat, Bieno Esperanto, purchased on 1 September 1967 in the Bangu neighborhood. A fourth was the inauguration of the Hotel Restoracio Esperanto to host Esperantists traveling to Rio de Janeiro; this enterprise operated for approximately two years. Today KKE consolidates its role as an important disseminator of Esperanto culture, with a large book service and a rich event program. Its headquarters is open Monday to Saturday during commercial hours, and multi-level courses are available to the public. No Esperanto event takes place in Rio without KKE's support; for example, it carried out promotion during the Rio+20 international conference in late June 2012, always supplying organizers with promotional materials, ribbons and flags, and often bringing its book service to sell Esperanto items. In the information field, KKE has been active since its foundation. For decades it published the magazine Kooperativismo and several promotional books such as Dialogo and the Anuário Esperantista de 1967. Its current newsletter is called INKO, a bimonthly periodical circulating in print and online. KKE's website is one of the most visited of the Brazilian Esperanto movement. The cooperative has initiated several campaigns, most notably Esperanto en la Bibliotekojn (Esperanto into the Libraries), coordinated by Aloísio Sartorato; since July 2001 more than 1,200 books have been sent to approximately 110 Brazilian and 12 foreign institutions. Another notable campaign is the Frateca Vizitgrupo (Fraternal Visit Group), which through home visits aims to bring moral support and solidarity to fellow Esperantists no longer able to participate in Esperanto events. From 1966 to 1983 KKE was responsible for organizing the Brazilian Seminars of Esperanto. In 1968 it launched the idea of the Latin American Congresses of Esperanto, which took place ten years later in Marília, São Paulo state; today that event is called the All-Americas Congress of Esperanto.

The Cultural Cooperative of Esperanto Speakers (Kultura Kooperativo de Esperantistoj, KKE) was founded on 14 July 1951 in Rio de Janeiro. It was based on the need to establish a neutral and financially strong institution that would provide the Esperanto movement with books in and about Esperanto, and that would make available services indispensable for the development of Esperantism in Brazil. The foundational idea was born within the Esperanto Association of Rio de Janeiro (AERĴ). Three figures stood out at its founding: Braz Cosenza, Cedilha de Oliveira Neto and Ismael Gomes Braga. The initial goals of KKE were several. The first was the purchase of its own headquarters in the city center of Rio, which was realized on 15 December 1956. It is located at Avenida Treze de Maio, no. 47, mezzanine 208. There, from Monday to Saturday, classes, lectures, conversation circles, meetings and artistic presentations take place. In addition, one of the largest book services in the Americas operates at that headquarters, and there is a rich library. The second goal was the establishment of its own printing press, a dream realized on 17 December 1956. The so-called Presejo Esperanto operated in the São Cristóvão neighborhood until the mid-1980s. The third goal was the creation of a retreat, named Bieno Esperanto, purchased on 1 September 1967, located in the Bangu neighborhood. The fourth was the inauguration of the Hotel Restoracio Esperanto to host Esperantists traveling in Rio de Janeiro; that enterprise operated for approximately two years. Immediately KKE became one of the most outstanding publishers of books in and about Esperanto. Among its main titles one can mention: Granda Vortaro Portugala-Esperanto, by Ismael Gomes Braga; Veterano?, by the same author; Paroladoj kaj Poemoj, by L. L. Zamenhof; Rakontoj kaj Poemoj, by Khalil Gibran; Ellernu!, by Ferenc Szilagyi; and others. Today, although KKE no longer has its own printing press, it publishes and distributes books (especially didactic ones) and compact discs (CDs). Among the latter, Esperanta Voĉo by the singer Vera Jordan is noteworthy. The list of presidents of KKE consists of: Braz Cosenza, Álvaro Fausto de Souza, Dilermando de Castro, Djalma de Souza Lima, Cláudio Spinelli, Givanildo Ramos Costa, and Hélder Vieira Lopes (currently). Today KKE consolidates itself as an important disseminator of Esperanto culture, with a large book service and a rich event program. KKE's activity is all the more remarkable because its headquarters is open from Monday to Saturday, during commercial hours. In addition, multi-level courses are available to the public. No Esperanto event takes place in Rio without the support of KKE. For example, one can cite the promotion carried out during the Rio+20 international conference in late June 2012. Always this institution supplies organizers with promotional materials, ribbons and flags. Several times KKE also brings its book service to sell Esperanto items. In the information field, since its foundation KKE has been vigorously active. For decades it published the magazine Kooperativismo and several promotional books, such as Dialogo and Anuário Esperantista de 1967 (Esperantist Yearbook of 1967). Its current newsletter is called INKO. It is a bimonthly periodical that circulates in print and online. Moreover, KKE's website is one of the most visited of the Brazilian Esperanto movement. KKE initiated several campaigns. The most remarkable of them is Esperanto en la Bibliotekojn (Esperanto into the Libraries), coordinated by Aloísio Sartorato. Since July 2001 more than 1,200 books have been sent to approximately 110 Brazilian and 12 foreign institutions. Another notable campaign is the Frateca Vizitgrupo (Fraternal Visit Group), which, through home visits, aims to bring moral support and solidarity to fellow Esperantists no longer able to participate in Esperanto events. From 1966 to 1983, KKE was responsible for the organization of the Brazilian Seminars of Esperanto. In 1968, that institution launched the idea of the Latin American Congresses of Esperanto, which took place ten years later in Marília, São Paulo state. Today that event is called the All-Americas Congress of Esperanto.

• 2012

  KKE provides promotion during the Rio+20 international conference in late June.

• 2001

  Esperanto en la Bibliotekojn campaign begins in July; over 1,200 books sent to about 110 Brazilian and 12 foreign institutions.

• 1968

  KKE launches the idea of the Latin American Congresses of Esperanto.

• 1967

  Bieno Esperanto retreat purchased on 1 September in Bangu.

• 1966

  KKE begins organizing the Brazilian Seminars of Esperanto (until 1983).

• 1956

  Own headquarters purchased on 15 December at Avenida Treze de Maio, no. 47, mezzanine 208.

• 1956

  Own printing press (Presejo Esperanto) established on 17 December in São Cristóvão.

• 1951

  KKE founded on 14 July in Rio de Janeiro.

A neutral, financially strong cultural cooperative and publisher serving the Esperanto movement in Brazil, operating a major book service, library, and event venue in Rio de Janeiro.

• Granda Vortaro Portugala-Esperanto

  A major Portuguese-Esperanto dictionary by Ismael Gomes Braga.

• Veterano?

  A book by Ismael Gomes Braga.

• Paroladoj kaj Poemoj

  Speeches and poems by L. L. Zamenhof.

• Rakontoj kaj Poemoj

  Stories and poems by Khalil Gibran.

• Ellernu!

  A work by Ferenc Szilagyi.

• Esperanta Voĉo

  A compact disc by singer Vera Jordan.

• INKO

  Bimonthly newsletter circulating in print and online.

• Kooperativismo

  Magazine published for decades.

• Dialogo

  Promotional book.

• Anuário Esperantista de 1967

  Esperantist Yearbook of 1967.

1. 1Wikidata: Cultural Cooperative of Esperanto Speakerswikidata.org
2. 2Wikipedia (Esperanto): Kultura Kooperativo de Esperantistojeo.wikipedia.org