Spring 2015

Each semester, students enrolled in the Global Microloan Program will update this site with their weekly program logs. The Spring 2015 student teams include Technology and Communications; Marketing and Fundraising; Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits; and Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment.

  • Marketing and Fund Raising: Michael Benjamin, Leilani Blira-Koessler*, Ramsha Hussain, Minh Nghiem, Silken Solomon
  • Technology and Communications Team: Jhoselyn Escobar, William Hernandez, Mark Jones*, Joshua Ramirez
  • Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment Team: Zackery Allen, Frederick Dai, Milton Parra*, Lewis Psofimis, Sabine Stamer
  • Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits Team: Umulisa Dukuze, Jasiel Martin-Odoom, Keelyn Sauchelli, Collin Stubblefield*, Chinyere Ukaegbu

*Team Liaisons

Learn More

Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits
Log #1
By: Chinyere Ukaegbu

From the thought-provoking dialogue the emerged out of the classroom to the strategically selected assigned readings, the GLOBE journey has had a phenomenal start. It was a breath of fresh air to see that the lecture and presentation in class were quite pertinent to my team’s objectives. Whether it was the discussion of practices of innovative organizations or the efforts to tackle the question as to why microfinance when it comes to alleviating poverty, the concepts that I learned in class were applicable to the task set before me by my team. Indeed, GLOBE appeared to be the epitome of the phrase “application of knowledge.” Even better than having the opportunity to really apply the knowledge you learn in the classroom to hands-on situations, is doing it with a team. I thoroughly enjoyed discussions with my team regarding our research topic. I’m excited to start our research regarding the social, economic, and political factors that contribute to defaulting on loans for it can perhaps be a tool for GLOBE managers to come. In saying this, by outlining social factors that may contribute to defaulting, we can open the door to possibilities of addressing other infrastructure issues, like lack as access to clean water, that also contribute to the issue of poverty. Indeed, I look forward to working, growing, building, and laughing with my team who has already started off strong.

To learn that I am a GLOBE Fellow and will be traveling to Nicaragua to actually meet the borrowers and get a small glimpse of their lives has added another dimension to my GLOBE journey. I look forward to taking a step further to building my community as I exchange ideas, culture, and traditions with the borrowers. I also look forward to bringing a bit of Nicaragua back with me in that I hope to share my experience with the borrowers with my fellow GLOBE members and possibly help answer some questions about the people which they will soon help become more financially stable. One important take-away I took from the past two classes is the repetition of this concept of helping others to help themselves. As I reflect further upon this mission of GLOBE, I feel a deeper connection with GLOBE; for this mission closely aligns with my passion for my career—to become a physician. Oddly (or perhaps not so oddly), I began to see GLOBE as a taste of the warm feeling I would get helping my community of patients help themselves in the future. It was then I knew that this three-credit course would go above and beyond a mere three credits and into the realms of innovation, service, and empowerment. GLOBE Spring 2015? Let the journey begin.

Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment Team

Log # 1
By: Sabine Stamer

Due to several blizzard/storm warnings, our GLOBE endeavor has unfortunately gotten off to a delayed start. However, we have had our first class, and the motivation of each and every GLOBE manager to make maximum impact in our borrowers’ lives is astounding and inspiring.

The class came up with a variety of answers to Dr. Sama’s question, “What is poverty?” We agreed that help- and hopelessness, limited production resources (land, labor, capital, entrepreneurship), limited access to basic necessities (food, water, shelter, clothing), and a lack of opportunity are all good definitions of poverty. Building on our discussion, we also reflected on the common usage of- and political incorrectness of the term “poor” when describing people that are “living in poverty.” This was illuminating and thought-provoking. Afterall, people living in poverty are not necessarily poor, they may be rich in culture, rich in happiness, rich in family and rich in tradition. Thus, it is clear that we must refrain from pitying those who lack ‘wealth,’ and treat them with the respect and dignity that they undeniably deserve. 

