MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFORMATIONAL SESSION MONTH DAY YEAR MICROFINANCE
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFORMATIONAL SESSION MONTH DAY, YEAR
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION - ABOUT 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.
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION - PROGRAMS To empower volunteers, Global Brigades offers 8 skill-based programs
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – WHERE WE WORK Programs are offered in. Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, and Ghana 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
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – PROGRAMS AND COUNTRIES Programs offered in each country Ghana Dental Medical Microfinance Water Honduras Business Dental Engineering Medical Microfinance Public Health Water Panama Nicaragua Business Dental Environmental Human Rights Medical Microfinance Medical Dental Public Health Water
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – PROGRAMS AND COUNTRIES Programs offered in each country Ghana Dental Medical Microfinance Water Honduras Business Dental Engineering Medical Microfinance Public Health Water Panama Nicaragua Business Dental Environmental Human Rights Medical Microfinance Medical Dental Public Health Water
WHY PANAMA?
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – RURAL PANAMA STATISTICS BELIZE • Typical family lives onabout $10 a day GUATEMALA • Average level of education is approximately 6 th grade HONDURAS EL SALVADOR NICARAGUA COSTA RICA PANAMA • Community members are oftenexcluded from access to financial institutions due to costs, distance, requirements, and discrimination. As a result, it is nearly impossible for individuals tocreate savings accounts or request loans. • Community members are unableto tap into financial markets
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – RURAL PANAMA STATISTICS 15 in 20 people in the province of Darien, Panamado not have access to credit and savings opportunities
WITHOUT ACCESS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND EDUCATION, 85% of INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN DARIEN, PANAMA WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE LESS THAN $1 PER DAY
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – BRIGADE IMPACT $100 HELPS SUPPORT A COMMUNITY BANK FOR EVERY BUSINESS/ MICROFINANCE VOLUNTEER = USED FOR: • Bank Capitalization • Loans and Loan Screening • Infrastructure Development • Organizational and Administrative Support
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – FINANCIAL CHALLENGES ACCESS TO CAPITAL & CONSULTING • Increases financial literacy to strategic business development • Encourages family financial planning • Decreases risk of loan sharks WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? • Business: With low levels of financial education, entrepreneurs sometimes lack basic accounting and business management skills (No book-keeping, inventory management, marketing strategies, etc. ) • Microfinance: No access to financial institutions, savings accounts and loans in rural communities
HOW DO MICROFINANCE BRIGADES HELP?
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – WHAT IS A MICROFINANCE BRIGADE BUSINESS/ MICROFINANCE BRIGADES • Volunteers break up into small groups to meet with business owners , farmers, and family members to provide micro-enterprise counseling and training. Techniques such as SWOT Analyses will be utilized. • Volunteers will participate in home visits to promote participation in the community bank (caja rural), which in turn supports many aspects of economic development within the community. • Volunteers will be trained by Global Brigades staff to complete Loan Capacity Payment Formsfor community members seeking loans from the community bank. • Deliverables for both individual businesses and the community bank will be completed and submitted to Global Brigades.
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNITY SELECTION • Based on: - Need - Access to loans and banks - Community commitment SUSTAINABILITY ASPECTS • Community banks: - Community led - Self-perpetuating and autonomous - Provide continuing loans and savings acounts • In-country staff: - Train community banks - Work with community banks to hold financial literacy workshops between brigades
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – BUSINESS/MICROFINANCE TEAM BUSINESS / MICROFINANCE BRIGADES TEAM • Coordinator: Leads your brigade • Program Lead and Technicians: - Build relationship with community - Train community leaders - Work with community in preparation for brigade arrival - Work with community post-brigade to do followup work • Program Associate: - Updates the website and sends out newsletters to past and future volunteers - Works with in-country staff and Chapter Advisor to arrange brigade logistics - Hosts webinars, visits brigade in Panama, and more!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – WHY WE WANT YOUR IMPACT • Contribute to sustainable change - Provide a community access to capital, savings, and economic potential • Education application - Consulting & business application - Spanish language immersion - Deeper understanding of Community Banks and the process of calculating loan capacity payments - International development experience COMMUNITY BENEFITS • Students empower community members • Students provide access to loans, savings accounts and other services otherwise unavailable, promoting economic development • Students contribute to the education of community members
WHAT DOES A BRIGADE LOOK LIKE?
