The World Council of Credit Unions, together with its GlobalWomen's Leadership Network, is offering a pair of week-longengagement programs this fall, one in Belarus and one in Kenya.

Participants will work with WOCCU development staff to learnabout challenges the credit union movement faces within the tworegulatory environments.

“Participants have the opportunity to travel to another country,learn about the local credit union system and provide knowledgethat will help other movements flourish,” said Brian Branch, chiefoperating officer of WOCCU. “Each program needs different expertise, so attendeesshould select one that best matches their interests.”

In Kenya, participants will help develop savings and creditproducts intended for the rural poor and the unbanked, and willvolunteer at a WOCCU-supported orphanage.

The Belarus program will concentrate on helping the credit unionmovement take hold in the central European country. Participantswill help train the staff of a credit union trade association andwill contribute to the development of credit union regulation andlegislation.

A third program in Sri Lanka was scheduled for June but latercanceled.

The programs each cost $3,200, but a discount is offered formembers of the Global Women's Leadership Network, a programdedicated to the development and empowerment of women credit unionleaders worldwide.

WOCCU's technical assistance programs currently help creditunions in 10 countries.