Youth have always been involved in co-ops. Robert Owen, founder of New Lanmark, believed in the importance of educating youth in co-operative principals and resultantly began one of the first co-operative education programs during the early 19th century. Many people who started the first rural co-operatives in Canada were no older than 25. Today youth are more involved than ever. Youth are members, employees, directors, and managers of co-ops.

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Building Co-op Futures Youth Forum in Victoria, B.C., May 24- 26, 2003. Of the 75 youth delegates, from 9 different countries, 40 were members of consumer co-ops, 46 were members of worker co-ops, 46 were members of credit unions, 31 were members of student co-ops, and 29 were employed by co-ops. Electric, car share, phone, social, marketing, youth, agricultural and community co-ops were also represented.

Note: If you, or your co-op, would like to be featured on our Youth in Co-ops page, please send us a short paragraph about your involvement in co-ops and any photos you would like displayed.