One idea from our readings that has especially captured me is Muhammed Yunus’ dream for a world where social businesses have the same prominence and recognition that profit-maximizing businesses (PMBs) enjoy today. Unlike PMBs, which as the name suggests, are primarily motivated by profit-maximization, social businesses, according to Yunus’ definition, are environmentally sustainable, maximise social benefits, serve the needs of those living in poverty, and do not depend on charitable donations. Ideally, a social stock exchange would be set up, where shares of different social businesses can be traded easily. This would be a market for investors interested not only in profits, but who wish to invest their money in a way that creates positive social changes. As Yunus correctly points out, the major weakness of capitalism is that it assumes that people are ONLY motivated by money. Granted, wealth is a powerful motivator. However, countless passionate and generous individuals have proven that sacrificing personal wealth in favor of alleviating poverty and suffering, showing love and care, spending time with friends and family, and making a difference in the lives of others are just as, if not more, powerful motivators.

One of my favourite books of all time, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, is about a young man who has always been tortured by the desire to save the world paired with the inability to do so. Yunus’ dream is a simple, genius concept, which if implemented effectively, could bring about revolutionary changes in the way people think about business, unite social entrepreneurs, and alleviate the poverty of billions in the process.  This topic, with a focus on major current obstacles and their solutions, would be an interesting avenue to pursue for the Finance and Risk Assessment team’s research paper.

Other than familiarizing ourselves with the course material and getting to know each other as a team, we have been challenged by several assignments due this Tuesday, including preparing comprehensive objectives for the semester, a reading presentation, deciding on a research paper topic, and planning our first fundraising event- a Valentine’s Day Bake Sale. We also had a meeting with a member from the IT team on Friday, in order to learn how to use the GLOBE database, which helps us track borrowers. It has been an exhilerating, extremely fast-paced first week and I can genuinely say that I admire the talented individuals in my team and look forward to collaborating with them over the next 10+ weeks.

 

Marketing and Fundraising Team
Log # 1
By: Michael Benjamin

It took some time, but after a week’s delay, the Spring 2015 term kicked off for GLOBE. I would be lying if I did not admit to feeling really excited but nervous also. Thus far, my GLOBE experience has been limited to being blown away by last term’s absolutely fantastic final presentations, the reading of the diverse array of class texts, and finally having the first class session. Despite doing all the readings, from Yunus to Ledgerwood, I think that walking into class made the experience completely real to me; it moved GLOBE from an academic experience into something much more.

The readings, prior to Tuesday night, had essentially been an abstract to me. I’m an English and Government and Politics double-major and have been quite distant from the world of business. So when I first started reading Joanna Ledgerwood’s Microfinance Handbook, I would be lying if I did not say I was horrified. It was so filled with a language I had yet to encounter that I began to re-evaluate my decision and my confidence for my fit in the program began to erode. Not to mention, I wondered if I could ever put together a presentation like those I saw on that snowy December evening.

Then I remembered why I wanted to participate in GLOBE. There was so much that I just could not address in front of the class. For one, I joined because I had known of a few GLOBE managers and they all boasted of the program. They seemed to love the work they were doing. As someone who is still searching to do something meaningful, that was extremely appealing to me. But my reasons run deeper than that: I have been privileged for so much of my life. For one, I am a New Yorker, born and raised, and have had the sheer luck to be educated in some of the city’s better and safer schools. I have had the privilege to live in a dual-income home, with parents who could afford to send me abroad last spring. I have a car that I use to commute to school. This list of privileges could go on and on.

I joined GLOBE to make a difference. My high school forced us to take an oath, called the Ephebic Oath, upon entry. The final line of the oath stated, “I promise to leave my city no less, but rather greater than I found it.” Those words have stuck with me since. Not to say I have exactly acted on them; I have been very much the self-absorbed young adult that you often see on college campuses. I admit it. But GLOBE offers a way for me to leave my little bubble, concerned with what is best for my future. GLOBE puts me in a position of making truly life-altering moves for those who have not had a fraction of the fortune I have had. GLOBE puts me in a position to not only learn about the impoverished but to actually help them. With GLOBE I will not just be making my city greater than I found it, but hopefully the world too.

