Two local branch managers of the Kootenay Savings Credit Union are taking their expertise on a journey of a lifetime. Janice McGregor of Invermere and Kristin Olsen of Radium Hot Springs, have headed out for a month-long adventure in Africa as part of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) International Coaching Program.

The CCA’s Coaching Program takes a hands-on approach that enables Canadian credit union professionals to share their skills and advice directly with their international partner credit unions.

Working in teams of two, coaches spend two weeks sharing their knowledge and expertise with credit unions in the African countries of Uganda, Malawi and Ghana. McGregor will be heading out to Uganda and Olsen will be going to Ghana.

This will be this first year that McGregor has taken part in the training opportunity and she is very excited about the trip.

“I am not a big heat person but Uganda is supposed to be the coolest country. I feel blessed to get this chance,” McGregor said.

She is interested in seeing the branches while she is in Uganda and working with them on how they run.

“Kristin and I are both going to Africa with the Canadian Co-operative Association on a Credit Union Coaching Assignment.  Our assignment is to spend time in two or three different credit unions, listening to their challenges and making recommendations on how they can overcome their challenges.  We will be in Ottawa for three days first, taking part in cultural training then fly to Africa for two weeks, followed by a debrief in London, England,” McGregor said.

One thing she is also looking forward to is getting the chance to see some of the country in the evenings and on her weekends off.