On September 18, 2024, the project "Youth in Cooperatives as Key Drivers of Digital Transformation in Local Communities – YOUCOOL" was officially launched in Hanoi, Vietnam. The project is a collaboration between the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) and Haliéus (the international cooperation structure of the Italian cooperative association Legacoop), with additional support from multiple organizations.
The initiative funded by the European Union (EU) for a duration of three years aims to enhance the role of social organizations in promoting digital skills and raising awareness among the youth, thereby accelerating comprehensive digital transformation within local communities. The project adopts an integrated approach to tackle challenges related to youth participation in cooperative governance and development, as well as providing digital education and promoting the digitization process within cooperatives. One of the central focuses of the project is the coffee supply chain, which will serve as a model for sharing successful practices with the global youth cooperative network.
The project supporters include the International Cooperative Alliance for Asia and the Pacific (ICA-AP), the ILO Office in Vietnam, DRGV – Germany, Agriterra – Vietnam, 63 Provincial Cooperative Alliances in Vietnam, and six colleges under the VCA. The launch event was conducted in a hybrid format and included participation from the EU delegation, Embassy of Italy, ICA-AP, Haliéus, and various Vietnamese government ministries such as the Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Central Foreign Affairs Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and representatives from 25 target provinces.
Ms. Cao Xuan Thu Van, President of VCA, stated that the project will create significant opportunities for innovation and digital transformation, benefiting 9.4 million cooperative members by improving their access to digital resources and opportunities. Mr. Julien Guerrier, EU Ambassador to Vietnam, expressed the EU's commitment to supporting the digital transformation of youth in cooperatives, emphasizing that the project will foster sustainable development and capacity-building within the cooperative sector.
