To attract a younger and more diverse group, WOCCU has launchedits Professional Fellows Program that will pair credit unionprofessionals from the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and the UnitedStates.

Funded in part by a grant from the U.S. State Department'sBureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the program will enable10 young professionals each from the Dominican Republic andGuatemala to interact with 20 of their counterparts from the U.S.states of Iowa and North Carolina, according to WOCCU.

The new 18-month, $386,000 program is designed to facilitateidea exchanges, promote foreign language skills and culturaldiversity and improve problem-solving skills as they relate tocredit union development and management on a global basis, WOCCUsaid. In addition, participants will focus on finding new ways toattract younger members to credit unions in participatingcountries.

Participants will travel to partnering countries as part of theeducational exchanges, with four visits scheduled between June 2012and January 2013. Part of the U.S. participants' experience willinclude a study of Hispanic cultures to more effectively serveHispanic members back home.

In addition to WOCCU, participating organizations include theAsociación de Instituciones Rurales de Ahorro y Crédito , whichrepresents rural credit unions in the Dominican Republic, and theFederación Nacional de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito,Guatemala's national credit union trade association.

U.S. participant groups include CUNA, the North Carolina CreditUnion League, the Iowa Credit Union League, and Coopera Consulting,ICUL's subsidiary focused on serving Hispanic credit union membersin the U.S.

For more information on the program, click here.