WOCCU’s Women’s Network Announces Scholarships

Awards Offer Women Leaders Greater Educational, Networking Access

MADISON, Wis. — The Global Women's Leadership Network, a World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) subsidiary that addresses the contributions and needs of women credit union leaders worldwide, has issued a call for 2011 scholarship applicants. Scholarships will cover registration fees and partial travel costs for women from developing credit union movements to take part in the 2011 Global Women's Leadership Forum, scheduled for July 23-24 in Glasgow, Scotland.

The network, formed in 2009, is designed to promote educational, networking and mentoring opportunities for women credit unions leaders worldwide. This year's forum once again will be held in conjunction with WOCCU's World Credit Union Conference.

"The Global Women's Leadership Forum provides an important link for credit union women across boundaries," said Brian Branch, WOCCU executive vice president and COO. "Countless times we have seen women in credit unions worldwide lead the development and growth of their institutions and their communities. Both the network and forum seek ways to improve and increase those contributions."

The scholarship is designed to promote access to the annual forum and related events for eligible women leaders from developing credit union movements. (Under the forum's criteria, women from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Poland and the United States do not qualify for scholarships.) Qualified recipients must demonstrate both financial need and successful contributions to their communities, credit unions and/or credit union systems. Preference will be given to recipients from diverse backgrounds who the evaluation committee feels have the most to gain from the experience.

The deadline for receiving scholarship materials at WOCCU's Madison, Wis. headquarters is March 1. Scholarship offers will be made to successful candidates by March 15. For more information please visit www.cuwomen.org/membership/scholarships or contact Nicole Bice at nbice@woccu.org or +1-608-395-2027.

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. WOCCU promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. WOCCU advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

WOCCU has implemented more than 275 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 53,000 credit unions in 100 countries serve 188 million people. Learn more about WOCCU's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.