EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE "OLGA COSETTINI"

The town of Capilla del Monte has developed their own economic system to maintain a local primary school based on the concept of education through art. Capilla parents support the school by trading in hours of service to the school for "coins" that they can redeem for products and services produced by the Education Cooperative, of which they are all members. Examples of parent involvement invlude providing maintenance work, developing teaching materials, or just running errands. The regulation of hours worked and payment for those hours is managed by the Community Hours Bank which was established expressly for this purpose. The organization of these parents into an innovative and complex system of support demonstrates what is possible when a community is dedicated to change.

As a result of the program, the educational community has grown by including families more directly in the vitality of the school while instilling a greater sense of ownership and responsibility for everyone involved.