Conexus Credit Union Invests $100,000 in Global Women Leaders

• Conexus Credit Union is allocating $100,000 to fund female leadership across the world
• The funds will be used to establish an international mentoring program that will enhance co-operatives
• The program intends to foster economic sustainability in developing nations

Conexus Credit Union has pledged $100,000 to help create a network of women leaders worldwide by creating a mentored Programme that enhances co-operatives and helps develop economic resilience in poorer regions.

The funding will be used for the Women's Mentorship Programme managed by the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada. This Programme, established in 2002, has supported over 250 women working with credit unions and financial co-operatives from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Participants engage in professional development through technical and governance skills, as well as by having practical business experience. Many of the programme's participants go home and lead their communities or become mentors to others in their community.

Celina Philpot, a Programme leader, explains that the Programme combines training and cross-cultural exchanges. In addition to providing host facilities, the foundation also provides each participant with a structured annual curriculum that includes learning about how credit unions are operated in Canada and using that knowledge to implement change in their local credit unions.

Mariel Edwards-Carreau describes the two-way exchange as beneficial to both parties; while participants gain valuable leadership skills, credit unions in Canada also have the opportunity to learn from the diverse experiences of their peers.

Conexus' commitment demonstrates how it approaches community investment, providing a portion of its pre-tax profits to support community initiatives. By providing a significant amount of support, the funding will have an even larger impact on women who have not historically benefited from leadership opportunities.