Texas A&M Business Brigade Panama May 2015


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Volunteer Activity Description

Start Date: May 24, 2015 12:00 AM
End Date: May 30, 2015 12:00 AM

Texas A&M 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!

100% Complete (success)
$27,150.00

of $13,350.00

in donations needed to reach the Initiative Goal


Complete

Thank you for your support!

100% Complete (success)
32

of 15

volunteers needed to reach the Initiative Goal


Anaelena Lopez

Passionate about: Helping other, educating myself and expanding my knowledge.

Ashley Crozier

Passionate about: People, Faith, and Service!
Activity details were updated 2114 days ago
Catherine Habib donated $25 3598 days ago
Anonymous donated $200 3618 days ago
Anonymous donated $200 3618 days ago
Anonymous donated $200 3618 days ago

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