For the first time, young French speakers will have the opportunity to learn about co-operation in a special summer school.
Students between the ages of 18–35 will take part in the school, organised by the Regional Union of Scop of Poitou Charentes, in Poitiers, France, from July 2–14 to learn more about co-operatives.
The campus follows the model of Sherbrook’s summer school, in Quebec, where over the previous three years, French students studied the co-operative model.
Johan Baufreton, one of the coaches at the Campus and regional delegate of the Scop (Société Coopérative et Participative), said the school is based around the scenario of organising their own 'Scop', which is a form of co-operative where employees are the majority shareholders.
“The main role of the Regional Union”, commented Mr Bauferton, “is, from one hand, to show that Scops exist. From the other hand, they constantly promote and make young people interested in co-operative entrepreneurship. The aim of the school is to promote the creation of co-op enterprises in people as young as possible.”
Divided into groups of four or five people, students will have 15 days to create a Scop. During the time, they will be supported by expert coaches who will support them in the organization of their own project. Participants will be also involved in conferences and workshops about co-operation and co-operative enterprises.
According to Mr Bauferton, the campus will be a period of training and action; young people will increase their competences, and, at the same time, they will learn to work together, co-operatively.
