| World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU) is dedicated to building credit unions and alleviating poverty through credit union economic self-help. Currently, World Council is active in international development projects ranging from Afghanistan and Bolivia, to Kenya and Uzbekistan. Below is a list of current priorities for which World Council seeks funding: | WOCCU Priority Fund | | WOCCU designates these funds to the most immediate needs. Last year this included two technical conferences in developing areas and the International Partnership Program. These flexible funds allow World Council to respond quickly to the needs of credit unions and the movement abroad. | | Keeping China Mutual Campaign | | Without a modern credit union model, many of the 25,000 struggling credit unions serving 200 million members in China may convert to banks, a move that would prohibit millions of rural poor from sharing in the country's growing prosperity. Help alleviate poverty in China as WOCCU develops plans to ensure modern credit unions have a place in China's future. | | International Partnership Program | | WOCCU's International Partnership program matches more than 20 U.S. state credit union leagues and one Canadian province central with developing countries to share ideas and provide guidance. WOCCU partnerships provide valuable mentoring to developing movements and offer professional development opportunities to credit union personnel in more developed movements. | | Credit Union Start-up Fund | | Starting new credit unions and providing the poor access to credit union services are WOCCU priorities. This fund enables the organization of new credit unions and expansion of existing credit unions. Currently, this work is carried out in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Latin America. | | Future Disaster Relief | | The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, Inc (WF) assists credit unions and their members in times of disaster such as after the Peru earthquake, Sri Lanka tsunami, U.S. hurricane, Pakistan flood and Guatemala landslide. If disaster relief funds are available, WOCCU can act immediately before carrying out a fundraising campaign when disaster strikes. | For more information on WOCCU and international credit union development needs, contact Valerie Breunig, Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions Executive Director. |