Fourth annual DoingMyPart.Coop Contest See Africa… up close

An invitation from Développement international Desjardins to young Canadians aged 18 to 30

Lévis, August 13, 2009 – From August 13 to November 16, 2009, young people between the ages of 18 and 30 from across Canada are invited to enter the fourth annual Développement international Desjardins (DID) DoingingMyPart contest. This year the theme is See Africa… Up Close.

Burkina Faso (West Africa) will be the destination for an international development awareness tour by the two contest grand prize winners in May 2010. They will be greeted by DID experts living and working in partnership with leaders in that country’s community finance sector to offer access to basic financial services adapted to the needs of marginalized communities mainly in rural areas. The prize has a total value of $15,000.

The contest partners are the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Fédération québécoise des coopératives en milieu scolaire (COOPSCO).

The two grand prize winners will be chosen from among the 40 contest finalists. Each finalist will receive a gift package valued at $150 offered by the contest partners.

How to enter

To enter the contest, take part in a virtual rally on the www.DoingMyPart.Coop microsite. First answer the ten multiple-choice questions dealing with international development, cooperation and microfinance. Then answer the additional essay question in 150 words or less to qualify for the grand prize awareness tour to Burkina Faso.

To be eligible for the contest, you must be a Canadian citizen between the ages of 18 and 30 and a member of a cooperative. Complete contest rules are posted on the contest microsite (www.DoingMyPart.Coop/Rules).

The DoingMyPart.Coop contest is a way for DID to contribute to raising awareness about international development among Canadians, in particular concerning the challenges in providing the disadvantaged with access to financial services.

About the RCPB in Burkina Faso

Launched in 1972, the RCPB (Réseau des caisses populaires du Burkina Faso) is a pioneer in microfinance. Organized into three tiers, the RCPB has almost 150 financial cooperatives located throughout Burkina Faso. It is currently the largest network of financial cooperatives in that country and accounts for nearly 70% of the microfinance market there. The RCPB has a diversified clientele that comes from both rural and urban areas and includes government employees and entrepreneurs.

RCPB counts:

• 148 cooperatives and service outlets
• 554,886 members (32.1% are women)
• 740 employees (70.3% are women)
• 1,575 directors (28.0% are women)

About DID

Développement international Desjardins (DID) is a component of the Desjardins Group, the largest cooperative financial group in Canada. It has been providing support for the creation, development and strengthening of financial institutions for over 39 years. DID is currently active in twenty countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. DID, which specializes in providing technical support and investment for community finance, draws on the rich and diverse experience acquired through collaboration with numerous partners, and on the over 100 years of experience of the Desjardins Group. DID works in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and many other multilateral organizations.

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Source:
Karina Lehoux
Communication Advisor
Développement international Desjardins
Telephone: 1 418 835-2401, extension 5796