The Kansas City-based credit union investment CUSO CNBS said it will host an African intern who one day aspires to lead his country's central bank.
Christopher Hamera, a 25-year-old college student from Malawi, will spend 12 months at CNBS for the educational position. He is majoring in economics at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Despite being the fifth-poorest nation in the world, Malawi has a robust credit union system; Sylvester Kadzola, president/CEO of Malawi's savings and credit cooperatives trade association, is a tenured World Council of Credit Unions board member and supports the internship program, CNBS said in a release.
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Approximately 85% of the 14 million Malawians residing in the country are subsistence farmers. However, Malawi's credit union system is improving access to financial services and contributing to members' financial stability. There are approximately 30 savings and credit cooperatives in Malawi, referred to as SACCOs.
"Christopher's internship will focus on credit unions and other financial institutions, the securities markets, and central banking," said Brian Hague, CNBS president. "His long-term career objective is to lead the Reserve Bank of Malawi, and he hopes his internship will lead to career opportunities within the country's SACCO system. We're excited for CNBS to sponsor Christopher through this internship."
During his year in the United States, Hamera will be exposed to CNBS operations and to credit unions through visits to the firm's clients. He will also attend industry conferences and educational sessions, and assist with client work within CNBS.
"CNBS is grateful to CUNA and CU Conferences for their assistance in ensuring that Christopher has the opportunity to attend some of the best credit union-focused training events available in 2013," Hague said.
Hamera's internship will also provide exposure to other types of financial organizations, includi7ng banks, private wealth management firms, the Federal Reserve System, primary securities dealers, and other investment management companies.
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