microfinance%202011%20 ghana%20presentation ms3

Microfinance Brigades Information SessionNovember 1, 2011

GLOBAL BRIGADESGlobal Brigades’ Mission: To empower volunteers to facilitate sustainable solutions in under resourced communities

Global Brigades’ Vision: To improve equality of life, by igniting the largest student-led social responsibility movement on the planet.

ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE TAKE ACTIONCONTRIBUTION

DENTALMEDICALPUBLIC HEALTHWATER

ARCHITECTURE

MICROFINANCELAWENVIRONMENTALBUSINESS

PROGRAMSTo empower volunteers, Global Brigades offers 9 skill-based programs


Countries selected based on:• Large need in rural areas

• Strong community partnerships

• Logistically feasible

• Safe for volunteers

Needs that Global Brigades addresses:• Basic services

• Healthcare

• Economic

WHERE WE WORK


Programs are offered in Honduras, Panama, and Ghana

PROGRAMS & COUNTRIES

HondurasGhana Panama

DentalMedical

MicrofinanceWater

ArchitectureDental

MedicalMicrofinancePublic Health

Water

BusinessDental

EnvironmentalLaw

Medical


ArchitectureDental

MedicalMicrofinancePublic Health

Water

PROGRAMS & COUNTRIES

HondurasGhana Panama

DentalMedical

MicrofinanceWater

BusinessDental

EnvironmentalLaw

Medical


Why Ghana?

RURAL GHANA STATISTICSIn 2010, Global Brigades did extensive research to select one African country for expansion. Through on the ground research in 10 African countries and statistical analysis of community need, volunteer safety, and program fit, Ghana was selected as the African country in which to start Global Brigades.

Average level of education is approximately 5th grade

Typically no doctors within a 20 mile radius

70% have no access to public sanitary services

Limited to no access to microfinance

Typical families have less than 3 gallons of water per day to use


9 in 10 people in Ghanado not have

access to financial borrowing services

53.6% of people

in Ghana live on less than

$2 per day

53.6% of people

in Ghana live on less than

$2 per day

For every 1 MicrofinanceVolunteer

9 communitymembers start saving

=


What are the Economic Issues?• Communities lack access to any financial

system• Lack of long term financial mindset• Absence of financial literacy• Trapped in a debt cycle

o Intermediaries are only option for selling crops

o Minimal profit only permits minimal product

MICROFINANCE NEEDS

How does Microfinance Brigades help?

Microfinance Brigades:• Offers the opportunity to save to hundreds of community members• Provides capital in the form of loans• Teaches financial literacy• Empowers community members to achieve their financial dreams

Microfinance is connected to:• Education• Health and hygiene • Agriculture• Self sustainability• Female empowerment• Long term mindset (hope)

IMPACT OF MICROFINANCE


Formation & Follow-up of Community Bank•Global Brigades discovers community leaders which are then trained to operate a community

based bank•GB staff administers formal microfinance training•Volunteers follow-up with community bank operations and provide recommendationsFunction of the Community Bank• The Community Bank is operated by community members to serve men, women, and

children of the community. Community members are the shareholders/owners and thus invested in the bank’s success

• With Global Brigades’ guidance, community members take ownership by investing dividends, setting interest rates, etc.

• Volunteers provide business & personal finance consulting to loan applicants and donate funds to be distributed as loans to applicants

WHAT IS A MICROFINANCE BRIGADE?


PROJECT SUSTAINABILITYCommunity Selection•Based on

oNeedoAccess to financial supportoCommunity commitment

Sustainability Aspects•Community Executive Boards and Shareholders

oCommunity led and ownedoOperate and maintain system

•In-country staffoTrain executive board members and maintain year round follow upoDevelop and maintain Caja Rural businessesoDevelop future community relationships oEnsure that the books are being properly managed for loans, savings and

shares


GHANA MICROFINANCE TEAM

Welcome to Ghana!

Microfinance Brigades Team•Leads your brigade

•Assists volunteers with $100 community investment funds

•Performs community follow-up

•Train executive board members to maintain bank balances

•Build community relations

o Works with community in preparation for brigade arrival

•Advises chapters with brigade preparation


How can you help?

