Microfinance Brigades Information Session [Insert date here]

1. Microfinance Brigades Information Session [Insert date here]

2. GLOBAL BRIGADES Global Brigades’ Mission: To empower volunteers and under-resourced communities to resolve global health and economic disparities and inspire all involved to collaboratively work towards an equal world. Global Brigades’ Vision: To improve equality of life by igniting the largest student-led social responsibility movement on the planet ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

3. PROGRAMS To empower volunteers, Global Brigades offers 9 skill-based programs DENTAL MEDICAL PUBLIC HEALTH WATER ARCHITECTURE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW MICROFINANCE ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

4. WHERE WE WORK Programs are offered in Honduras, Panama, Ghana and Nicaragua • 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 ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

5. PROGRAMS & COUNTRIES Ghana Honduras Panama Nicaragua Dental Medical Microfinance Water Architecture Business Dental Medical Microfinance Public Health Water Business Dental Environmental Law Medical Medical Public Health ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

6. PROGRAMS & COUNTRIES Ghana Honduras Panama Nicaragua Business Dental Medical Microfinance Water Architecture Business Dental Medical Microfinance Public Health Water Business Dental Environmental Human Rights Medical Microfinance Medical Public Health ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

7. Why Honduras?

8. RURAL HONDURAS STATISTICS • Typical family lives on • less than $2 a day • Average level of education is • approximately 5th grade • Typical personhave less than • 3 gallons of water per day to use • 70% have no access to public sanitary services • Typically no doctors within 20 miles radius • 80% of the population haveno access to a dentist • Limited to no access to microfinance ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

9. 5 in 6 people in rural Honduras do not have access to loans

10. 87% of people in Honduras only have access to intermediaries who charge high interest rates on loans

11. 1 farmer can double production For every 1 Microfinance Volunteer =

12. MICROFINANCE NEEDS • 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 • Intermediaries are only option for selling crops (coyotes) • Minimal profit only permits minimal product ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

13. How does Microfinance • Brigades help?

14. HOW MICROFINANCE HELPS • Microfinance provides access to financial support: • Within the community • Allows healthier, more productive lives • Leads to increase in crop production • Microfinance is connected to: • Education • Health and hygiene • Agriculture • Self sustainability • Female empowerment • Long term mindset (hope) ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

15. What is MICROFINANCE brigades? • Formation of the Caja Rural • Sought out communities in need based on Global Brigades existing relationships • Global Brigades discovers community leaders which are then trained to operate the Caja Rural, a community based bank • GB staff administers formal and intensive FUNDER microfinance training: 3 separate, 3-day offsite modules & periodic follow-up assistance • Function of the Caja Rural • The Caja 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 Caja’ssuccess • With Global Brigades’ guidance, community members take ownership by investing dividends, setting interest rates, etc. • The Caja allows community members to take out loans and open savings accounts ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

16. PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY • Community Selection • Based on • Need • Access to financial support • Community commitment • Sustainability Aspects • Community Executive Boards and Shareholders • Community led and owned • Operate and maintain system • In-country staff • Train executive board members and maintain year round follow up • Develop and maintain Caja Rural businesses • Develop future community relationships • Ensure that the books are being properly managed for loans, savings and shares • Develop an exit strategy so Caja can be sustained on it’s own ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

17. How can you help?

18. WHY WE WANT YOU • Your Benefits • Contribute to sustainable change • Provide a community access to financial literacy, health, and economic potential • Education improvement • Basic finance application • Spanish language immersion • International development experience • 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. ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

19. What does a brigade look like?

20. SAMPLE BRIGADE ITINERARY ABOUT LOCATION BUSINESS BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

21. ONE WEEK BRIGADE • Day 1 – Arrival & Microfinance Introduction • Transportation to lodging facility • Electricity, showers and bathrooms • Bed linens and pillow • Laundry and room cleaning • 24 hour security • Limited internet • Honduras & Microfinance introduction • The Global Brigades Model • Microfinance • Community Bank, Community Development fund. Cooperative Development • Cultural Sensitivity ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION introduction community introduction project implementation workshops departure

22. ONE WEEK BRIGADE Day 2 – Relationship Building • Initial Caja Meeting • Caja Rural executive board meeting • Question & answer • Leader’s perspective • Community Introduction • Understanding the community • Socio-economic perspective • Cultural perspective • Needs vs. Assets • Understanding the main necessities of the community and the available ways to satisfy them • Family interview preparation • On the basis of the information collected during the day ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION introduction community introduction project implementation workshops departure

23. ONE WEEK BRIGADE • Day 3 – Family Interviews • Visit families in their homes • Develop an understanding of: • Families’ financial literacy • Occupation • Business Aspirations • Culture • Potential loan candidates • Encourage interaction between families and volunteers • Develop an understanding of families assets and wealth ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION introduction community introduction project implementation workshops departure

24. ONE WEEK BRIGADE • Day 4 – Creating Savings Accounts • Financial Literacy workshop: • Savings and Loans • Supporting Caja members • Collecting families’ savings • Setting the basis for the creation of of savings accounts • Why educate • Gain awareness about the Caja Rural • Instill sustainable savings and loan culture ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION introduction community introduction project implementation workshops departure

25. ONE WEEK BRIGADE Day 5 – Financial Planning • Financial Literacy Workshop: • Basic accounting and budgeting • Feasibility analysis • Initial evaluation of families’ savings&loan profiles • Why educate • Gain awareness about the Caja Rural • Instill sustainable savings and loan culture ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION introduction community introduction project implementation workshops departure

26. ONE WEEK BRIGADE Day 6 – Loan Opportunity Identification • Update family profiles with loan opportunities • Open up savings account • In collaboration with the community bank • Matching savings • Outlook to the future • Introduction to Business Brigades ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION introduction community introduction project implementation workshops departure

27. ONE WEEK BRIGADE • Day 7– Departure • Start planning for next brigade • Set goals • Leadership position • Share experience with donors, friends, family • Get connected through GB networks • Updates on your community and water system • Learn and share about microfinance issues across the world ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION introduction community introduction project implementation workshops departure

28. MEET THE MICROFINANCE TEAM • 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 • Works with community in preparation for brigade arrival • Advises chapters with brigade preparation ¡Bienvenidos a Honduras! ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

29. MEET YOUR COMMUNITY • [ Insert individual slide for specific community. Individual community slides are listed below the main Information Session Presentations on the Student Resource Site. Contact Program Advisor for community (megan.dunlop@globalbrigades.org). ] ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

30. How do I sign up?

31. TOTAL CONTRIBUTION • How is your Microfinance Brigades Funded? • Volunteers’ Program Contribution: $750 • Brigade expenses • Program sustainability • Airfare: Variable • Program Contribution Details • 7 day program • Accommodations and meals (vegetarian options available) • Clean drinking water • Airport pick-up and drop-off • In-country transportation • Spanish translators and coordinators • Program sustainability and follow-up between brigades • Community Investment Fund - $100 ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

32. RESOURCES FOR YOU • Fundraising 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 profiles • Frequently asked questions • In-Country Advising Team • Team of trained staff in Honduras • Share best practices for all aspects of brigade preparation • Answer questions about brigade and community ABOUT LOCATION MICROFINANCE BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION TAKE ACTION

33. IN-COUNTRY CONTACT • Contact your advisor for information about Microfinance Brigades in Honduras • Global Brigades Program Advisors • @globalbrigades.org

34. Questions?