AFIL Leadership Project 2011Kate Emery & YuJin Yong

Norman Borlaug & AFIL Guatemalan Student Experience Fund

Getting Started

• Goal: support global sustainable farming◦Norman Borlaug Institute

Fundraising Event:◦Cookbooks◦Cooking competition

Competition between international student groups

Sponsorships through local businesses Ticket sales

◦Partnership with on-campus culinary student organization

Derailed Challenges Encountered with Texas A&M Iron Chef

Lack of Participation/Interest◦Leadership of campus partnership

changed◦Lack of support from international

groups◦Minimal business sponsors

Timing & Funding◦Scheduling of event◦Local businesses already established

budgets

Changing Direction

AFIL Guatemalan Student Experience Scholarship Fund◦ Supporting Norman Borlaug’s Guatemala project

site◦ Give Texas A&M students opportunity to

participate Historically, only agricultural majors

Increase awareness◦ Norman Borlaug Institute’s project sites◦ Institute’s cause◦ Student opportunities within Norman Borlaug

Institute

Narrowing down a goal:Norman Borlaug Institute (as a whole)

Norman Borlaug Institute’s Antigua, Guatemala project site

Moving Forward

Program’s PurposeFor Texas A&M students to:

◦ Experience Guatemalan culture◦ Gain experience in developing a

personal project◦ Engage in international service

Agriculture in Guatemala: Technology, Education, and Commercialization (AGTEC)◦ helps small-scale Mayan farmers

in impoverish communities◦ promote economic development

Moving Forward

AFIL Guatemalan Student Experience Scholarship Fund

Scholarship will cover a portion of the costs for participating Texas A&M students to travel to

Norman Borlaug Institute’s Antigua, Guatemala project site

Moving Forward Program DetailsAntigua, Guatemala June 1-11, 2011Customizable special community

projects◦Structured with help of in-country

staff◦Ex. Children’s orphanage, women’s

groupsSpanish prerequisiteApplication due April 24, 2011Budgeted expenses per studentPlane ticket - $600Lodging & Breakfast - $15/dayLunch & Dinner - $13/dayEstimate expense for 10 days: $880

- $1000

Getting There

Fundraising:Fair Trade Coffee sales

◦ Partnership with Olmos Perk Coffee Bar in San Antonio to brew the Guatemalan coffee

Local gifts sales◦ Bracelets◦ Mother’s Day gift packages

Awareness:Website

◦ Information & online donation optionFlyers/information with productsStudent opportunities

◦ Through various student organizations

Current StatusOrganizationStudent travel program

established with Norman Borlaug Institute

Partnership with the Guatemala Student Association

FundsRaised $500+ in

donations through coffee sales so far

Project’s FutureSustainabilityContinuation through

partnership with Guatemalan Student Association

Structured for future AFIL members

Ultimate Goal$6000 goal before

December 2011◦Cover complete costs for 6

students

Important Lessons LearnedMaintaining organizationImportance of timingWorking with othersBeing flexibleAdapting to change

Q&A