Much to his son’s dismay, Envision’s Barry Delaney didn’t see any elephants during a two-week trip to Malawi, Africa, this fall. Sadly, he didn’t catch a glimpse of any lions or giraffes either. What he did see, however, was an opportunity for Envision to make a difference in one of the world’s poorest countries.

“I’d been asked to go overseas by the Canadian Cooperative Association (CCA) on two previous occasions,” explains Barry. “But I chose this particular trip because it offered me a chance to jump in and work on an actual project. It was really important to me that I be able to do more than just observe.”

In this case, the Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives was looking for someone to provide advice on strategic and business planning, marketing and training—all areas where Barry has expertise.

“While I was there I was able to make some recommendations about how they could make better use of their advertising dollars and how to prioritize key projects,” says Barry. “When I got home, I was able to work with our Employee Development department to send over some additional materials on fraud prevention, member service and the responsibilities of being a credit union director.”

Interestingly enough, Barry also found his African counterparts wanted to know more about Envision’s merger experience. Still, despite his contributions, Barry believes that he received more than he gave.

“It was amazing to see the difference a loan of even $20 can make to a family there—even at 45% interest,” says Barry. “It got me thinking about the possibility of doing some micro-lending here in B.C. and finding innovative ways Envision might be able to help people in need in our own communities.

“I think it’s important to remember our co-operative roots and to find ways to stay true to the credit union principles even in our modern context,” says Barry. “Giving people of good character a chance and giving back to the community—that’s the essence of the credit union movement. The credit union motto in Malawi is Dream – Belong – Achieve. That pretty much summarizes the impact that a credit union can have.”

And for that reason, Envision is open to an ongoing partnership with the credit unions in Malawi.