Microfinance Brigades Information Package
ABOUT US Global Brigades is the world’s largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization. As a secular, international nonprofit organization, we mobilize student volunteers and professionals to empower communities in developing countries with programs that improve quality of life while respecting local culture and improving the environment. Between 2009 and 2010, more than 4,000 volunteers from over 100 GB university chapters in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Ireland traveled to provide health and economic development solutions to more than 50,000 beneficiaries through our teams in Panama and Honduras.
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WHERE WE WORK Global Brigades focuses on countries where family members survive on less than $2 per day and where medical and economic needs are severely neglected and resources for basic services are low. Honduras and Panama were selected based on their high need for services in their rural areas, strong on-the ground partnerships for sustainability, accessibility to logistical needs, and safety. Through on-the ground full-time staff in Honduras and Panama, Global Brigades is able to work with communities to ensure sustainable work and perpetuate on-going services in-between brigades.
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HONDURAS COMMUNITY STATS As the second poorest country in the western hemisphere, Honduras’ people have very limited access to healthcare and basic resources. Many health issues are related to clean water access and public health infrastructure. Families also have limited access to any type of small loans.
Average level of education is approximately 5th grade Typically no doctors within a 20 mile radius
80% of the population have no access to a dentist 70% have no access to public sanitary services Typical families have less than 3 gallons of water per day to use Limited to no access to microfinance
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PANAMA COMMUNITY STATS Although the downtown area of Panama is highly developed, less than one hour away from the city, families have limited access to healthcare and small businesses have very limited access to legal resources and capital. Also, with limited education on the natural rainforests of the region, businesses and farmers are unaware of the effects of deforestation and environmental degradation.
Average level of education is approximately 6TH grade
Rural communities without legal protection due to lack of legal registration of community
High biodiversity at risk of environmental degradation from improper waste disposal Limited to no access to microfinance
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ADDRESSING THE NEEDS DENTAL MEDICAL PUBLIC HEALTH WATER ARCHITECTURE
DENTAL
MICROFINANCE
MEDICAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
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HOW MICROFINANCE HELPS DENTAL MEDICAL PUBLIC HEALTH WATER
MICROFINANCE
Volunteers work with rural community banks to provide small loans and consult community members’ small businesses. Each volunteer has a chance to learn about various loan applicants and determines how ARCHITECTURE their $100 donation is allocated, which is BUSINESS later re-circulated for new loans after it is ENVIRONMENTAL repaid. Volunteers have a chance to meet with individual applicants to consult them LAW on their current businesses to help them MICROFINANCE grow and become financially sustainable.
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HONDURAS TEAM Global Brigades supports a full-time staff in-country to coordinate brigades and measure community impact. Each brigade will have a minimum of two dedicated team members throughout their time in Panama to ensure project success and to coordinate logistics.
ยกBienvenidos a Honduras!
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SELECTING COMMUNITIES Communities are selected by an extensive study based on need in relation to each of our programs and openness to collaboration. Most communities are within only a few hours of student accommodations, so that daily travel for brigades is feasible and safe. Global Brigades only works in communities where we have been invited, have strong relationships with community chiefs, and where community banks can be formed to perpetuate the loan process. Specifically for microfinance brigades, the incountry team works directly with rural community banks to develop a lending strategy and to vet potential borrowers in preparation for a brigade.
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7 DAY BRIGADE DAY 1 The first day is spent receiving an overview of microfinance, microenterprise consulting, best practices, and background information about Honduras.
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introduction
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assessment
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14 DAY BRIGADE DAY 2 Volunteers meet with the rural community bank to assess their operations, loan vetting process, interest rates and other crucial factors to help provide feedback on how they can improve.
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introduction
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14 DAY BRIGADE DAYS 3-5 Volunteers spend a few days meeting with different loan applicants and individually determining which loan applicants to donate their $100 capital investment to later be paid back to the bank to be reinvested into future loans.
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introduction
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14 DAY BRIGADE DAYS 6-7 Volunteers meet with their chosen borrowers to further understand their business operations and consult and brainstorm ways to improve.
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BANK & LOAN FOLLOW-UP
TRACKING SUCCESS Between brigades the Honduras team continuously monitors the rural banks’ operations and follows-up with small business to track loan repayments and the progress of the borrowers.
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LODGING Volunteers stay in dormitory-like facilities 1-3 hours away from the communities that will be receiving public health brigade assistance. The dormitory facilities have 24 hour staff on site.
HONDURAS NUEVO PARAISO POSADA AZUL RAPACO • Electricity, showers, and linens • Laundry and room cleaning • Private chefs prepare nutritious food • Security on duty • Internet cafe
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PROGRAM DONATION
HONDURAS $750 + Airfare Program contribution: 7 day program Accommodations and meals (vegetarian options available) Clean drinking water Airport pick-up & drop-off Transportation to and from community Spanish translators and coordinators Program sustainability & follow-up between brigades Loan backing ($100)
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RESOURCES FOR YOU Fundraising Tool www.empowered.org Send links of brigade project information to donors Create personalized profile to share with your donors Track donation progress on individual and group level
Online Wiki Portal Brigade planning materials Collection of reports from past brigades Community profiles
In-Country Student Advising Team Team of past club presidents in Honduras Share best practices for preparation and fundraising Answer questions about brigade and travel ABOUT
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JOIN THE NEXT BRIGADE!
Come meet the team in Honduras! Contact: jessica.hdrw@mfb-uw.org More information: www.mfb-uw.org Become a Chapter Member: http://www.empowered.org/University-of-Washington-1
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