Young Professional exchange kicks off in Brazil

New generation of credit union leaders to engage at international event

SICREDI, the largest credit union system in Brazil, is hosting more than 150 young credit union professionals from across the Americas this week as part of World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) Young Professional Exchange Program.  

This 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. SICREDI employees and members also are taking part in the exchange. The wide range of roles represented promises to provide a variety of unique perspectives.

This international exchange kicks off with SICREDI’s 2nd Annual Youth Summit, May 21–22, a forum that will bring 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.

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. The 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.

Young professionals representing 10 U.S. credit unions or credit union associations are participating in the exchange, including 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.

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development platform for credit unions. 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. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.