Educating the next generations of co-operators

As part of Co-operative Congress, Tanya Noon, Member & Community Relations Officer, outlined the number of projects that the Officers and the MCC Ambassadors delivered to a younger audience.  The main project she talked about was the Co-operative Masterlcass for 16 plus age group.  This was a way to engage with them and showcase co-operatives from around the world.  The students are tasked to look at their own communities and find a co-operative solution.  Some of the benefits from engaging with the students were around improved motivation, team working, improved confidence as well as gaining insight into a highly respected business model and learning from the business.  The students particularly enjoyed working with people from business to enhance their learning.  The evidence of working with younger people gave them a greater understanding of a co-operative business model and how they looked at the Co-operative in a different way. We were more than a shop, we were an educational and campaigning organisation.