On December 7, 2024, COOP youth employees at The COOP Concept participated in a rewarding day full of creativity, teamwork, and valuable life skills.
The day started with icebreakers that encouraged the COOP youth to connect, promoting community and trust within the team. Each activity they participated in was focused on working together. Working together fosters connection, trust and resiliency as a group! It's been a great pleasure to see our crew growing and working together on new tasks while we avoid the cold weather and shift our creativity week to week!
The session focused on the continued production of handmade leather earrings. As the youth worked on crafting these unique earrings, they honed their skills in a hands-on environment, learning about attention to detail and craftsmanship. But the activity went beyond just making earrings—it was about understanding the value of their work and its impact on the community.
In addition to creating the earrings, the youth employees thoughtfully packed each set of earrings with a piece of seed paper. They made the seed paper this summer as a first activity from trash paper and donated seeds. We felt it was a great way to no only lightlight the talented work of creating art, but to give back and spread all the seeds to the polinators around the world! The COOP youth will later plant a garden with recycled paper and mixed seeds and ask their followers to share pictures from their gardens of the seeds they planted from their purchases!
It’s a tangible symbol of the youth’s contribution to the business and the planet. The group collaboratively selected and prepared the earrings for sale on The COOP Concept’s website, which will launch with shipping options in March, 2025. This task required effective teamwork, as each member ensured the earrings were packaged correctly and ready for their customers. They will learn about shipping, handling and be able to walk right to the post office from their work space to ensure each week their orders are being delivered! All proceeds from our sales go directly back into our programming, and our youth! Our youth are paid a meaningful wage for their work, in addition to being able to make a few products for themselves or their loved ones! In December we saw lots of gifts being brought home for the holiday season. We recognize this as an important way of showing gratitude for our loved ones and displaying acts of kindness around our community.
They not only learned to make earrings and pack products, but more importantly, they learned teamwork, responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
At The COOP Concept, each session is designed to teach practical skills and empower youth to realize their potential and make meaningful contributions. As they continue to grow in their roles, they are learning the importance of hard work, creativity, and collaboration—values that will serve them well in the future.
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