Global Brigades: UCSC Microfinance

UCSC

Microfinance Brigades

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"Give a man a fish, he'll eat

for a day. Give a woman microcredit

she, her husband, her children

and her extended family will eat

for a lifetime."

Bono

About
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Global Brigades: UCSC Microfinance

Global Brigades is a student lead volunteer organization, with over 100 participating universities and over 4,0000 student volunteers. Microfiance is one of the many brigades that Global Brigades offers. Microfinance allows people in developing countries to partake in entrepreneur activities and grow small businesses. Brigaders are given the opportunity to work hands-on with cajas (small community run banks) to help decrease poverty. At the end of the brigade, brigaders give a $100 loan (included in program costs) to the communities that they have been working with while on the brigade. This loan is given based on the information that the brigaders have gathered while interacting and learning about the communities, along with talking to individual borrowers about their ideas. No only do the brigaders have an opportunity to aid impoverished communities, but they themselves experience a new culture and are able to grow as individuals. Microfiance brigades allows students the opportunity to share their education and what they have learned in a classroom to improve the lives of others. Global Brigades is an amazing organization that, through education and learning, improves the lives of thousands.For more information on Global Brigades please read about them on their webpage: http://globalbrigades.wikidot.com/student-materials:about-gbTrip Information

Dates

There are two trips planned for 2011. Any student from any university is able to join, as

well as any non-students, as long as they are above 18 years of age.

Honduras: March 19th-26th (spring break for the majority of UCs)

Honduras: June 13th-20th (after graduation and before summer school for the majority of UCs)

Basic Overview

The brigade is a total of seven days. Within these days, through observation and discussion, we

will learn about the caja's (small community banks) needs and wants. In addition, we will be

learning about their culture, skills, traditions, etc. At the end of the sevens days, each brigader

will decide on how to disperse their $100 micro-loan. They can decide amongst funding an

individual idea, funding a community idea, giving the loan to the caja to disperse as their own micro-

loan, or putting the money towards funding the education of micro-loans within the community.

Brigaders will aslo be visiting the orphanages of Sociedad Amigos de los Niños .

Lodging

All accomidations are provided for, except for one meal that is eaten out when buying souvenirs

and visiting a tourist town. Each brigader is provided with three meals a day, clean running

water, plenty of clean drinking water, bed sheets and towels, a place to do laundry, access to

internet cafes, all modern showers and toliets, and access to medical personal.

FAQHow much does the program cost? On average, the program costs $1,400 for a one week brigade. Last year we were able to raise thousands of dollars through donations, grants, and fundraisers. University of California Santa Cruz donated over $2,000! What if I don't know anything about microfinance?Not to worrry, the brigade is all about learning! Meetings are held every other week (outlines are posted on the webpage for people who are unable to attend), in which we will be learning about microfinance. Last year we had professors and CEOs of Trade As One and Santa Cruz Credit Union speak to us about microfinance and international volunteering. In addition, we have several brigaders from last year joining again, who can provide a first hand expereience for new brigaders. What if I don't speak Spanish?No problem! Global brigades supplies each brigade with professional translators, who are fluent in both English and Spanish. In addition, last year we had two brigaders that were fluent in Spanish, so language never became an issue for anyone. Media

Media and Awards

UCSC's 1st Microfinance Brigade

Honduras: June 14th-21st, 2010

Fall 2009: The UCSC chapter of Global Brigades: Microfinance was founded.

2010: UCSC Global Brigades receives the University of California Santa Cruz Chancellor's Achievement Award for Diversity

June 10th, 2010: Santa Cruz Good Times Weekly publishes an article about Global Brigades at UCSC.

Read article:

http://www.goodtimessantacruz.com/santa-cruz-news/santa-cruz-local-news/1316-trip-of-a-lifetime.html