Since co-founding the non-governmental organisation Trinidad and Tobago Sister Society (TTSS) in October, 2013, Gail Rajkumar has not lost sight of the mission – to provide women in the credit union arena a safe forum to discuss issues to further their professional and personal journeys.
The TTSS with a membership of approximately 20 women, is the local arm of the Wisconsin, US-based Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) which is one of the original diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives established in 2009 by the World Council of Credit Unions.
"Sister Societies serve as autonomous chapters of the GWLN," Rajkumar, a retired accountant, told WMN.
"We further the network’s global mission by having an impact in the local credit union communities. The purpose of the groups is to get credit union women in their respective communities to come together to discuss credit union issues, exchange ideas, network with leaders of neighbouring credit unions, and share the lessons learned with network members worldwide."
[caption id="attachment_1156942" align="alignnone" width="768"] Gail Rajkumar, second from left, with credit union members at the Trinidad and Tobago Society Sisters' 10th anniversary celebration. -[/caption]
There are societies in 90 countries.
"At present we are one of four Sister Societies in the Caribbean; the other three being Jamaica, St Lucia and The Bahamas. Our goal is to continue making a measurable difference to the lives of our members, and each year we aim to build from the last. Our watchwords are connect, collaborate, inspire, and empower," Rajkumar said.
When she and co-founder Jamila Draper started the local chapter of the organisation, it was because they saw the benefits of the roles women in the credit union industry can play in helping women and girls to develop their talents, and, if they needed to, lift themselves out of situations of poverty, which aligns with the Caribbean Development Educators Programme – a regional programme out of the Credit Union Development Programme based in Madison, Wisconsin.
"There is a collective responsibility to credit union members and communities to move the needle of the Sustainable Development Goals using the co-operative principles of co-operation among co-operatives, by caring for community and continuous education."
She said the idea to form the NGO came following her attendance at the World Council of Credit Unions Conference in Gdansk, Poland in 2012, where she was a GWLN awardee.
"As a credit unionist, I was awarded a scholarship and was invited to present at GWLN conference, in Poland. I returned home with enthusiasm to start a sister society in Trinidad and Tobago, inspired by the way in which World Council reached out to members, particularly in developing countries, and wanted to bring the fellowship and learnings to local communities and encourage the advancement of women in society."
She said she shared her vision with Draper, and together they co-founded the TTSS.
"Being a local arm, the TTSS aligned its goals