That is the truly nerve-wracking part. GLOBE boasts an excellent tradition of contributing to the betterment of the world, one loan at a time. It is up to my fellow GLOBE managers and I to continue the tradition and to live up to the standards set by our forbearers. I look forward to working with my marketing team and finding new ways to raise money for this excellent cause and this excellent program. I am anxious to start making my contributions.

Technology and Communications Team

Log # 1
By: Mark Jones

Where do I start? I guess from the beginning. When I first heard about GLOBE; I’m not sure where I was or what I was doing, but the idea of making “real life decisions” that would have a great effect on other people’s lives always stuck with me. All I knew was that it was a class with hands-on experience and it had to deal with loaning money to people. That’s it. That’s all I really needed to know at the time.

The idea of helping others is not new, but it somehow seems lost in today’s money-driven, capitalistic world where the bottom line is the bottom line.  I have always had a strong belief that we are all on this Earth together and that we should look to help out our “brothers and sisters” around the world the same as we would for our brothers and sisters around the dinner table. GLOBE is the first class…no. GLOBE is the first business that I truly believed had the goal of helping others who are less fortunate at the forefront of their mission. Once I stepped into class and I saw Dr. Sama’s eyes light up when speaking about the people around the globe who have benefited from this program, I knew that what I thought about GLOBE was reality.

Even though I didn’t get my first choice of what group I wanted to be in, I think it actually worked out for the better. Being a marketing major, I wanted to be a part of the marketing and fundraising team. As things usually go in this world, they don’t go how you would expect them to. I was asked to be a part of the Information Technologies team, and I honestly couldn’t have chosen a better group to be a part of. My teammates are good workers and even better people. I am not the most technologically savvy person, which is why I’m glad I was given this challenge of stepping outside of my “comfort zone” and working as team towards one goal. What I don’t know, one of my teammates might be able to help me out with. What they need help with, I am always there for them.

The amazing thing about the world, and GLOBE, is that we can all help each other to push to reach that “next level.” Very rarely in life do we get a chance to make a significant mark on someone’s lives, and this class will allow us, the managers, the opportunity to feel it first-hand. I am so excited to really get started to make this the best GLOBE group of managers yet. We are already moving fast and getting ready to do the best job that we can. We can’t afford to slack off and hang around because those people around the world asking for loans aren’t given that luxury. We have to work just as hard as them if we truly want to make this a successful semester. I have full confidence in this group of managers, the rest of the IT team, and our leaders in administration, beginning with Dr. Sama, that we can achieve great things.

Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits
Log # 2
By: Collin Stubblefield

Dr. Sama,

This week things really got started. The group began to look at other teams objectives in order to prepare for internal audits this week. We’ve also began to work on our research paper and really nail down a topic and an outline. We are learning how difficult it is to get together because someone is always busy but we are making it work!

I wrote everything above before class time yesterday, and everything now is me furiously typing away because I fell asleep on the couch after I ate last night… (even though you said not to, I did anyways).

Our audits didn’t go as planned in class today, but that is fine, one must adapt to survive. As I said in my last log, I really enjoy the real life application this class provides. Every scenario we discuss is real and every idea has a chance to help someone—and that echoes one of the traits of an innovative organization: pay attention to the exceptional. Not everything is going to run on a smooth timeline with no hitches, so we must roll with the punches because in the end it will all be worth it.

I sort of have to trick myself, because on top of all the other responsibilities I have, GLOBE is a lot. But I keep reminding myself that the people we are helping need me in a much worse way than I need my sleep (except for last night apparently).

