More than 40 young professionals and board members from credit unions across Belize gathered for the Belize Credit Union League’s first-ever Youth Summit, an initiative aimed at preparing the next generation of leaders and strengthening the future of the cooperative movement.
The summit brought together local participants and regional and international representatives to discuss youth engagement, leadership development, financial literacy and opportunities for young professionals within the credit union movement.
Darren Leal, Deputy Chief Financial Officer of Holy Redeemer Credit Union and a member of the organising committee, says the idea came after he received a scholarship to visit credit unions in Brazil, where he saw other young professionals taking active roles in leadership and decision-making.
Leal says organisers hope to build on that experience by establishing a committee with representatives from all eight credit unions.
“Coming out of this summit, we’re looking to have a committee being formed from all the credit unions,” said Leal. The committee would help guide future youth initiatives and strengthen collaboration across the movement.
Regional experience was also part of the summit, with Katrina Grant, Head of NextGen Changemakers at the Jamaica Cooperative Credit Union League, sharing how Jamaica developed its own youth movement. Launched in 2023, the initiative has grown to more than 200 members.
“It’s a part of building legacy and building capacity, so the generations will continue, and the credit union movement will remain resilient and strong,” said Grant.
Wendy Castillo, a board member of the Belize Credit Union League, says the summit is about giving young people a meaningful role in shaping the movement’s future. Their involvement, she says, must go beyond membership numbers and include opportunities to lead and influence decisions.
“We have to start engaging our young people so they can take leadership role. We could have good assets, we could have high profit margins, but without people, you don’t have anything,” said Castillo.
