MADISON, Wis. — A record 72 credit union leaders from eight African countries recently participated in the World Council of Credit Unions Strathmore-WOCCU Management Institute held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The three-tier credit union certification program is designed to equip managers at credit unions, or SACCOs as they are called in Kenya, with tools, training and policies and governance procedures to help manage the financial institutions. At the end of the week-long program in November, 18 tier three SWAMI students graduated and joined the growing ranks of SWAMI alumni, earning the Certified SACCO Professional or CSP designation. Out of this graduating class, 12 of the students were managers and six were board members.
"The SWAMI program has made an impact in the operations and management of many SACCOs in Kenya. I graduated in June 2006 and my SACCO has implemented most of what I learned based on the SWAMI curriculum," said Margaret Ngunjiri, finance and administration manager of Jamii SACCO, adding liquidity management has improved and new products have attracted and retained members.
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Angelica Kiboro, manager of Strathmore's continuing education department, said that the success of the program is seen by the growing attendance of managers and board members; the effectiveness and the value in credit union training is seen in the numbers.
Prior to the graduation all SWAMI students and alumni were invited to attend the second Semi-Annual Best Practices session. During this event, alumni were invited to present on the application of the CSP skills by making individual presentations to the group.
Samual Njguna, a SWAMI alum and Kenya Bankers board member, said, "The training from SWAMI has helped not only in my role as a board member, but in my day job as well. WOCCU is making a difference everyday with SWAMI."
"The responses we have received from all of the SWAMI graduates and alumni put the importance of this type of program into perspective, not only for Kenya's credit unions' leaders but for others throughout Africa," said Catherine Ford, director, WOCCU's Cooperative Development Program, who spoke at the graduation ceremony.
Kenya's Assistant Minister of Cooperatives, Honorable Dr. David Mwenje acted as the keynote speaker at the graduation. Anne Cochran, president/CEO of the Louisiana Credit Union League and Rick Myxter of the Pennsylvania Credit Union League–two credit union leaders involved in the development of the SWAMI program–also spoke at the graduation ceremony, along with WOCCU Project Director Erick Sile.
WOCCU said some students in all three tiers of the program have been awarded scholarships and travel awards with the assistance of the following donors: CUNA Mutual Foundation, Louisiana CU League, Pennsylvania CU Foundation, American Heritage FCU, ILCU International Development Foundation, African-American CU Coalition, Southeast Regional CU School, Jim Lykins, and United Nations FCU. –[email protected]
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