Promotion of the cooperative model among the youth as an opportunity for development of the social and solidary economy

The project is aimed at making young people aware of the cooperatives as an important element of the development of the social and solidary economy, to overcome the deficit related to the lack of specialised cooperative education in Bulgaria, to enhance the awareness, interest and knowledge about the values and potential of the cooperative business model as an economic and social alternative for the development of the modern society.

The implementation of the project allows young people:

– to get to know the cooperative culture, principles, values and business model;

– to gain professional experience and develop initial entrepreneurship skills which would motivate them in becoming cooperative members, founders or managers of cooperative organisations;

– to create their own youth cooperative network which would facilitate the cooperation and exchange of good practices in different areas and fields of the cooperative activities.

Partners involved in the project

University of National and World Economy (UNWE, Sofia) – joined 2021
“Todor Vlaykov” Professional Secondary School of Economics, Klisura – joined 2021
“Sofia” National Secondary School, Sofia – joined 2021
Economic Research Institute at BAS – joined 2022
“Nikola Pushkarov” Professional Secondary School of Agriculture – joined 2022
Sofia Secondary School of Bread and Patisserie Technologies, Sofia – joined 2023
Higher School of Insurance and Finance (HSIF, Sofia) – joined 2023
University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIF, Sofia) – joined 2024
128 SS „Albert Einstein“, Sofia – joined 2024

Team

The project is implemented in two separate phases

First phase – education and cooperative experience

During the first phase the pupils and students receive general information as to the nature and specifics of the cooperative organisations, their values and principles, the terms and conditions to establish cooperatives, management and functioning, the benefits to the society and the economy through:

Adapted texts and study materials
Discussions
Role playing and quizzes
Workshops and other forms of team work
Study – training companies and cooperatives

Second phase – the participants are given access to real cooperative organisations

Participants have the opportunity to get to know the nature, philosophy and functioning of the cooperative business model in practice and the challenges the cooperative organisations are facing.

Would you like to join the project?

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