ECUADOR -
Cooperativa Jardín Azuayo (CJA), a credit union that grew in the aftermath of a 1993 environmental disaster in Ecuador, hosted the group. Participants toured CJA education projects and branch offices and met with managers and elected leaders to learn about innovative CJA activities including indirect lending, community partnerships, cooperative education, a for-profit subsidiary and the credit union's unique management structure.
"Our international credit union delegation was often struck by the contrast of high-tech and high-touch components," said Worldwide Foundation Executive Director and trip leader Valerie Breunig. "We saw a credit union Mobil program in which cell phones checked account balances and transferred money. It's a very successful program.
Following the CJA visits, the WOCCU group also visited four credit union members to see their businesses, learn about World Council's credit union building projects in Ecuador and participate in the opening of a credit union telecenter-a credit union-owned community business center that offers free internet access and small business services to the community.
A second Cooperative Learning Tour to Ecuador will take place Sept. 30 - Oct. 7.
