T

he Canadian Co-operative
Association (CCA) is a not-for-profit
Mentoring
co-operative which establishes and
strengthens co-operatives, credit unions and WOMEN LEADERS FOR
community-based organizations to reduce
poverty, build sustainable livelihoods and THE RETURN OF A LIFETIME
improve civil society in developing countries.
www.coopscanada.coop THE WOMENS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The Co-operative Development
Foundation of Canada (CDF) is a registered
charitable organization that works to alleviate
poverty by building and strengthening
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
financial and non-financial co-ops in Canada
and around the world. CDF works with the
The Canadian Co-operative Association
Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA)
400-275 Bank Street
and other organizations to implement
development projects on its behalf. Ottawa, ON K2P 2L6
(1) 613 238 6711 ext. 209
www.cdfcanada.coop
mentorship@coopscanada.coop
@CCA_Intl
www.coopscanada.coop

It was an opportunity of a
lifetime. Our world is vast
but credit unions have many
similarities. FUNDED BY

- Canadian host

A BEST PRACTICE FOR
CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT
W
omen credit union leaders
from across the developing
world take on intensive
classroom training and a 10-day field
placement job-shadowing Canadian
credit union managers to improve
their knowledge and skills. The
learning goes both ways.
Participants learn about loan
portfolios, reducing loan delinquency,
credit union leadership, marketing,
governance, and human resource
management. Field placements
enrich the learning with one-on-one
attention.
I developed my leadership,
communication, negotiation
and networking skills.
Delinquency in my savings
and credit co-operative
declined from 16% to 6%
in less than one year using
the techniques we learned in
Canada.
- WMP alumna
WHATS INVOLVED IN
HOSTING?
E
Chisomo Chisale, WMP 2016 alumna
I
n Malawi, Chisomo has made
changes that are bringing
financial services to more people
in need. Most importantly, she
is mentoring other women in
her workplace, giving them the
confidence she gained through her
own mentorship.
Now, its time to provide more
women with opportunities to
empower themselves in Africa
and Asia by offering mentorship
opportunities in Canada and in
their home countries.
ach Canadian credit union
hosting a Womens Mentorship
Program participant:
Shares knowledge and skills
with their visiting credit union
manager, connecting them to
credit union staff, policies and
best practices.
Enables their guest to job
shadow staff, meet members and
observe day-to-day credit union
operations.
Makes their guest feel at home,
greeting them on arrival and
introducing them to people,
places and events in their
community.
Arranges a host family to billet
their guest in the home of credit
union staff or board members.
Covers the costs of their own
staff time and their guests local
transportation and lunches. Host
families provide breakfast and
dinner.
This program has expanded
the horizons of women
managers. They have new
sense of self-confidence, a
renewed sense of responsibility
and commitment to their co-
operative.
- Sylvester Kadzola, CEO,
Malawi Union of Savings and
Credit Co-operatives
,
WHATS NEXT FOR THE WMP
W
e want to bring this exciting
opportunity to more women
leaders. While continuing to
host the WMP in Canada, were working
with overseas partners in Africa and
Asia to enable WMP alunae to become
mentors to women right in their home
countries. WMP is all about breaking
barriers. Adding in-country mentoring
opportunities will break the barrier of
distance which now limits the number
of women the program can reach.
Eliminating overseas travel means
more than reducing costs. It removes
language barriers, the need to meet visa
requirements, and lessens time away
from families.