Knowledge and Information

When he founded the 1st school caisse in 1901, Alphonse Desjardins came up with a powerful tool for teaching young people about the value of sound financial management and helping kindle their interest in the values of saving and cooperation.

Today, thanks to some 385 caisses, over 1,100 elementary schools across Quebec and more than 100 elementary schools in Ontario have an active school caisse dedicated to coaching and helping kids acquire sound purchasing habits.

Youth sections: better organization through increased knowledge

The Teens and Students sections distribute invaluable financial information in easy-to-understand language, including tips and advice on savings, investments, credit and insurance, in addition to various simulator tools.

In addition to articles in How Cooperation Works, the sections provide lots of general interest information about health, career and the community along with many useful links.

Desjardins, the leading student lender in Quebec, also makes a point of teaching you how to juggle finances and studies. In addition to providing you with guidelines for obtaining Government Guaranteed Student Loans, our financial guides My Finances, Well in Hand! for Quebec students (PDF, 490 KB) and Ontario students (PDF, 419 KB) answer questions about sound financial management and informed use of financing tools and credit.

Desjardins also took advantage of its association with the Réseau intercollégial des activités socioculturelles du Québec to meet with students¹.

Raising young people's interest in international cooperation

In 2008, Développement international Desjardins (DID) launched the 3rd edition of the Doingmypart.coop contest, which invites 18- to 30-year-olds to give their opinion about microfinance as a solution to encouraging sustainable development in developing countries. Winners will go on a week-long familiarization tour to a developing country where Desjardins experts are active.

1. Available only in Quebec.