International Links
Focusing on Lesotho Part Two – School-based co-operatives
Sally Hartley has been undertaking research in Africa, in parnership with the Co-operative College, as part of a PhD with the Open University. Here she reports on a school-based co-operative:
Cocoa co-operatives in Sierra Leone
In Sierra Leone, following the war, three independent co-operatives have been set up to pool cocoa bean exports and compete with large private companies. The co-operatives have increased the value of cocoa in Sierra Leone, increased competition and spurred private companies to provide benefits for farmers such as advance loans, trucks and materials for shelters.
Libera Tutti youth exchange
Earlier this year, a group of young people from co-operative organisations attended a youth exchange in Sicily. Woodcraft Folk member Bea Bottomley reports:
Co-operatives in education: Canada
In Canada, co-operatives are a part of mainstream education. They have a presence in all Francophone universities and nearly 70 per cent of public colleges, with a growing influence in high schools and private colleges. Through the COOPSCO network, sixty co-operatives provide services such as books, stationery, computers, food, convenience stores, residence management, parking management and printing and reprography at over 100 educational outlets.
Thrift and credit school co-operatives in Guyana
Co-operatives are widespread in schools in Guyana in South America, where they take many forms, from savings (known as ‘Thrift’ in Guyana) and credit to school uniform manufacturing and even managing a school canteen.
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