On August 11, 2026, member-owned financial cooperative Jannou Credit Union gathered at its Castries headquarters to mark a major milestone: 46 years of advancing educational access for its community through the iconic CPEA Scholarship and Bursary Programme. Held under the unifying theme “We Excel Together”, this year’s ceremony celebrated 20 outstanding student recipients while reaffirming the cooperative’s decades-long commitment to putting people and community growth above all else.
For nearly half a century, Jannou Credit Union has centered its mission on investing in its most valuable asset: the members it serves. Unlike traditional financial institutions, this member-governed cooperative was built on the core principle that collective progress outpaces individual achievement, a philosophy woven into every aspect of its long-running education initiative. The programme does not reward academic excellence alone; selected students must also demonstrate a deep alignment with cooperative values, from active community engagement to shared investment in the Jannou network.
This year’s “We Excel Together” theme is not just a slogan — it is reflected in the everyday participation of recipient students and their families across the credit union’s ecosystem. Many student awardees hold Jannou’s Spirit of the Calabash (SOCA) savings accounts, regularly use the cooperative’s products and services, attend annual general meetings, take part in community-wide events, and volunteer their time for local initiatives. These experiences embody the four foundational cooperative values that guide the programme: active participation, collective ownership, community service, and mutual connection.
Participation sits at the core of Jannou’s identity as a cooperative. The organization grows stronger not when members only use its services, but when they contribute, volunteer, learn, support one another, and take shared ownership of the cooperative community. This ethos extends to the principle of “Concern for Community”, a core cooperative tenet that drives Jannou’s commitment to youth development and educational access. As a financial cooperative, the institution’s long-term success is inherently tied to the success of its members and the broader Saint Lucian communities it serves, making investment in education a natural extension of its core mission.
Over 46 years, the programme’s success has been rooted in the collective contribution of Jannou’s entire membership. The shared strength and contributions of thousands of members allow the credit union to deliver educational opportunities that extend far beyond traditional financial services. For Jannou, the Scholarship and Bursary Programme is a living example of what collective action can achieve when a community unites around the core cooperative mission of “people helping people” — the defining difference that sets member-owned cooperatives apart from other financial institutions.
This year’s cycle awarded 12 competitive scholarships to students across secondary institutions in Saint Lucia: Brielle Hosanna Myers and Lalibela Zola James of St Joseph’s Convent; Liam Patrick Jan Freeman, Daveril Albert, Caleb C. G. Antoinе, Jahdai Adams, Tehj Day Weekes, Tristian Seth Khadoo, and Ashvini Meena of St Mary’s College; Esther V. Phillip of Beanfield Comprehensive Secondary School; Sernil Edison John of Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School; and Elijah Desir of Choiseul Secondary School, who received the program’s staff-funded scholarship. An additional eight students received need-based bursaries to ease financial burdens for families ahead of the new academic year: Caleb Dray Marshall and Aizen Lionel of St Mary’s College; Alena William of Saint Lucia Seventh-day Adventist Academy; Seth Clairmont of Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School; Shae Vitalis of Castries Comprehensive Secondary School; Romel Jameson of Corinth Secondary School; Kaniah J. J. Duncan of Babonneau Secondary School; and Zoey S. Edgar of Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School.
For Jannou Credit Union, these 20 students represent far more than award recipients: they are the cooperative’s future members, leaders, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, volunteers, and community builders. The institution prioritizes building meaningful connections with young people from early in their academic careers to lay the groundwork for a future generation of cooperative members who understand the value of collective action and the importance of giving back to their communities.
Jannou’s investment through the programme serves a dual purpose: it advances educational access for current students and strengthens the long-term future of the cooperative itself. By supporting students who excel academically and contribute positively to their communities, the credit union is cultivating a generation that understands success is never achieved in isolation. True progress grows from support from family, connection to community, active collective participation, and shared cooperation — the very idea at the heart of this year’s “We Excel Together” theme.
Looking ahead, Jannou Credit Union has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to investing in members and creating pathways for all community members to thrive. The institution emphasizes that its responsibility extends far beyond offering financial products and services; it also requires fostering a deep sense of belonging, collective ownership, and community connection. The 46th iteration of the CPEA Scholarship and Bursary Programme stands as a clear testament to that enduring commitment. In closing, Jannou Credit Union extended congratulations to all 2026 scholarship and bursary recipients and their families, urging students to embrace the opportunity, pursue their goals with purpose, and remember that their own success can serve as inspiration to lift up other members of their community.