Women Empowering Women in Africa and Asia

­Seneca C. reflected upon her learning and the benefits of participating in the 2018 Women Manager’s Mentorship Program in Canada, 6 months after her return: 

"My experiences and learnings from my mentorship course last June 2018 are helping me and my cooperative in various ways.

I was able to share the inputs that I had with CDF Canada and the experiences that I got with my host Credit Union to the members of the Board and officers of my cooperative. I showed them some of the pictures and the hand-outs and reading materials that I brought. They were happy and glad of what I shared and asked me to implement the changes that we could incorporate in our committees and operations.

In our meetings with the Credit Committee I shared the policies of my host Credit Union. We are in the process of revising our policies and also equipping the new members of the committee of the ways to evaluate the loan capacity of our members plus to upgrade their computer skills especially in excel. I also shared the input on the different types of borrowers and to use them in evaluating the attitudes of our members towards loan payments.

We saw the need to properly assess the capacity of members, provide financial counselling, closely monitor their loan payments and to match and create products that are more responsive to members’ needs.

We are also incorporating orientation on gender and development in the ownership seminars that we are giving and financial literacy. We are also equipping our staff to upgrade their knowledge on cooperative operations and computer literacy. Educating our officers and staff are seen as investing in people and also for the sustainability of the cooperative.

Recently we had signed an agreement with the Federation of PFCCO, NATCCO and ACCU on the adoption of a payment platform KAYA. Through this mobile app we will be able to pay our utility bills, buy or transfer cellphone load, remit cash and accept payments at the tip of our fingers and with less time and anywhere. This week our staff had an orientation on how to do the said processes. The next action is we have to market this service to our members.

During our meeting with the Manager’s Club, I also gave a written report of my experiences and shared the annual report of my host Credit Union and the Federation of Cooperatives. They were amazed about the advancement of the cooperative movement in Canada especially with their products and services and the technology that they use to better serve the members. Some of the women managers would also like to have the experience that I got and the men were asking if there is also a manager’s course for male managers. They liked the way on how the reports were presented in the annual reports of both host Credit Union and the Federation. I also shared the brochures of CDF Canada where it is working with the project in Tacloban with the victims of Haiyan through micro-enterprise.

Personally, I had been enriched by my experiences. I feel that I have a lot to do and to share with our staff and officers. I am happy that they are responsive to the changes that we are doing. Actually there are times when I feel overwhelmed and humbled. I have a lot to learn and unlearn. Since we are a team, there are times when we need to be patient with one another and to know that some of us are fast learners and the others are still learning the ropes. I feel that I need to be more communicative on how to encourage and affirm others that they doing good and becoming better.

I wish to thank you all for collaboration of the staff of CDF Canada and my host Credit Union for the good things that you are doing for us and for the movement and for making our world a better place to live in.

Seneca C., Sacred Heart Parish Development Cooperative, Quezon City, Philippines."

We'd like to share with you a heartfelt speech shared with our most recent class of mentorship participants.  

Heidi, a long-time host and mentor in our Women’s Mentorship Program, gave this speech on behalf of Canadian host credit unions at the 2018 Women’s Mentorship Program Closing Ceremony.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.

Good evening, I am Heidi, Manager of Procedures and Privacy Officer for Interior Savings Credit Union based in Kelowna, BC, and a host in CDF Canada’s Women’s Mentorship Program. I am delighted to be here tonight. While Interior Savings has been involved in this program for the past 7 years, today I would like to say a few words on behalf of ALL the host credit unions.

To mark this very happy occasion, of the 12 graduates of the 2018 Women’s Mentorship Program. Ladies, from the moment you were chosen to participate in this program, your life was forever changed. You have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to come to Canada to learn from leading credit unions in the Canadian financial sector. While the knowledge you have been imparted with will be invaluable to you in the years ahead, this program was so much more than just gaining knowledge. It was about learning about yourself and what you are capable of.

To know that you can do anything you set your mind to. To empower you with the self-confidence to go back to your home countries to set about making changes in your SACCOS, credit unions and communities, that will impact generations to come. To use all of the knowledge and skills that you have gained, to make a real difference in the lives of others. To be a role model for the next generation of girls in your communities. To be a host credit union is a huge commitment, and it’s something that we at Interior Savings take very seriously.

It’s so important to us that you learn as much as you can, taking back with you the knowledge and tools to make an impact, a positive difference, in the lives of those in your own communities. We know from past participants that their time here with us has allowed them to do so. I have had the great privilege of hosting 7 amazing women in my home over the years: Leticia from Ghana, Alamitu from Ghana, Victoria from Ghana, Noemi from the Philippines, Violet from Kenya, Jane from Kenya and this year, Mercy from Uganda.

All of these ladies have been incredibly special to me and have personally taught me so many life lessons. The most important one, of course, is to be grateful for all of life’s blessings. In fact, we, as hosts, learn just as much from our mentees as they do from us. A true partnership, fulfilling the 6th Co-op Principle of “Co-operation among Co-operatives.” I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say I will be friends with these ladies for life, as we developed such a special bond. This is one of the benefits of this program – the relationships you develop – with your host credit unions, your teachers, staff at CDF Canada, and most importantly with each other.

This is your new Sisterhood. Treasure it, ladies! These are the women you have experienced so many life-changing moments with. Support and empower one another, show togetherness, passion, excellence, and enthusiasm. Be each other’s cheerleaders when you experience your AH-HA moments back home.

I am incredibly proud of all of the women in this program for being so brave to leave their families for a month and travel halfway around the world to stay with people they have never met, and be immersed in a culture they have never experienced before. For some of them, this is the very first time they have even left their home village. That takes enormous strength and courage. Ladies, hold your heads up high when you sit back and reflect on all that you have accomplished this past month.

We know you will make us proud, as you go back to your homes to put all of these practices you have learnt into place…to “Build a Better World”! Thank you. – Delivered by Heidi in Ottawa, June 2018.