Aurora Gilbert

New York, NY

Passionate About:

Service, Spanish, Latin America, Global Health

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Jan 13	Volunteer Activity: January 2013 Columbia Business Brigade Panama
Jan 08	Volunteer Activity: January 2012 Columbia University Business Brigades Panama

January 2013 Columbia Business Brigade Panama

End Date: Jan 19, 2013 12:00 AM

Volunteer Activity Message

Columbia University volunteers will spend 7 days in a rural community in Panama to help provide solutions to the community’s economic needs. The target beneficiaries have been previously excluded from formal financial institutions & therefore lacked access to savings and credit opportunities. Beneficiaries tend to have a low level of income, lack of collateral, & low level of education. During the brigade, volunteers divide into small groups to conduct household visits in which they get to know the family, assess each household’s level of financial competency and entrepreneurial aspirations. After the assessments the volunteers provide educational and technical assistance in the form of workshops. Topics range from personal finance to basic accounting and business planning. Additionally, volunteers invest in the community savings and loan (S&L) cooperative by providing seed capital. In turn, the seed capital provides loans to a small business to either expand current operations or pursue a new entrepreneurial opportunity. Working side-by-side with community members affords volunteers the opportunity for cultural exchange, micro-finance, and consulting experience. The households benefit by learning personal financial and business skills and gain access to credit and savings opportunities. Community businesses benefit from the consulting and loans. The community benefits because the profits earned by the S&L stay in the community to be used by the community!

Volunteer Goals

Program Goal: $0.00 / Airfare Goal: $0.00

Anonymous donated $57

Saying "Merry Christmas from your family! You made it -- yay!"

Dec 29, 2012 10:48 AM

Anonymous donated $250

Dec 29, 2012 12:22 AM

Anonymous donated $100

Saying "Have a wonderful and productive trip! Best wishes."

Dec 21, 2012 02:25 PM

Shannon Beauclair donated $100

Saying "Have a great time Aurora - we are really proud of all you do!"

Dec 11, 2012 06:08 PM

Elizabeth G-Gilbert donated $75

Saying "Good luck! From Jacquelyn & Gordon, Tom & Melinda, and Elsie!!!!"

Dec 10, 2012 12:05 PM

Anonymous donated $25

Dec 09, 2012 02:18 PM

Sallie Bodie donated $25

Saying "What a great project. I'm so glad to see young women like Aurora taking the lead on such important work. Bravo!"

Dec 03, 2012 03:07 PM

Anonymous donated $30

Dec 03, 2012 01:22 PM

Elizabeth G-Gilbert donated $50

Saying "Keep up the good work! From Randy & Eliza"

Nov 11, 2012 10:29 PM

Jenifer Sigafoes Phelan donated $100

Saying "From Greg, Jenifer, Jack and Caroline Phelan. Important stuff, Aurora. Keep up the good work!"

Oct 30, 2012 08:08 PM

Liz Gruchala-Gilbert donated $100

Saying "From John and Barbara! Good luck!"

Oct 30, 2012 11:04 AM

Elizabeth G-Gilbert donated $100

Saying "Happy Birthday from Grandma!!"

Oct 25, 2012 11:03 AM

Michael E Schuler donated $20

Oct 19, 2012 12:22 AM

Carrie Fry donated $50

Oct 09, 2012 01:25 PM

Elizabeth G-Gilbert donated $300

Saying "Happy Birthday from us & Babcia!"

Oct 09, 2012 11:10 AM

Michael Denton donated $50

Oct 07, 2012 07:19 PM

$1,432.00

of $1,432.00

in donations needed to reach the Initiative Goal

Complete

Thank you for your support!

of 9

volunteers needed to reach the Initiative Goal