How to start a Time Bank

When he raised the phrase "time is money" to the status of a maxim, in the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin was aligned with the ideas inaugurated by the Industrial Revolution. Being productive to the maximum, dedicating a good part of the day to work, was key to the growth of the economy and the prosperity of citizens.

Time, the primordial asset of existence, has since been consumed by the logic of capital and has apparently accelerated the way of life of all humanity, especially in large urban centers, where interpersonal exchanges, leisure and leisure have come to be seen as privileges. of few.

Time is short and with what's left of it you still need to work magic and transform fragments of hours into "quality time".

Contrary to this thinking and for a more productive and interesting relationship with work, many communities across the planet have promoted successful local experiences optimizing daily journeys in a democratic, supportive, humane and simple way:

Exchanging services, talents and products through Time Banks, which mediate the demands of their members, linking one person's needs to another's skills.

The exchange takes place for an hour and not for money: one hour of babysitting for one hour of consultancy on a specific subject. Or an hour of English class for an hour of cleaning. In this way, all skills have the same value, and services and products that would not be within the reach of many people become accessible thanks to the personal skills that we all have.

There is also a surplus of hours that is usually used for social actions. Each new member who joins a Time Bank receives 4 hours to exchange and generates another 6 for this solidarity fund, which will remunerate (in hours) those who are interested in working on the Bank's partner projects.

The first Time Bank in the world, created by another North American, Edgar Cahn, TimeBanks is an organization that today has thousands of units spread across the world, present in countries such as Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Senegal, Argentina, Greece, Spain and France, in addition to hundreds in all North American states.

But Cahn's ideas gained independent followers, who created their own banks and promoted significant changes in their localities. In Brazil, Banco de Tempo Florianópolis was a pioneer, but there are already others in at least 25 cities, with good examples in Campinas and Brasília.

1. Search and find out:

Find out if there is already a Time Bank near you or in your city. If it already exists, you can just become a member of a Bank that is already operating. If you want to create one, find out more by reading about the subject and researching the experiences of those who have done it before. Use websites, Time Banks social media pages and the TimeBanks website for information, documents and guides. Familiarize yourself with the five core values ​​created by Edgar Cahn and recorded in his book No More Throw-Away People.

Core Values:

• You are an asset: Each of us has something of value to offer someone else.
• Redefining work: Time credits reward expressions of work not easily remunerated.
• Reciprocity: Giving back is the guarantee of building a better world.
• Networked community: Mutual collaboration creates true connections and strong communities.
• Respect: Mutual respect is the heart of democracy.

2. Organize your Ideas:

Define the purpose of the Time Bank you want to create. Think about the type of impact you would like to achieve and start idealizing your Bank.

3. Choose your Partners:

Determine who the key managers will be with aligned interests and complementary capabilities. Define roles and activities, draw up a work plan and estimate initial costs.

4. Set a Headquarters:

Establish a working base for your Bank, where you can welcome the first members and hold meetings to launch proposals and guidelines.

5. Communicate:

Create a clear and objective document with guidance on the new Time Bank to share with the community. It could be a guide, video, brochure or flyer.

6. Schedule a Launch Meeting:

Invite an initial group of interested people to a meeting, where everyone can ask questions, make suggestions, listen and speak.

7. Promote Exchanges:

Help members identify their assets and needs, facilitating the first connections between them, and promoting the exchange of services and talents.

8. Record the Hours Changed:

Use software to record each member's credits, ensuring equity in exchanges and keeping everything documented and working correctly.

9. Use Surplus Credits:

Use the credits accumulated in the cash register to "pay" for the time of those who dedicate themselves to social projects, lectures and events, looking for partnerships that can benefit from the talents of your Bank's members.

10. Keep the Pace:

Organize periodic meetings, keep communications active, sign up new members, debate new ideas and manage the maintenance flow. Celebrate each achievement by sharing success stories.