The Idea

Trade School is a non-traditional learning community that runs on barter. It's all about providing a space where people can learn and share skills. Trade School celebrates local wisdom, mutual respect, and the social nature of exchange. It works like this:

1. People offer to teach a class about something they know.

2. They decide on a list of barter items they're interested in receiving. Barter items can be in the form of goods or services, both tangible and intangible. For example: jars, music tips, clothes, vegetables, or help with something like finding an apartment.

3. Students sign up for their class by agreeing to bring something from their list.

Classes can cover everything from sewing to sign language, and art to web design! It all depends on your community and what skills people want to share.

By applying as part of the Swarthmore Community Challenge, you can get seed funding to allow you to start a Trade School on campus allowing students or faculty to share skills (either in-person or remotely).