These people have been kept down by a system and are tagged as “lazy” or “dumb” but they are neither. The impoverished people live in situations where many of us would not survive and work harder jobs for longer hours. They are victims of a perpetual system of poverty, which is fostered by those in charge in order to keep prices down. And here on the home front, we don’t care how it got here, as long as it looks good on the mannequin.

So as Muhammed Yunis says in his Banker for the Poor, “People like Sufiya were poor not because they were stupid or lazy. They work all day long, doing complex physical tasks. They were poor because the financial institutions in the country did not widen the economic basis”(p. 50) and so “In 1976, I began visiting the poorest households in Jobrato see if I could help them directly in any way” (p.46).

You won’t know a situation until you are in it first hand, and if you want to help, you must truly understand those you are trying to help, and we at GLOBE are trying to do that in any way we can.

Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment Team

Log # 2
By: Milton Parra

To live as nature intended – no one ever came to poverty that way. Every Tuesday marks a milestone in this journey; and every Tuesday represents a unique opportunity to apply theoretical concepts to real world problems. What is most rewarding about GLOBE is the insatiable thirst Dr.Sama has for microfinance, and more so, to helping our developing world partners. Poverty is not just a social problem, it is also a problem that has maintained it’s footing in society because of inefficient methodologies employed by previous generations. Therefore, it is an academic problem that is only now getting the attention it deserves.

I am excited to meet with my team on Tuesdays before class – we come together and update one another regarding our individual task. The team presentations have been instrumental in dissecting our assigned reading. We often times find that after doing the reading and collaborating via Google Docs that different viewpoints can be interpreted from a given topic within our assigned reading. Nonetheless, I find that we will engage in a topic of interest only to find ourselves talking in circles, which makes for an inefficient session.

After analyzing our loan (our one and only loan) it brings memories of my childhood, I remember my parents starting a small restaurants near my grandmother’s neighborhood. I recall the times when it was really, really - slow, and my sister and I would ask my dad if we could have a few pieces of chicken because they were finger licking good. But, I also remember my dad’s face, how he worried about paying rent, how he worried about paying for grammar school. I may have been young but I understood the concept of money, and how an influx of cash always allowed my dad to walk a little easier – and by that I mean that on our walks to school I could tell how he felt by the way he walked. My dad has always been an honorable man, and my journey here with Globe and all my colleagues is an attempt at making him proud.

Marketing and Fundraising Team
Log # 2
By: Silken Solomon

So we have officially made it to week number two!!! There is a clear difference in atmosphere than the first class – we are all much more active due to the fact that each group has a lot tasks and assignments that we are already working on for the semester and we ae starting a very fast pace. Dr. Sama keeps commenting on how quickly our class began completing assignments and how our efforts compare greatly to previous GLOBE classes (I will admit that I couldn’t imagine moving at a slower pace due to the amount of time we’ve lost to the snow days). I enjoy this pace of work and I feel like my team in particular has been very productive in a short amount of time.

In our first lecture, Dr. Sama covered what I would think to be the “basics” of microfinance. This might actually be the most influential class of the semester for my fellow managers and myself because it gives a better understanding on what exactly microfinance is. The lecture greatly covered the microfinance philosophy of Muhammed Yunus. One thing I found particularly interesting is the role that Yunus played in the reformation of microfinance and how it has, since, affected communities across the world. Being a member and manager in this program, I know that change starts with just one person, such as in this case. It is admirable that Yunus saw the issue right before his eyes and at his feet, and he took small steps to promote self-sustainability and combat poverty (as I have learned from my group reading from this week).

The main objective for the Marketing Team has been the upcoming bake sale for next Thursday (Feb. 17th) and all its requirements. It has been my specific responsibility to create the flyer for the event – I have previous experience with doing so. Because the general idea is that it’s a “roaming/mobile” bake sale, I devised a “Catch Me If You Can” gingerbread themed flyer and it got a great response from Dr. Sama and the current and past GLOBE Managers. One of the best points of today’s class was that former GLOBE managers came to watch us present our oral summaries and give us advice. They gave us much more praise than I expected on the things we executed well. They also gave us advice on things we could improve and how we could not make the same mistakes that they made in previous semesters (i.e. enforcing that the entire class must help with events, starting the research papers late, etc.). I really like hearing what didn’t work in the past just as much as what did because I enjoy a different perspective on things.

