van den hoogen, sjors (2025) Youth Engagement in Citizen Cooperatives: Strategies for Sustainable Involvement and Impact. Master thesis, Cultural Geography - Climate Adaptation Governance (CAG).
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Abstract
Citizen cooperatives like Land van Ons play a growing role in the transition to sustainable agriculture. They enable collective land ownership and sustainable farming practices. Yet, while Land van Ons has successfully attracted a large number of older members, younger generations (18-30) remain underrepresented. This thesis explores why youth participation lags behind and what could motivate or hinder young people from joining. Using a qualitative case study of Land van Ons, the study draws on interviews with young members, non-members, and youth board members from other organizations, supported by a targeted survey. The analysis draws on key social and behavioral theories to understand the motivations, barriers, and systemic context behind youth engagement. Findings show many young people resonate with the cooperative’s mission, but face barriers such as time constraints, financial limitations, and a perceived generational gap. Youth value tangible impact, autonomy, peer involvement, and flexible participation formats. They are motivated by both intrinsic ideals and extrinsic opportunities for learning and recognition. The study offers actionable recommendations to make citizen cooperatives more youth-inclusive—such as youth boards, symbolic tools, and digital outreach. It concludes that youth are not only future members but present-day connectors, innovators, and ambassadors vital to building resilient and representative sustainability transitions.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Name supervisor: | Muldoon, M.L. and Zee, T.J. de |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Aug 2025 10:15 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Aug 2025 10:15 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/752 |
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