2010 Guidelines

Sponsors

This scholarship is sponsored by three organizations: World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), National Credit Union Foundation (USA) and the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC).

Purpose

This program will offer Development Educator (DE) cooperative philosophy training and a hands-on internship to four Africans per year. The scholars will be better equipped to lead their own credit union or credit union system organization and will also contribute to the training by providing a global perspective to the mostly U.S. DE participants. The optional internship will be an opportunity for more technical training.

Selection Criteria

Selection will be based on the contributions the nominees have made to the credit union system and their potential to contribute what they learn from this program back to the system in the future. Nominees must be a member or employee of a credit union or credit union organization that is affiliated with a WOCCU member or work with a WOCCU project.

Nominees will have a demonstrated financial need, so that they would not be able to participate in the training without this financial assistance scholarship.

Selection Process

WOCCU member organizations in Africa, AACUC, NCUF and WOCCU will be invited to submit nominations. A selection committee, made up of representatives from the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WF), NCUF and AACUC, will review applications and offer a limited number of successful applicants an assistance package of DE training registration and travel to and from the U.S. within a pre-agreed budget. If funding allows, two scholars per school will be offered: two in spring and two in summer (training dates/locations posted at www.ncuf.coop//education.aspx).

Tentative Timeline

December 1 - Call for nominations
January 15 - Nominations due
February 15 - Scholarship offers made

For questions, contact Allison McCarty, WOCCU, 608-395-2000, scholarships@woccu.org.

Scholar Nomination Directions

To nominate an African for a scholarship to receive DE training in the US, please submit the following information no later than January 15 (address information at bottom). Please submit via email; information can be in the body of the email or in an attached document.

Required Information:

1. Name

2. Position/Title

3. Name of Credit Union

4. Credit Union Postal Address, City, Country

5. Phone, Fax, Email, Credit Union Website (if available)

6. Asset Size of Credit Union in local currency and US dollars

7. Number of Credit Union Members

8. Community Involvement: list up to five major activities

9. Credit Union Involvement: list up to five major accomplishments in your credit union career

10. Credit Union System: list up to five activities or leadership roles in the credit union system (e.g., local credit union organizational offices held, training program participation)

11. Any formal degrees/training you have received

12. Please write a short statement explaining why you would like to participate, how the training will be useful in your career and how in turn that can be beneficial to your credit union membership or related position (no more than 600 words).

13. Please ask your job supervisor or a credit union board member or another credit union leader to send a short statement of support in a separate email message addressing your financial need of the grant and your ability to use it to better your credit union career and our industry (No more than 600 words, put "Reference: your name" in the subject line of the email).

Please submit the following information to scholarships@woccu.org by January 15 and make sure your reference has submitted his or her email by January 15 also. This information can be in the body of an email or as a word or pdf attachment. Successful applicants will be notified about February 15 so they will have time to make cost-effective travel arrangements.