WHY WE WANT YOUYour Benefits•Contribute to sustainable change

o Provide a community access to financial literacy, health, and economic potential

•Education applicationo Basic finance applicationo Spanish language immersion

•International development experienceo Consulting on Financial needs and

solutions

Community Benefits•Investment for community wide projects•Help Bank Capitalization, accelerate bank growth•Students empower communities•Reinforces communities commitment to their community banks.


What does a brigade look like?What does a brigade look like?

10 DAY BRIGADEDay 1 – Arrival & Microfinance Introduction•Transportation to lodging facility

o Electricity, showers and bathroomso Bed linens and pillowo Laundry and room cleaningo 24 hour securityo Limited internet

•Ghana & Microfinance introductiono Microfinance model introductiono Factors inhibiting sufficient access

to financial literacyo Needs you are addressingo Why microfinance makes a difference

introduction community introduction project implementation workshops


10 DAY BRIGADE

community introductionintroduction project implementation workshops


Day 2 – Community Introduction•Welcome Ceremony

• Meet the community on their level – through song, dance and traditional cultural practices

•Meet with the chiefs and local leaderso Get the leader’s perspectiveo Question and answer

10 DAY BRIGADE



Day 3 – Initial Meeting•Meet with the community bank to discuss:

o Assess its operationso Loan vetting processo Interests rateso Other crucial factorso Feedback on how they can improve

•Community leaders explain the “Community Bank Model”

10 DAY BRIGADEDays 4-5 – Home visits•Visit families in their homes

•Develop an understanding of:

o Families’ financial literacy

o Occupation

o Business Aspirations

o Culture

o Potential loan candidates

•Encourage interaction between families and volunteers

•Develop potential consulting solutions



10 DAY BRIGADEDays 6-7 – Consulting•Meet with community bank to share what you have learned and to gather final information

•Select specific businesses for in-depth analysis

•Follow entrepreneurs into the field to see their business operations

•Make trips to the local market to make sales



10 DAY BRIGADEDays 8 – Capital Investment•Provide final presentation to the community bank

o Deliver findings

o Group recommendations

o Provide loans

•Volunteers decide which people and business ideas to personally support

•Loans are disbursed through community bank model to ensure effective and sustainable financial development



10 DAY BRIGADEDay 9-10 – Education Workshops•Present education topics based on common issues various loan applicants have•Common topics:

o How to make a business plano Marketingo Accountingo Name Brandingo Profito Savings & Investment

•Why educateo Spread awareness about the Community Bank’s serviceso Instill sustainable savings and loan culture

project implementationcommunity introductionintroduction workshops


EXAMPLE SMALL BUSINESS


Challenges:•Various small businesses are selling the same items, so the market is extremely competitive•Most businesses sell just enough to feed their families, so re-investing into the business is rare •Most business owners have not learned the basics of marketing, savings or accounting, so financial education is key to growth•There is little to no opportunity for loans or other financial services

An Orange BusinessMany women in Ghana sell produce or fish in the market

How do I sign up?

How is your Microfinance Brigades Funded?•Volunteers’ Program Contribution: £550 (UK), €650 (Europe), $880 (US)

o Brigade expenses o Program sustainability

•PLUS Airfare: Variable

Program Contribution Details•10 day program• Accommodations and meals (vegetarian options available)• Clean drinking water• Airport pick-up and drop-off• In-country transportation• Translators and coordinators• Program sustainability and follow-up between brigades• Community Investment Fund - $125

TOTAL CONTRIBUTION


RESOURCES FOR YOUFundraising 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

Student Resource Site globalbrigades.wikidot.com Brigade planning materials Collection of reports from past brigades Community profilesFrequently asked questions

In-Country Advising Team Team of trained staff in Ghana Share best practices for all aspects of brigade preparation Answer questions about brigade and community


http://www.brigades.org/

PhotoHere

PhotoHere

NAMEPresidentEmail:Phone Number:

NAMEPresidentEmail:Phone Number:

Sign up or contact one of the following University of XYZ Microfinance Brigades leaders:

JOIN THE NEXT BRIGADE!


Questions?

INSERT TITLE

Insert additional slides for chapter updates orpictures of your last brigade.

microfinance%202011%20 ghana%20presentation ms3

Education

global health

water brigades

global brigades holistic

honduras people

health issues

microfinance brigades

public health infrastructure

public health projects