Knowledge and Information
When he founded the first 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 over 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 Teen and Students section 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 financial assistance, our financial guides My Finances, Well in Hand! for Quebec (PDF, 490 KB) and Ontario (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
Développement international Desjardins has launched the second 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 of developing countries. Winners will go on a week-long familiarization tour to a developing country where Desjardins experts are active.