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – SAMPLE ITINERARY
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – SAMPLE ITINERARY DAY 1: ARRIVAL & BUSINESS/ MICROFINANCE INTRODUCTION • Transportation to compound - Electricity, showers, and bathrooms - Beds, bed linens, and pillows - Limited internet • Introduction to Panama and the Business/Microfinance Programs - The Holistic Model - Microfinance and economic development - Community banks, Community Development Fund, and cooperative development - Cultural Sensitivity
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – SAMPLE ITINERARY DAY 2: CLIENT AND COMMUNITY INTRODUCTION • Volunteers will divide into small groups to begin work with their clients for the brigade • Spend time getting to know the community and clients to build trust • Initiate Business Profile Analysis
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – SAMPLE ITINERARY DAY 3, 4, & 5: BUSINESS TRAINING AND CONSULTATION BUSINESS TRAINING • Develop and present educational workshops on various topics, including inventory management, marketing, pricing, accounting, etc. BUSINESS CONSULTING • Business profile analysis • Assess small business utilizing SWOT Analysis and Prioritization • Present final recommendations to small business owners • Complete and submit deliverables for Global Brigades to utilize for continued monitoring and support
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – SAMPLE ITINERARY DAY 3, 4, & 5: LOAN CAPACITY PAYMENT CALCULATIONS • Volunteers will work alongside Board Members of a Community bank to complete Loan Capacity Payment Forms with individual community members • Three meetings will be held to review their business and family spending • Form will be used to determine how much a person can take out a loan for and is used in the place of a credit score
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – SAMPLE ITINERARY DAY 6: ACTIVITIES WITH COMMUNITY BANK AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE COMMUNITY BANK MEETINGS • Volunteers will conduct home visits to promote participation in the Community Bank • Presentation of Loan Capacity Payment Forms to Board Members of the Caja Rural CULTURAL EXCHANGE • Volunteers meet with community members to thank them for their participation • Volunteers have the opportunity to experience the local culture with shows of: - Traditional song and dance - Artisan hand-made crafts - Educational exchange
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – SAMPLE ITINERARY DURING THE WEEK: CAPITAL INVESTMENT • $100 of each Program Contribution is utilized as an investment for our communities • This investment goes to the Business Program, where the donation can be dispersed as: - Seed capital - Match savings accounts - Business investment - Loans, which are paid back to community banks for future loan disbursement through our Microfinance Program
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – SAMPLE ITINERARY DAY 7: DEPARTURE • Start planning for next brigade - Set goals - Leadership positions • Share experiences with donors, friends, & family • Get connected through Global Brigades’ networks - Updates on your community and projects
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION– PRE-DEPARTURE PREPARATION PRE-BRIGADE CURRICULUM • 6 pre-Brigade lesson plans • Includes program- and country-specific education resources and group discussions to fully prepare for your Brigade • To preview lessons, go to the Volunteer Resources Site (VRS) https: //www. globalbrigades. org/ volunteer-tools-home • Ask the Chapter Education Chair or Chapter President for the lesson plan schedule!
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – TOTAL CONTRIBUTION HOW IS YOUR MICROFINANCE BRIGADE FUNDED? • Volunteers’ Program Contribution: - $890 (Panama) - Brigade expenses - Program sustainability - Project Fund - Airfare: Varies PROGRAM CONTRIBUTION DETAILS • Accommodations & meals (dietary restrictions should be communicated to the Chapter Advisor) • Clean drinking water • Airport pick-up and drop-off • In-country transportation • Spanish translators, coordinators, and security • Program sustainability and follow-up between brigades • Project Fund: $100
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – RESOURCES FOR YOU FUNDRAISING PLATFORM www. globalbrigades. org/dashboard • Send links of brigade project information to donors • Create personalized profile to share with your donors • Track donation progress on individual and group level VOLUNTEER RESOURCE SITE (VRS) https: //www. globalbrigades. org/volunteer-tools-home • Brigade planning materials • Testimonials and deliverables from past brigades • Community and compound profiles • Frequently asked questions CHAPTER ADVISORS • Based at the International Office in Esteli, Nicaragua • Coordinate brigade planning and preparation with the Program Associates in Panama • Assist volunteers with fundraising, flight booking and more
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION – CONTACT INFORMATION Contact your Chapter Advisor for information about Business Brigades in Panama Don’t know who your Advisor is? Email: admin@globalbrigades. org
MICROFINANCE BRIGADES INFO SESSION– JOIN THE NEXT BRIGADE NAME LAST NAME President Email Phone Number
QUESTIONS? Don’t Hesitate to Ask!
- Slides: 34