Tobin GLOBE Students Discuss Poverty Eradication at the U.N.

March 12, 2012

Student managers from the Tobin College of Business undergraduate Global Loan Opportunities for Budding Entrepreneurs (GLOBE) Program were invited to present at the Fiftieth Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on Wednesday, February 8, 2012.

The students and Dr. Linda Sama, director of the GLOBE Program, were invited by the Sisters of Charity Federation and Daughters of Charity to discuss how GLOBE’s microcredit program promotes social justice and contributes to systemic improvements in economic development in impoverished countries.

The Daughters have a long-standing relationship with the College and work collaboratively with the GLOBE students. Acting as field partners, they recommend loan candidates, distribute funds and help collect loan repayments from the entrepreneurs in their communities. Students manage all the program’s operational details and set strategy for the program going forward with the guidance of Dr. Sama and the GLOBE Steering Committee. After the presentation, the students were given the opportunity to participate in Q&A and network with representatives from numerous Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). 

"The NGO communities at the United Nations were extremely receptive and welcoming of GLOBE. Dr. Sama's engaging performance allowed them to understand the workings and objectives of GLOBE, both as an academic course offered at St. John's and as a non-profit organization. Our mission is not only to raise funds to provide micro-loans to women and men living in extreme poverty but to create a system of poverty alleviation so that they may live dignified lives,” said Stephanie Pereira Lima, the current marketing and fundraising team liaison for GLOBE, as she reflected on her experience.

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