Understanding how co-operatives can engage with the growing youth population in Africa and what the potential impacts of being a co-operative member can have on a young person's life
Subject
Abstract
There is an increasing interest in youth in Africa, which arises from the current demographic structure, in which young people between 15 and 24 years of age constitute 35% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa alone (UN, 2007). This represents a potential catalyst for development if opportunities for youth can be developed. Co-operatives represent one possible pathway for young people to create businesses and generate income and with its emphasis on values and taking care of the community, co-operatives also present an opportunity for young people to realise their own citizenship aspirations. The paper will bring together the issue of youth in Africa with co-operatives by focusing on co-operatives as a site of learning for young people. It will center on the learning processes that take place in a cooperative, looking at what youth learn and how they learn. It is suggested that co-operatives can be sites of learning for youth to develop a sense of agency and citizenship as well as build their capabilities. In turn, such an approach will also enable an analysis of how young people are shaping the development of cooperatives and their role in the development of the communities in which co-operatives are embedded.