This site is for youth interested and involved in the co-op movement.

Who are the youth? Roughly, we are between the ages 16 and 25. We are co-op members, directors, leaders, employees, founders, and managers. As the youth at the European Youth Conference, 2002, in Lisbon stated, “We are the present, not only the future. We take care of the co-operative movement now and we will continue to take care of it.”

Hot Topics:

• *ANNOUNCMENT!*
  2008 Building Co-op Futures Youth Conference
  Vancouver, B.C., Canada
  June 2nd and 3rd, 2008.
  
  This year's theme is
  Building Co-op Futures...in a Carbon Neutral World.
  
  The annual Building Co-op Futures youth conference is back again and this time it's going Carbon Neutral and going live around the world. For young co-operators in British Columbia, the June 2nd and 3rd Vancouver Regional Forum will be an opportunity to meet other young co-operators from around the province, further their understanding of the co-operative model and discuss how co-ops offer a solution to "ReLocalization" now and in the future. The International Video Conference portion of the event will offer the opportunity to share best practices in co-ops and sustainability with young co-operators across Canada, the USA, the UK, Pakistan, Argentina and beyond.
  
  The BC Co-opeartive Association and the BC Institute for Co-op Studies are jointly hosting this year's Building Co-op Futures Conference, in partnership with Coast Capital Savings and the SFU Centre for Sustainable Community Development.
  
  Check out http://www.bcics.org/content/bcf2008 to find out more about this year's conference. We're trying something really different this year and it's very exciting.
  
  
  
• *NEW!* Youth Reinventing Co-operatives Book Volume II
  CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED
  
  

  MAKE YOUR CO-OP KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD!
  HELP OTHERS ESTABLISH THEIR CO-OPS!
  
  After the wonderful feedback from the first youth book, a second volume is now underway.
  
  Submit your story and pictures (lots of pictures)!!!
  
  We have received many submissions already, but many people needed a little more time to complete their articles so we are extending the due date to May 1st, 2008. Please submit articles early if possible.
  
  - Download Call for Submissions in English
  - Download Call for Submissions in Spanish
  
  Email youthco@uvic.ca if you have any questions, comments, or stories.
  
  Please read all the information on submission guidelines and email us with your stories, resources and pictures. Don't miss out!
  Submission guidelines, case study templates and more info >>
  
  
  

• Youth Reinventing Co-operatives
  The BCICS, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation, the International Co-operative Alliance, and the Canadian Co-operative Association, prepared a book showing how young people around the world are using co-operatives to meet their economic and social needs.
  The response was overwhelming! Buy your copy online today.
  
  Update! Now available in Spanish! Purchase your copy on Amazon. Special thanks to Mirta Vuotto, Universidad de Buenos Aires, for coordinating the translation and printing.
  
  
  
  
  
• An international youth co-op network! Check it out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/youth-co-operation.
  

  Test your co-op knowledge using the online co-op games.

• Who Wants to be a Co-operator?
• Quiz: How Co-operative Are you?
  

Upcoming Events 2008 Building Co-operative Futures Youth Conference in Vancouver, B.C. June 2nd and 3rd, 2008 Click here for more info >>

Past Events 2007 Building Co-operative Futures Youth Conference in Guelph, Ontario May 23 to 26, 2007 More info Photos posted on BCICS Photo Gallery. 2006 Building Co-operative Futures Youth Conference in Manchester, England May 24 to 27, 2006 Link: More Info Check out the photo album for pictures. 2005 Building Co-operative Futures Youth Conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan May 12 to 15, 2005 Link: More Info Association of Cooperative Educators Institute in Montreal, Quebec, Canada August 4-7, 2004 Link: More Info 2004 Building Co-operative Futures Youth Conference in Calgary, Canada May 14-18, 2004 Post Conference Report Info North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) Cooperative Education and Training Institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan - October 31-November 2, 2003 Link: NASCO ICA Youth Conference in Oslo, Norway - September 1st, 2003 2003 Building Co-op Futures Forum in Victoria, Canada - May 24-26, 2003 Post Conference Report Pictures

Note: If you have any comments or suggestions, would like to add a link or information, please contact the BCICS at rochdale@uvic.ca.