Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions to Welcome 19 New I-CUDEs

MADISON, Wis.—Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) on July 25 will recognize 19 people from seven countries as the International Credit Union Development Educator (I-CUDE) Class of 2023 at a special event held in conjunction with the 2023 World Credit Union Conference in Vancouver, Canada.

A diverse group of professionals from across the international credit union movement met the four required criteria to qualify for this unique designation.

The I-CUDE Class of 2023 is comprised of:

Africa

• Francis Kandonga – United Civil Servants SACCO (Malawi).
• Grace Watsiera - African Confederation of Cooperatives Savings & Credit Associations (ACCOSCA).

Caribbean

• Avinash Bissoondial – Teachers Credit Union (Trinidad & Tobago).
• Charmain St. Remy – St. Lucia Worker’s Credit Union Ltd. (St. Lucia).
• Ronnie-Dane Renford – Portland Co-operative Credit Union Ltd. (Jamaica).
• Jamique Flemmings Smith – Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League Ltd. (Jamaica).
• Menassia Clara Nelson – Jannou Credit Union (St. Lucia).
• Laverne Francis – Eastern Credit Union (Trindad & Tobago).
• Lisa Goodman – Jannou Credit Union (St. Lucia).
• Nicole Haughton – Gateway Co-operative Credit Union Ltd. (Jamaica).

Canada

• Erin Hancock – iNova Credit Union Ltd. and the International Centre for Co-operative Management
• Tom Vickers – Atlantic Central
• Sokchiveneath Taing Chhoan - Federation des cooperatives du Nouveau-Quebec.
• Jo Ha – Community Savings Credit Union.
• Linda Bowyer – First Credit Union.

United States

• Monica Belz – Kauai Government Employees FCU (Hawaii).
• Heather McKissick (Texas).
• James Hunter – New Orleans Fireman’s FCU (Louisiana).
• Kevin Carrel - True Sky Credit Union (Oklahoma)

Each of the 19 designees will be welcomed and recognized by the global development educator (DE) community at the inaugural Global DE Social, a WFCU engagement to be held on Tuesday, July 25, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Steamworks Brew Pub, located directly adjacent to the Vancouver Conference Center.

Visit the event page to get tickets and find more information on how to participate in the Social.

WFCU coordinates the I-CUDE application and review process in partnership with the seven active CUDE programs worldwide. These program partners are:

• Africa DE (ADE) – Coordinated by the Africa Confederation of Co-operative Savings & Credit Associations (ACCOSCA).
• Asia DE (ACDE) – Coordinated by the Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU).
• Canada DE – Coordinated by Saint Mary’s University.
• Caribbean DE – Coordinated by Melvin Edwards.
• European DE (DEEU) – Coordinated by Robert Kelly & Donald Urquhart.
• Philippines DE (PHDE) – Coordinated by Dudz Samson and VICTO National.
• United States DE – Coordinated by the National Credit Union Foundation.

Becoming an I-CUDE requires each applicant to complete their home country’s DE program, in addition to three other criteria.

Credit Union Development Educators commit themselves to living the cooperative principles embedded in the global credit union movement and within each country that is home to credit unions.

The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, as the strategic partner of the World Council, bridges gaps impacting credit unions' ability to grow and advance financial inclusion worldwide. Our commitment to provide global credit union journeys augments our shared vision with World Council's of realizing a vibrant and growing global credit union movement. Worldwide Foundation's philanthropy advances World Council's technical capacity to strengthen credit union systems that advance financial inclusion to underserved communities. 

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) is the apex association for credit unions and other global financial cooperatives. World Council 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. World Council 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.

World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 74,634 credit unions in 104 countries serve 411 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.

Contact: Greg Neumann
Organization: World Council of Credit Unions
E-mail: gneumann@woccu.org
Phone: +1 608-395-2048

Kevin Lashley (Barbados) and Angela Prestil (USA) were among the I-CUDE Class of 2022

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