OCCE 15 (Office Central de la Coopération à l’École – Cantal) is dedicated to encouraging the creation of school cooperatives in secular educational institutions, providing young people with opportunities to experience cooperation, responsibility, and democracy in their daily learning. Our mission is to foster civic, moral, social, economic, and intellectual education by promoting collective projects managed by students with the guidance of educators.

Through this approach, we help students understand and practice democracy in action, giving them tools to grow into active, responsible, and engaged citizens capable of contributing positively to society.

Our Vision

We envision a society where education is a cooperative endeavor and where children and young people learn not only academic knowledge but also the essential skills of solidarity, responsibility, and participation. In this vision:

• Students take an active role in shaping their learning and school life.

• Teachers and educators guide and accompany cooperative projects, ensuring students experience both autonomy and support.

• Schools become laboratories of democracy, where students practice decision-making, debate, and responsibility.

• Communities benefit from young people who are prepared to participate actively and constructively in social and civic life.

OCCE 15 strives to make schools in Cantal places of shared progress and human development, inspired by values of cooperation and solidarity.

Our Values

Our actions are guided by principles that ensure the cooperative spirit thrives in every initiative we support:

1. Cooperation – Building together, sharing responsibilities, and valuing collective effort over individual competition.

2. Democracy – Promoting active participation, equal voice, and fair decision-making within school cooperatives.

3. Responsibility – Encouraging students to take ownership of their projects and decisions, learning accountability in practice.

4. Solidarity – Strengthening mutual support and inclusion, ensuring that every student is part of the collective.

5. Human Progress – Believing in education as a pathway to social justice, intellectual growth, and moral development.

6. Engagement – Inspiring students to actively participate in school life and later, in society as engaged citizens.

These values form the foundation of every school cooperative, creating an educational environment where learning is both academic and civic.

What We Do

OCCE 15 provides guidance, resources, and support to schools in the Cantal region to foster cooperative education:

• Creation of School Cooperatives
  We assist schools in setting up and organizing cooperatives, ensuring structures are democratic, inclusive, and educational.

• Training and Support for Educators
  Teachers and staff receive resources and workshops to integrate cooperative learning into their classrooms.

• Student Empowerment
  We encourage pupils to manage joint projects, practice decision-making, and take on responsibilities within their school community.

• Educational Programs
  Cooperative projects may include cultural activities, social initiatives, environmental projects, or solidarity campaigns, all designed to encourage teamwork and civic engagement.

• Administrative and Legal Support
  We help schools navigate the technical and legal aspects of managing cooperatives, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Through these activities, OCCE 15 ensures that every student has the opportunity to learn democracy, solidarity, and cooperation through lived experience.

Our Impact

The work of OCCE 15 directly benefits students, teachers, and local communities:

• For students: Participation in cooperatives fosters self-confidence, responsibility, and teamwork, while teaching the importance of democratic processes.

• For teachers: Cooperative projects enrich teaching practices, making learning more engaging and participatory.

• For schools: Cooperatives build a positive climate of solidarity and collaboration, benefiting the entire school community.

• For society: Students who have experienced cooperation in school grow into adults who value democracy, civic participation, and collective well-being.

Each cooperative supported by OCCE 15 contributes to a more engaged, responsible, and connected society.

Why It Matters

Today’s students are tomorrow’s citizens. In a rapidly changing world marked by individualism and social fragmentation, it is crucial to provide young people with real experiences of collaboration, solidarity, and democratic life.

School cooperatives provide a unique educational framework where students learn by doing:

• They vote, deliberate, and make decisions together.

• They share roles and responsibilities.

• They carry out projects that benefit their peers and communities.

Through these experiences, children and adolescents discover the meaning of civic participation, responsibility, and mutual respect.

OCCE 15 exists to support, guide, and amplify these initiatives so that cooperation becomes a living reality in every school in Cantal.