VOLUNTEER:
FOR 10 DAYS YOUR CREDIT UNION COULD HOST A MANAGER FROM
A CREDIT UNION IN AFRICA OR ASIA
 
WHAT:   Women's Mentorship Program
WHERE:   Your credit union and community
WHEN :   June 9 - June 18, 2016
This popular training program provides female staff of overseas financial co-operatives with a unique opportunity for professional development. Credit unions from across Canada host one of twelve overseas credit union managers for ten days.  In those 10 days the WMP participant becomes immersed in your credit union and community, receiving general leadership training and learning the ins-and-outs of day-to-day operations. The real success of the program lies in the experience that you and your credit union staff will have.  The program is a mutual learning opportunity.  Check out the video from the 2013 program  here. 
 
APPLICATION PROCESS :  Send the following information to Jessica Sunter, Women's Mentorship Program Manager, at  wmp@coopscanada.coop 
  • Name of your credit union and contact information
  • Indicate # of members, branches, staff and value of assets
  • A statement of intent for why you think your credit union would make good hosts
Application deadline: March 1, 2016
WMP call for hosts

Credit uni on benefits and why you r credit u nion may want to apply:
  • Staff engagement and learning opportunities
  • Fulfilling the 6th co-operative principle "co-operation among co-operatives"
  • Opportunity to learn about credit unions in other countries
  • Knowing that by sharing your workplace you have enriched the life of a credit union professional from a less developed country
  • You will learn about the challenges and opportunities of working in a credit union in the developing world
Credit union commitment:
  • Act as host for 10 days from June 9 - June 18, 2016
  • Greet the WMP participant at the closest airport
  • Appoint a staff representative or committee to report all key information to your credit union
  • Staff representative will be responsible for attending one or two teleconference calls/briefing sessions
  • Host a WMP participant in your community for 10 days and arrange for one person in the credit union to act as a billet/home stay with a Canadian family (so the WMP participant can learn about the daily life of Canadians - paticipants prefer home-stays rather than staying in a hotel) 
  • Work with the WMP participant on all aspects of your credit union, introducing her to how you do business
  • Some recreational and entertainment activities are recommended during evenings and weekends (though not mandatory)
Costs:
  • Host credit unions provide lunch and some mileage costs.  The main cost for the host credit union is providing time for staff to share their knowledge and best practices. 
  • Host families (billets/home-stays) provide breakfast and supper to overseas guest daily - NOTE: no financial compensation will be provided to host families.
  • CCA will cover the cost of domestic flights for the WMP participant (i.e. Ottawa-Regina return) and provides the overseas guest with a small stipend.  
For more information about the program,   visit our website  and read the 2012 evaluation of the mentorship program here .  

CANADIAN CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is a not-for-profit co-operative with a mission to establish and grow co-operatives internationally that build a better world.  CCA delivers programs for the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) and other organizations which help communities fight poverty and create more secure lives through community-owned co-ops.
 
To achieve its mission, CCA works closely with Canadian co-operatives and credit unions to channel their knowledge and experience to partner organizations and co-operatives in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean.
 
For more information, visit  www.coopscanada.coop.


Donate to CDF 
Twitter Facebook 
And of course you can always follow us on Facebook and Twitter