Technology and Communications Team

Log # 2
By: Jhoselyn Escobar

It was only the second time that we met as a class and already we had worked in so much. Every little team project excites me and I feel like I am a G.L.O.B.E manager for a long time. This class started with an introductory video where we saw how important and essential technology is for developing countries. Things that we take for granted and use every day like electricity, power, lights are revolutionary for people living in poverty. Can you picture a day without charging your cell phone? Well people living in poverty feel incredible bless if they have one function light bulb in their house. This topic was related with one of our reading of Yunus’s book “Creating a World Without Poverty”. My team and I created a presentation for the class where we explained the importance of social businesses and emphasizing on how vital technology is for people living in poverty. By vital I mean a luxury that can change lives and not like it is for us an asset in our life style.  Yanus, famous for his revolutionary development of social business recounts in his book that he became a social entrepreneur not because he wanted to get in that business but because he wanted to help people in need. We only need and idea and a big desire to help others and I believe we can change the world.

All of the others teams have also prepared a presentation for the class where they linked their knowledge with relevant topics of social micro finance.  Dr. Sama was so pleased that now this will become a quotidian activity in the class. I think it is great because this not only will improve our presentation skills but also develop a detail knowledge of microfinance.

Times flies on class and 3 hours is never enough for G.L.O.B.E. This class we had also the pleasure to share with past managers. They share their stories thoughts and provide us some guidelines that were incredible helpful. We concluded our day finalizing our team objectives for this semester. I can’t wait for the next class meeting!

Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits
Log #3
By: Chinyere Ukagebu

I am especially excited for this week’s class of GLOBE, both because I am anxious to see if this class can top the last class in which we presented in front of past GLOBE managers and because I have had the opportunity to attend my first Steering Committee Meeting. This past class was so great because the reading in which my team was charged with presenting to the class was particularly applicable for any of society’s movers and shakers, especially young social entrepreneurs like myself who are constantly looking to answer the call of duty to make society just a tad bit better. In Banker to the Poor, Yunnus said, “my work became a struggle to show that the financial untouchables are actually touchable, even huggable” (p. 57). This quote strikes me as a call to community oriented thinking for he calls to advocate on behalf of the financially untouchables and questions the idea that these people are financially untouchable. This quote spoke to me because it reflects GLOBE’s initiatives to seek unity and, in a sense, family. In saying this, by calling the poor “huggable,” he asserts the humanity of the poor and challenges us to see the poor as our brothers and sisters. This practical application of GLOBE has become theme of my GLOBE experience.

For instance, I attended a talk on campus by the UN’s global mapping initiatives that focused on using GIS mapping to make communities in developing countries more developed in an effort to achieve millennium development goals. These sustainable development goals include GLOBE’s mission of working to end poverty in all of its forms. Upon hearing the UN representatives explain their efforts and mission, I immediately was able to see another practical application for GLOBE. In fact, I was able to further connect with the UN representatives about GLOBE and was pleased to discover that she was willing to collaborate her efforts with that of GLOBE. To see GLOBE actively fitting into aspects of my everyday life outside of class gave me a great deal of joy and further motivated me to work as hard as I can to make my GLOBE experience as efficient and impactful as possible. I also received a boost to strive harder during my GLOBE journey after attending my first Steering Committee Meeting. Presenting my team’s objective to the Steering Committee Meeting actually served as more motivation for me to work harder towards achieving my team’s objectives. I learned a great deal from the other teams’ presentations of their objectives because many of them shared their thought processes behind their objectives and their plan to make their objectives into reality. For example, Michael did a great job of explaining how the Marketing team narrowed their goals down to what they feasibly can achieve. I was able to even connect with Michael concerning our joint feeling of the lack of mingling between teams in GLOBE. Perhaps as the Enterprise and Development Team, we could also work on making sure to promote comradery beyond within individual teams and amongst all GLOBE managers. This week GLOBE became applicable to various aspects of my life and it felt great. I hope to continue to apply my experiences inside the classroom to those outside of the classroom.

Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment Team

Log # 3
By: Frederick Dai

“While both MFIs and commercial banks are vulnerable to liquidity problems brought on by a mismatch of maturities, term structure, and currencies, the risk features of MFIs differ significantly from those of commercial banks” – Joanna Ledgerwood

My reading presentation this week focused on the risk factors of MFIs and how it is structured against other forms of lending. During our weekly meeting, the finance team discussed ways to mitigate risk and increase the quality of our loans, which brought about the question of how we can get more loans to review in the first place.

In our weekly meeting, there was a lot of discussion on how and where we could grow our business. Although the Daughters of Charity act as a direct connection to the communities we operate in and provide a lot of ancillary services for us, relying solely on the Daughters of Charity to procure and maintain the integrity of loans for the GLOBE team is unsustainable in the long run as it limits scalability and growth within an area. I really like the idea of having successful/repeat borrowers act as liaisons or ambassadors in exchange for a lower or zero rate of interest based on the loan approval rate of borrowers they recommend. I also suggested creating risk profiles for each individual borrower as well as a blacklist of those who have failed to return the principal due to a vice.

My team continues to impress me with their dedication and ideas, and it is always a pleasure to meet with them.

Key Takeaway #3 – We need to grow our borrower base and implement a more effective way of holding borrowers accountable for their debt.

Marketing and Fundraising Team

Log # 3
By: Leilani Blira-Koessler

The Marketing and Fund Raising team has had its first bake sale.  Being involved in this endeavor took a lot of work, mainly collaboration, communication, and organization. GLOBE successfully raised $374.00, however for me the real success was in having so many of my fellow managers participating.  In one way or another, managers stepped up.  It was helpful to work with the Liaison to convey our needs.  Personally, I have been taken with this course, it feels meaningful and applicable. The readings have challenged prior beliefs of mine regarding the causes of homelessness and/or being poor and have provided clear samples of attempts to have meaningful and efficient principles regarding the importance of working locally and obtaining a local presence. The high success rate within Dr. Yunus’ approach of microfinancing appears to be attributed to working with women locally and within a group.

Over my Spring-break I read the chapter – Application in the United States and Other Wealthy Countries, in the book, Banker of the Poor.

The chapter identifies early on who microfinancing should target and it does this by clarifying the “right” type of poor, “ones on welfare” and not the lower middle class.  Microfinancing will not work for those individuals.  I am beginning to feel more comfortable in identifying classifications that micro financing should focus on.  Dr. Yunus’ original work took place in his home country of Bangladesh and points out that critics predicted micro-credit would not work in the US.  I found it particularly interesting that “Bangladesh has a long tradition of self-employment, less than 10% of Americans work for themselves.”  I agree with Dr. Yunus in that the facts were sobering since there is such a spirit and/or culture of yes I can, or yes we can here in the US. 

Critics of Dr. Yunus’ Grameen model saw it as a Bengali model, a “Third World transfer” and that the American elite might not be ready for it. Ironic, how the US may give advice but feel uneasy following advice.  While in the preliminary stages of research with microfinancing in the US he explained being in a group he was surveying for the program.  I sympathized with the women in the group who at first did not raise their hands when asked if they wanted to borrow money and become an entrepreneur.  I admit that I am of the belief that it typically requires lengthy and intensive training (hence St.John’s education) before being ready to go into one’s own business.

