Be the Change Campaign is Launched
22 March 2009

The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) has launched Be the Change, a fundraising campaign to support the development of women leaders around the world.

Monies raised through the campaign will go into the Global Women’s Fund in support of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA)’s international development programs affecting women, such as:

• The Women’s Mentoring Program, through which women leaders of overseas financial co-operatives gain new skills and knowledge
• The Centre for Micro-Finance in Nepal, which strengthens and empowers women-led savings and credit co-operatives to improve their services; and
• The Felt Workers Co-operative in Mongolia, which creates jobs, skills and much needed income for rural women and their families

The CDF Global Women’s Fund will enable women from developing countries to attend the Global Women’s Leadership Forum in Barcelona in July 2009.  The forum was developed by the World Council of Credit Unions in conjunction with the 2009 World Credit Union Conference (WCUC). 

 Be the Change is a campaign to raise awareness about women in leadership positions and the many challenges they face.  In announcing the campaign, CDF Manager Julie Breuer explains that, “CDF wants to empower women. It’s not just about credit unions or co-ops, or about building leadership skills. It’s about providing opportunities for women to fundamentally change their lives. To change the world we live in.”

CDF, WOCCU, and other credit union foundations are calling people to action and to fundraise in support of Be the Change.  For more information about the campaign visit the campaign’s website at www.cdfcanada.coop/bethechange

CDF raises money to support the development of co-operatives and credit unions in Africa, Asia, The Americas, and Eastern Europe. Co-operatives and credit unions have proven to be effective tools in helping poor people work their way out of poverty. The money raised by CDF is primarily used by the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA), in its efforts to reduce poverty in more than 20 countries around the world. CCA is a national association representing co-operatives and credit unions in Canada.

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. WOCCU promotes the development of credit unions and other around the world to empower people through access to affordable and high quality financial services.  For more information on WOCCU and the Global Women’s Leadership Initiative visit www.woccu.org/involved/womensleadership

For more information, please contact CDF Manager Julie Breuer at Julie.breuer@coopscanada.coop