The Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) awarded four scholarships to credit union industry women in May. As official GLWN members, they are provided with opportunities for professional development, networking and skill diversification.

Additionally, in 2022, GWLN is offering scholars the opportunity to receive an Empowerment Grant to implement a new or continuing, home-based project focused on empowering women, their credit union members and/or their local communities.

“Through support from corporate sponsorships and individual GWLN memberships, we expanded the annual scholarship program and re-introduced the empowerment grant this year. It was exciting to see several unique proposals from women applying for the first time from credit union systems around the globe,” said Lena Giakoumopoulos, director for the GWLN.

The 2022 GWLN Scholarship recipients are:

• Dorothy Mambulasa, Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives, Ltd. (Malawi)
• Enkhchimeg Nergui, Mongolian National Confederation of Credit Unions (Mongolia)
• Violet Ndungu, Muki Sacco (Kenya)
• Polly Gathoni Waweru, Unisa Sacco Society Limited (Kenya)

Each scholar will receive:

• A complimentary one-year membership to Global Women’s Leadership Network.
• A complimentary registration to the 2022 World Credit Union Conference (WCUC) in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 17-20, 2022 (including, travel, hotel accommodation and a stipend).
• The opportunity to present project proposals and win an Empowerment Grant.

GWLN scholars are required to attend all GWLN-specific events during the 2022 World Credit Union Conference, including the GWLN reception and the GWLN Forum—where they will each make a presentation on the Empowerment Grant project proposal submitted as part of the scholarship application process.

Attendees of the GWLN Forum will cast votes to select two winners, who will be announced following WCUC. Each Empowerment Grant winner will receive $10,000 to implement their proposal over the course of the next twelve months.

“Some project proposals focused on specific issues impacting the local communities, while others presented solutions to improve businesses targeting specific populations in their respective regions. The common denominator: empowered women from diverse financial and socioeconomic backgrounds leading, facilitating and implementing projects with the support of GWLN,” said Giakoumopoulos.

All scholarship recipients are also required to attend 2022 Scholars’ meetings, showcasing the progress and growth in their credit union/communities, along with the GWLN Sister Society virtual strategy session later this year.

Since 2009, GWLN has awarded 90 scholarships to women from 30 countries.

Scholarships and empowerment grants are made possible through funding from annual memberships and corporate donations from Co-op Solutions, CUNA Mutual Group, PSCU and the Susan Adams Scholarship Fund supported by One AZ Credit Union.

“The scholarships and empowerment grants provide opportunities for growth, learning and connection,” said Giakoumopoulos. “But, more importantly, they offer hope for the future.”