This course brought out my desire to serve and through class I am involved in taking action, there is more than just listening happening here.  I am working in a group which meets on a weekly basis and we are all ready.  Ready to learn more about differences in cultures.  We are ready to challenge prior beliefs and/or conditions.  I am ready to ask more questions and follow to where the answers may lead me to.  Go GLOBE!

Technology and Communications Team

Log # 3
By: Joshua Ramirez

Spring break was both good and bad. Good because I got an unnecessary break (too early in the semester, not behind on anything). Bad because now I am behind on everything. My mind has a terrible mentality of shutting completely off when breaks and weekends come around. Now I am rushing to complete everything on time, yet every time I begin to write a log I feel better, almost like a little bit of weight is being lifted off my shoulders. Partially because that is one less assignment to worry about, but more importantly it gives me an outlet. An outlet where I can talk about whatever is on my mind. 

Over Spring break I went hiking with Milton from the Finance team, we went up to Bear Mountain. (Hiking is another passion of mine) It was incredible, the view was stunning and the hike was a challenge. Climbing through the knee deep snow over boulders and fallen trees was an experience I will never forget. And most importantly I made a great friend, Milton.

We had a very interesting conversation mid-way through the hike. We were discussing whether or not money could buy happiness. And which was most important if you had to sacrifice one for the other. The answer was staring at us the whole time. One turn around near the top was all it took for both of us to agree that money could not buy happiness. The majestic view staring back at us and nature telling us to take it all in was priceless. This was something that money could not buy and the simple joy this brought was incredible.

This has brought me to the realization that we do not need all of these extra “necessities” that society has imposed on us. And the same goes for our borrowers that all we really need in life are the basic necessities like food, clean water, shelter, etc. All of the other luxuries that society has sold to us as part of its marketing campaign are not necessities. Yet we slave away and waste an incredible amount of time (which I argue is the most valuable item we possess) chasing these luxuries.

Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits
Log # 4
By: Joy Dukuze

My little may be too much for someone else

For some $25 dollars is nothing, for others it is too much. I did not know what $25 dollars could accomplish in someone’s life until I read the chapter entitled A Pilot Project Is Born in Banker to the poor by Muhammad Yunus.

Muhammad Yunus always finds a way to wake me up. He opens my eyes to the unseen sad reality of our world. While most of us can spend more than $25 in few minutes, in Jobra so many people dream to get $25 to start a business which will be a turning point from a life of poverty. “The morning she is to receive her loan, she almost quits. Twenty-five dollars is simply too much responsibility for her. How will she ever be able to repay it? No woman in her extended family has ever had so much money (pg.64)”, when I read this it just stroked me. I could not believe my eyes. How can such a small amount of money be someone’s biggest dream? How can someone tremble because of a $25 loan? It is just unbelievable! If this were the case then, if I could just learn to do some savings I would change many people’s lives. I would help so many people to turn their dreams into a reality. If I could save $25; a family somewhere would be saved from poverty, its children would get what to eat, they would get an education, and the mother would feel the pride of being called mom again.

The French economist Jean-Baptist Say once said that in the world there are the seen and the unseen, and the secret of economics is to have a vision of the unseen. I think Muhammad Yunus agreed with Say on that point. He had a vision of the unseen people, he valued those with no value in the eyes of many, he saw potential in the illiterate, and he saw wealth in poor people.

I used to think that someone needs a lot of money to start a business but Yunus proved me wrong, and I also used to think that I needed a lot of money to help people alleviate their poverty but Yunus proved me that my little may be too much for someone else.
 

Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment Team
Log # 4
By: Zackery Allen

GLOBE has been a class where I look forward to taking on challenges, not for the benefit of myself, but for those who will find themselves in my shoes in the years to come. In the finance team and as a class, GLOBE is represented by some of the most hardworking and dedicated students in all of St. John’s. This paired with the strong team collaboration allows for the generation and implementation of new ideas that have the potential to change the overall functionality of the class for the better.

