Cooperatives improve access to education by reaching underserved populations and mobilising resources where public systems may not. But beyond this, cooperatives also foster youth empowerment and leadership development by providing young people with a platform to organise, acquire entrepreneurial skills, and participate in decision-making.
In Morocco, the Yasmine Annajah Cooperative in Beni Mellal, was created not only as a cooperative but also as a school. Founded in 2018, it now serves 220 children with a team of 13 teachers and additional support staff, providing quality education to children from vulnerable backgrounds. The cooperative also funds scholarships, strengthens language and digital skills, and organises extracurricular activities such as scientific excursions. By demonstrating that cooperatives can directly operate schools, Yasmine Annajah showcases a replicable community-driven model for advancing SDG 4.
In Malaysia, the Angkatan Kerjasama Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (ANGKASA) – the Malaysian cooperative Apex – has collaborated with the Ministry of Education to run the School Cooperative Excellence Awards (SCEA), showcasing how school cooperatives foster entrepreneurship and democratic participation. Since their introduction in 1968, over 2,000 school cooperatives with 1.6 million members have flourished, offering services from shops and printing to tourism and agriculture, with some generating turnovers exceeding RM 1 million annually. Open to students, teachers, and staff, these cooperatives practice democratic governance through annual meetings and elections, supported by training. By incentivizing innovation, contributing to community well-being, and nurturing young entrepreneurs, school cooperatives strengthen human capital and local economies.
Partnership activity can also be found in paraguay, where the Federación de Cooperativas del Paraguay (FECOPAR), a federation of savings and credit cooperatives, has partnered with the Ministry of Education and Sciences to embed cooperative education into formal curricula. Through certified teacher training schemes, a Technical Baccalaureate in Cooperatives, and youth laboratory initiatives, FECOPAR equips students aged 16–18 with cooperative knowledge and practical skills. The federation also runs financial education workshops with universities and maintains a Youth Committee that develops young cooperative leaders. These programmes strengthen the role of cooperatives in national education systems and prepare youth to be both cooperative members and active citizens.
In Europe, REScoop.eu, the European federation of energy communities, has brought together a growing network of 2,500 cooperatives and 2 million citizens advancing a people-centred energy transition. Education is central to their mission, with members applying cooperative principles to build awareness and skills for sustainability. In Belgium, the student cooperative CORE in Leuven develops engineering projects on circular economy and responsible energy use while engaging communities through interactive workshops such as the “Energy Escape Room.” In the United Kingdom, Repowering London trains young people for careers in the green energy sector, equipping more than 150 youth with practical skills, while also running workshops that help households understand their energy rights and manage consumption. Through initiatives like these, REScoop. eu members demonstrate how energy cooperatives combine innovation, education, and youth empowerment to advance inclusive and sustainable learning.
