CaribDE hosts 49th training seminar

FORTY-ONE CREDIT union staff f rom 12 countries around the Caribbean convened at the Sea Garden Resort & Spa in Montego Bay to participate in the 49th staging of the Caribbean Development Educator (CaribDE) programme. This was a one-week emersion on the financial cooperative movement, which took place from Monday, March 11 to Friday 15.

Participants who graduate from the programme, dubbed by them as a “rigorous masterclass”, become development educators and join ranks with thousands of others across the globe. Gateway Co-operative Credit Union who have been patrons of the programme for the last four years, jointly hosted the event.

CaribDE is one of seven existing worldwide. In addition to the Caribbean, the development programme convenes in the USA, Canada, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Philippines every year. The Caribbean Development programme has graduated approximately 1,779 candidates since its inception in 2010.

Facilitator and director, Melvin Edwards of St Kitts & Nevis, conceptualised the Caribbean Development Programme as a voluntary development project after completing a similar programme internationally. Edwards is the former president of both the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions and the World Credit Union Council.

The programme is conducted using three phases:

• Phase I: Building the foundation – Understanding the purpose of the DE programme and how it fits into the greater credit union movement.

• Phase II: Exploring ideas – Understanding development and development issues as published by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

• Phase III: Creating the Tools – Practical application of concepts to address development issues and utilise the global programme network and support available to assist in volunteer participation.

The programme covers a range of topics such as the history of the Jamaican and Caribbean Credit Union movements, cooperative principles and values, the credit union system (the credit union onion), World Credit Union International Principles, and the credit union’s i mpact on development worldwide.

All credit union staff, managers and volunteers were eligible to participate in the programme. At the end of the programme participants are charged with a development project that aims to create positive impact on credit unions, credit union members and communities.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS The graduating cohorts of the 49th staging of the CaribDE programme pose for class photos on the final day.

Members of CaribDE participate in a team-building exercise to build the tallest freestanding structure. Pictured from left are: Donna Brown, Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union, Sherene Rhoden, CICSA Co-operative Credit Union in the Cayman Islands, Kerrilee Orr, WPL Properties Limited in Trinidad & Tobago and Candiea Brim, C&WJ Co-operative Credit Union.

Melvin Edwards, facilitator and director of CaribDE address the CaribDE participants regarding the importance of CaribDE and their role as development educators at the CaribDE graduation ceremony.