July 07, 2010
Leaders of international service organizations learned about a
unique partnership between St. John’s University and Grameen
America that fights poverty through microfinancing during a session
the University hosted for the 2010 National Conference on
Volunteering and Service.
The
session, “It’s a Borrower’s Market: Microfinance in Action,” took
place at St. John’s Manhattan
campus on Tuesday, June 29. It showcased the University’s service
partnership with
Grameen America, which focuses on enterprise and
entrepreneurship as vehicles for helping those in need.
Participants also browsed entrepreneurs’ booths at the Borrower’s
Market, which St. John’s and Grameen America hosted at the
campus.
The
2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service was held
from June 28-30 at the Hilton New York in Manhattan. The annual
conference is the world’s largest gathering of international
volunteer and service leaders from the non-profit, government and
corporate sectors. Participants learn, connect and gain inspiration
through workshops, special events, service projects, exhibits and
more.
Launched in 2009, St. John’s partnership with Grameen America engages
students in recruiting local entrepreneurs who otherwise would not
qualify for financing. Grameen America is part of the worldwide Grameen Bank. Founded by
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor
Muhammad Yunus, Grameen pioneered
microfinancing — providing small loans to struggling businesses
and entrepreneurs overlooked by mainstream banks.
The University coordinates its partnership with Grameen through VISA, the Vincentian
Institute for Social Action at St. John’s. VISA unites new and
ongoing programs that empower students and professors to address
poverty and injustice through teaching, research and service.
Inspired by Grameen, The
Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s created Global
Opportunities for Budding Entrepreneurs (GLOBE), a
student-managed microloan fund.
Read the full release.