Credit Union League award some youths
Credit Unions have been present in Belize for over sixty-eight years. And with a total of thirteen credit unions countrywide, twelve are members of the Belize Credit Union League. The third week of October is celebrated as Credit Union week and this month is being celebrated under the theme, “Members Matter Most.” But additionally, 2012 is being celebrated as the International Year of Credit Unions and Cooperatives.
Duane Moody, Reporting
It’s the international year of credit unions and cooperatives and it is being celebrated under the theme, “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World.” And during the course of the past week, the Belize Credit Union League has been doing several activities to commemorate this milestone.
Corrine Robinson Fuller
Corrine Robinson Fuller, Executive Director, Belize Credit Union League
“Credit Unions throughout the country did many things: they held health fairs with members, they promoted new loan products, they gave gift baskets to the poor and the needy, they also had a party at an old folks’ home, they visited school trying to get young people to get more involved in the credit union. So there was a host of activities they engaged in.”
And this year, the league reintroduced its high school essay competition under the theme, “The Credit Union Difference.” Sixteen year old Jason Catch, a fourth form student from the Corozal Community College won with his essay that gave a retrospective on the history credit unions in Belize.
Jason Catch, Winner, High School Essay Competition
“It took me about probably a week. it was a hard time; sleeping late and having to wake up early to go to school. It was really hard but it paid off in the end.”
Daniel Ortiz, 7 News
“Tell us a little bit about the topic. I know you took more of an informational type route in which you gave certain aspects of the credit union. Tell us why you chose those.”
Jason Catch
Jason Catch
“I chose those because it should be incorporated into the essay to make it a great essay.”
While Catch says that his winnings will be used to pay for his CXCs, second place winner, Jessica Klassen of Linda Vista High School in Blue Creek, says that her winnings will be put in a credit union account as savings.
Jessica Klassen
Jessica Klassen, 2nd Place Winner, High School Essay Competition
“My mom helped me with it. She is into credit unions so she helped me with it.”
Duane Moody
“How long did it take you to actually put it together and the research time?”
Jessica Klassen
“It only took me a few hours to read it. I wrote about the benefits; how it benefits the poor people and how you get returns back from credit unions.”
Daniel Ortiz
“What class are you in and are you going to use it for educational expenses?”
Jessica Klassen
“I don’t think so. I wanna put it in a credit union and safe it first.”
Clement Usher
Clement Usher, President, Belize Credit Union League
“The league’s role is really advocacy and we need to make sure that if there are changes to the laws and regulations; that we are happy with them. And also the league does a lot of training for the individual credit unions and we come together as a group whenever there is a need to do it.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
Catch takes home one thousand dollars, while Klassen receives five hundred dollars. As for the third place winner, Sacred Heart College student, Brent Coombs, he receives two hundred and fifty dollars for his essay.
