“Credit Union Foundation Australia (CUFA) recently lost one of our passionate supporters with the sad passing of Harry Zaphir,” said Margot Sweeny, CEO of Summerland Credit Union and also an enthusiastic CUFA supporter and current Chair of the CUFA Board.

“Harry was well-known to many in the credit union industry for his larger than life personality, passionate belief in mutuals, enthusiasm for mentoring and bringing new ideas to the sector, and belief in a fair go. Harry served on the Board of Queenslanders Credit Union.”

As the Chair of CUFA, Margot recognises Harry’s contributions and she also wholeheartedly gets involved in steering the development of programs which aim to help people lift themselves out of poverty in the Asia Pacific region.

CUFA works to provide the skills, knowledge and resources required for people to break out of poverty whilst offering ongoing support, rather than handouts.

The Village Entrepreneur program is one such example of CUFA’s work, and this program also provides an opportunity for CUFA supporters to help families in Cambodia and Timor Leste on the road to sustainability and out of poverty.

“Harry was very interested in the CUFA programs, and is recalled as saying...

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the need and poverty in the world. The Village Entrepreneur initiative is a specific way that one person or group of people can make a difference and that is how it is done - one person at a time, one village at a time.

“Harry’s generosity has made the future brighter for a village entrepreneur since 2009 who has been developing a second-hand goods business in Cambodia. His help has enabled this family to achieve a sustainable source of income and the ability to now send the children to school every day, afford food daily and have access to health care.”

“Have a look at the Village Entrepreneur initiative and perhaps you may want to help too, like Harry did.” said Margot.

"We have Summerland directors who have already signed up to help support a villager get out of poverty" she said.

For more information on the CUFA Village Entrepreneur program please visit www.ve.org.au

Sen Maly, Village Entrepreneur