June 25, 2008
 
OTTAWA - The Canadian Co-operative Association is asking credit unions across Canada to host overseas credit union managers/loans managers this October.

The visitors are in Canada as part of the eighth annual Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due women’s mentoring program, a popular training program that provides overseas staff of financial co-operatives with a unique opportunity for professional development.

This October 16-24 (October 16 is Credit Union Day) 14 women from credit unions in the developing world will spend 10 days with credit union women like themselves receiving general leadership training and learning the ins-and-outs of managing a loans program.
 
CCA project officer Laurie Tennian is again asking credit union managers/branch managers/loans managers from across Canada to sign on to host and share their knowledge with the visitors.
 
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet and interact with someone who has a similar career path but comes from a completely different background,” she says. “We have found that smaller Canadian credit union operations are particularly suited to the overseas co-operator.  Previous overseas participants have made strong friendships among themselves and with their Canadian hosts, and have adopted many of the ideas they gained while in Canada.”
 
The success of the mentoring program can be seen in how it has influenced credit union policies and practices in countries as far away as Mongolia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda where past participants have already made changes to their loans programs, instituted new office and reporting procedures and have seen delinquency rates reduced. 
 
In addition to job shadowing Canadian women managers/loans managers, the overseas visitors will receive training in Ottawa on Canada’s credit union system and operations.
 
Host credit unions help program participants achieve their learning objectives by sharing knowledge and skills, and connecting them to credit union staff, policies and best practices. They also make their guests feel at home by greeting them on arrival, billeting them in private homes and introducing them to people, places and events in their community.  Hosts will receive an information booklet to help guide them through their hosting duties. This year’s mentoring schedule is:
 
Oct. 6-14  training program in Ottawa/orientation to Canadian credit union system
Oct. 15   travel day to host credit unions
Oct. 16-24  credit union placements
Oct. 25  travel day back to Ottawa  
Oct. 27-31  training program in Ottawa (debriefing about CU placement and how to implement change upon return home)
 
 
If your credit union is interested in hosting a woman credit union professional for ten days this October please contact: Laurie Tennian Tel: (613) 238-6711 ext. 209; laurie.tennian@coopscanada.coop or visit here.  

The Canadian Co-operative Association is a national association for co-operatives in Canada, representing more than seven million co-operative and credit union members from over 2,000 organizations. CCA members come from many sectors of the economy, including finance, insurance, agri-food and supply, wholesale and retail, housing, health and the service sector. CCA provides leadership to promote, develop, and unite co-operatives and credit unions for the benefit of people in Canada and around the world.