Business/Microfinance Brigades Information Session September 15, 2013

AGENDA Website Video Overview Ghana Panama Costs On Campus ABOUTLOCATIONMICROFINANCEBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION Website:

GLOBAL BRIGADES Global Brigades’ Mission: To empower volunteers to facilitate sustainable solutions in under resourced communities Global Brigades’ Vision: To improve equality of life, by igniting the largest student-led social responsibility movement on the planet. ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION

DENTAL MEDICAL PUBLIC HEALTH WATER ARCHITECTURE MICROFINANCE HUMAN RIGHTS ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS PROGRAMS To empower volunteers, Global Brigades offers 9 skill-based programs ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION

Countries selected based on: Large need in rural areas Strong community partnerships Logistically feasible Safe for volunteers Needs that Global Brigades addresses: Basic services Healthcare Economic WHERE WE WORK ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION Programs are offered in Honduras, Panama, Ghana and Nicaragua

PROGRAMS & COUNTRIES HondurasGhanaPanama Dental Medical Microfinance Water Architecture Dental Medical Microfinance Public Health Water Business Dental Environmental Law Medical ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION Nicaragua Medical Public Health

Architecture Dental Medical Microfinance Public Health Water PROGRAMS & COUNTRIES HondurasGhanaPanama Dental Medical Microfinance Water Business Dental Environmental Law Medical ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION Nicaragua Medical Public Health

ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION What are the Economic Issues? Communities lack access to any financial system Lack of long term financial mindset Absence of financial literacy Trapped in a debt cycle o Intermediaries are only option for selling crops (coyotes) o Minimal profit only permits minimal product MICROFINANCE NEEDS

Formation of the Community Development Fund Sought out communities in need based on Global Brigades existing relationships Global Brigades discovers community leaders which are then trained to operate the CDF, a community based bank GB staff administers formal and intensive FUNDER microfinance training: 3 separate, 3- day offsite modules & periodic follow-up assistance Function of the Community Development Fund The CDF is operated by community members to serve men, women, and children of the community. Community members are the shareholders/owners and thus invested in the CDF’s success With Global Brigades’ guidance, community members take ownership by investing dividends, setting interest rates, etc. The CDF allows community members to take out loans and open savings accounts WHAT IS MICROFINANCE BRIGADES? ABOUTLOCATIONMICROFINANCEBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION

What does a brigade look like?

PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY Community Selection Based on o Need o Access to financial support o Community commitment Sustainability Aspects Community Executive Boards and Shareholders o Community led and owned o Operate and maintain system In-country staff o Train executive board members and maintain year round follow up o Develop and maintain CDF businesses o Develop future community relationships o Ensure that the books are being properly managed for loans, savings and shares o Develop an exit strategy so CDF can be sustained on it’s own ABOUTLOCATIONMICROFINANCEBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION

Why Panama?

ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION Typical family lives on less than $3 a day Average level of education is approximately 6 th grade Community members have access to formal markets but no resources to tap into the markets Communities in remote areas have little awareness of legal rights or concepts RURAL PANAMA STATISTICS

7.5 in 10 people in region of Torti, Panama do not have access to credit and savings opportunities

Without access to financial resources and business education on average, women will make less than 1 dollar/day to nothing at all

How does Business Brigades help?

Business Brigades Through multiple 7 day brigades, community members receive financial literacy workshops, business consulting, and loans. Volunteers break up into small groups to meet with business owners to work on improving business model Volunteers work through community bank to hold financial literacy workshops Each student provides a $100 donation in the form of a loan, which is later repaid to the community bank to help invest in other micro-enterprises WHAT IS A BUSINESS BRIGADE? ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION

PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY Community Selection Based on o Need o Access to loans & banks o Community commitment Sustainability Aspects Community Banks o Community led o GB staff facilitates the creation of the banks o Operate and maintain system o Provide continuing loans In-country staff o Train community banks o Work with community banks to hold financial literacy workshops between brigades ABOUTLOCATIONBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION BUSINESS

How much does this cost? Ghana: Program Contribution = $880 + Airfare Panama: Program Contribution = $790 + Airfare Program Contribution Details 7 or 10 day program Accommodations and meals (vegetarian options available) Clean drinking water Airport pick-up and drop-off In-country transportation Spanish translators and coordinators Program sustainability and follow-up between brigades Capital Investment Fund - $100 TOTAL CONTRIBUTION ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION

On Campus ABOUTLOCATIONBUSINESSBRIGADE TAKE ACTION CONTRIBUTION More than a trip!  Weekly overall meetings – Sundays at 7:00 p.m. Speakers Documentaries Coffeehouse Discussions – TED Talks Trip Spotlights Breakouts (every other week)  Microfinance Education  Spanish Education  Cultural Education  Kiva  Other Events: Fundraisers- canning, storefronts, bake sales, creative Socials – dinners, hayride, parties, etc. Awareness Events – hunger banquet, bucket walk Deloitte Event

Questions?