I was 58 when I applied for the WMP 2016; I was a bit worried that my age would matter. We were 11 lucky applicants – Obee, Esther, and Rhoda from Ghana, Violet and Emily from Kenya, Memory and Chiso from Malawi, Zin from Myanmar, Madhu from Nepal, and Flordeliz and I from the Philippines. […]
In 2018, I was selected by CDF to participate in the Women Mentorship Program (WMP); this was like a dream. Given my background, I lacked confidence and self-esteem, and with no exposure. I was brought up in a culture where men are the master of the game, and even as a manager, I always carried […]
Congratulations to the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) for 75 years of cooperative development in Canada and around the world. During my nine-year tenure as Executive Director of the Canadian Co-operative Association and CDF Canada. We were a strong mechanism for raising domestic funds to leverage and compliment Government of Canada funds administered through […]
I will never forget this story – I was working with a couple of credit unions in Malawi, mainly around their governance and trying to improve their process. I was standing outside the credit union branch where a fellow was walking, and he had a sewing machine on his head. I guess it was the […]
We speak with participants over the years, and they share their experiences, insights and gains from the Women Mentorship Program I learned to forgive myself and worked on growing! Battsetseg Togtokh, Mongolian Confederation of Credit Unions (MOCCU) Year of Women Mentorship Program attended: 2011 After the training, I was more confident, felt inspired, and could […]
Farida Haryani Executive Director, Pengembangan Aktivitas Sosial Ekonomi Aceh (PASKA) Congratulations on the 75th anniversary of CDF Canada. PASKA Aceh is grateful for the support received from CCA Canada in 2007, notably through Lydia Makuch Phillips and Henny Buftheim. Through their leadership and guidance, PASKA Aceh successfully obtained funds for the Acehnese, affected by the […]
Siapha Kamara SEND, Africa The SEND West Africa-CDF partnership is a development success story. Our partnership prioritized the establishment of gender-sensitive community-based institutions, resulting in increased income and food security and a peaceful co-existence amongst ethnic groups once torn apart by violent conflicts in Northeastern Ghana. Since 1998, this partnership has enabled farmers, women, and […]
Mark Needham President of Arctic Co-operatives Limited and Arctic Co-operative Development Fund I am proud to be part of the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) Board, particularly as we celebrate 75 years of building a better world. Through co-operative principles and working with overseas partners, communities become sustainable through projects that enhance individual well-being […]
Carol Hunter was appointed Executive Director in 2005 and served until 2011. On the occasion of CDF Canada’s 75th anniversary, Carol Hunter shared some stories of her time spent with us, the challenges and the impact. The Beginning As a woman working in cooperatives and supporting the most vulnerable communities, I aimed to build strong partnerships […]