Education, training and information. The cooperative's commitment to youth.

TOPIC 21- STAGE 1-MACRO The aim of the proposed paper is to address two key issues for the maintenance and evolution of the cooperative movement: on the one hand, education, training and dissemination of cooperative principles... [ view full abstract ]

TOPIC 21- STAGE 1-MACRO The aim of the proposed paper is to address two key issues for the maintenance and evolution of the cooperative movement: on the one hand, education, training and dissemination of cooperative principles and values and, on the other, commitment, collaboration and the necessary participation of public authorities and other public-sector bodies in this task.
To this end, this paper addresses three research approaches or hypothesis:
First, it examines the relevance of the Cooperative Movement as an example of democratic participation and management through its organisations, recognised as shared ownership whose organisational distinctive features are the economic and democratic participation of their members together with a firm and clear commitment to the education of their members, especially youth.
Secondly, special mention should be made of the role of youth, as they are the most important recipients of the educational and outreach activities of the Cooperative Movement. Attracting and training youth are key not only to transmitting cooperative values and principles but also to ensuring their integration and building a real awareness of commitment and participation among new generations.
Third and finally, the above action regarding education, training and dissemination of cooperative principles and values is placed in the current context of economic and social crisis we face today. This is a context where the operation and validity of the so-called welfare state, and the public authorities and public-sector entities, increasingly need citizens' cooperation and active participation; a cooperation and participation where the third sector in general, and the cooperative movement in particular, stand out as innovation actors working for the effective and efficient fulfillment of social, welfare and educational needs of youth.