URITIBA, Brazil—The largest credit union system in Brazil, SICREDI, is hosting more than 150 young credit union professionals from across the Americas this week as part of the World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) Young Professional Exchange Program.
The new initiative is part of the World Council Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) program—a platform for them to connect, share and live the credit union values of cooperation and people helping people, WOCCU reported. Both SICREDI employees and members are also taking part in the exchange. “The wide range of roles represented promises to provide a variety of unique perspectives,” WOCCU reported.
Second Annual Summit
This international exchange is kicking off with SICREDI’s 2nd Annual Youth Summit, a forum that brings young professionals together to explore strategies for addressing the shared challenges facing financial cooperatives.
“Participants will learn how SICREDI’s powerful model for collaboration has expanded financial services and contributed to one of the fastest growing credit union movements in the world,” said WOCCU.
A Deep Dive
The meeting is providing a “deep dive into the topics of diversity and inclusion, highlighting examples from participants of impactful initiatives in their credit unions and communities. That will include a panel discussion featuring perspectives from women and refugees, and disabled, transgendered and marginalized speakers.”
Meeting discussions are being followed by an ideation session where participants brainstorm ways credit unions can better connect with and serve the unique diversity that exists in all communities—with the goal of taking the ideas home to improve outreach efforts at their respective credit unions.
Speakers to the Youth Summit include:
- Steve Stapp – Chair, World Council Board of Directors
- Paul Treinen – World Council Executive Vice President
- Gisele Gomes – WYCUP Steering Committee Member
On-Site Visits
According to WOCCU, following the Youth Summit, the international delegation will participate in field visits to see examples of cooperation among cooperatives—in this case between SICREDI and the Castrolandia agricultural cooperative.
“Our delegation will see firsthand how local dairy farmers and other small businesses benefit from the natural synergies that exist between the cooperatives. They’ll also see how the day-to-day operations compare to their realities back home,” WOCCU said.
“This exchange connects participants with their counterparts in similar roles and provides a fascinating look at how credit unions service their members in Brazil. Participants will be exposed to new perspectives on governance, product development, marketing, social responsibility and more,” said Thom Belekevich, World Council Program Manager for Member Services.
CUs in Brazil
Young professionals representing 10 U.S. credit unions or credit union associations—CUNA, Policy Works - Iowa Credit Union League, Cornerstone Credit Union League, Mountain West Credit Union Association, Northwest Credit Union Association, Association of Vermont Credit Unions, Vermont State Employees Credit Union, XCEL Federal Credit Union, Hughes Federal Credit Union and Unitus Community Credit Union—are participating in the exchange.