After completing the recommendation for the first loan application of the semester we, the finance team, have a strong drive to complete some of our objectives relating to future class operations. These operations range from student training to developing more effective ways to process loan applications.

In regards to assisting in the training of future GLOBE managers we in the finance team, and the class as a whole, have devoted ourselves to creating a streamlined process of leaving behind a portfolio utilizing the cloud to allow future classes to pick up where we have left off without a large lag time in needing to create personal systems and accounts for group work.

Thinking of overall GLOBE operations and sustainability, we are adding questions to the current loan application form. These questions will make the processing of loan applications more streamlined by presenting useful information that in some cases may be lacking on the current application.

In focusing on the future class as well as the microfinance institution, GLOBE will have the ability to help people more effectively and efficiently. It is critical that microfinance institutions be effective, efficient, and equitable in order to further the goal of alleviating poverty within our lifetimes. In every meeting, I feel my passion for this class increasing.

Marketing and Fundraising Team
Log # 4
By: Ramsha Hussain

Last week I unfortunately could not attend class but when speaking to my classmates I heard how great it was to have Sister Mary Louise Stubbs speak. Sister Mary is the Executive Director of Daughters of Charity International Project Services. Daughters of Charity as we know are the partners of Globe, whom without we could not help others in need.

This week we had another guest speaker. The speaker was Jim Monnier. Tim is on the steering committee for Globe. He is also in charge of the international division of Habitat for Humanity. They build homes for people around the world and support local communities. Having a stable home that is owned by the family is a huge factor in having healthy kids that can focus on school. Owners of the home volunteer 500 hours building. They own the house but they do not get the house for free, they pay very low interest rate. About 90% of families Habitat serves annually live outside the US. My first experience with Habitat for Humanity was when I was in 2nd grade. My class and I went on a day trip to build for Humanities.  I still remember the experience to this day. We were in a warehouse building the house. After building we had a chance to take a picture in the newspaper. As a second grader I was extremely excited. The reason I still remember that trip is because it made such a big impact on me, just like the huge impact Habitat for Humanity makes on so many around the world.

An interesting topic we discussed in class that I have questioned my self was: why do we focus internationally versus nationally? There are a lot of people in the US that need support. This is an interesting question, the answer to this question being that the impact we can make is greater in a developing country versus the impact in a developed nation. The loans are smaller, it is easier to get started, and we are effecting the poorest of the poor. In America, the starting loan is about $3,000 versus internationally the largest loan is around $1000. Maybe one day in the future Globe can evolve and grow to help people in the US.

On a side note, I also learned that the website Emaze for presentations is not as amazing as they claimed. While we were trying something new it fell short in the end due to technical issues.  From now on the marketing squad will be using Prezi or PowerPoint. The final lesson being, stick with what you know. 

Technology and Communications Team
Log # 4
By: Jhoselyn Escobar

I have to say this was truly an amazing meeting since we had a very special guest. Not only she is part of GLOBE’s steering committee but also D.C international project services, executive director of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Sister Mary Louise Stubbs gave an amazing and informative presentation. She started by introducing the Daughter of Charity’s mission and explained us that they work in 95 countries where ¾ are developing nations. Their head quarter is in Paris, France and it is more than 400 years old. The best part of the presentation was when she introduced us the work and progress the daughter had made in the Philippines after they were affected by a hurricane last year. Here we learned how essential is to address basic needs like water food, sanitation and energy which are the focus of the Daughters Charity. It was very impressive to see the fantastic life changes they can make. I was so fascinated and very moved with the sister’s work. Sister Stubbs triggers my interest for this organization. I definitely want to somehow involve with them. 

But that wasn’t it, we had also the pleasure to had Prof. Leblanc and two of his students to join the class due to their interest in GLOBE. I am sure they really enjoy and learn from it. Finally we watched a video of a “Jami Bora” a foundation on Kenya that help families living in poverty. One of the important things that I learned form the video is that it is essential to create is self-reliance. The reason why “Jami Bora” was so successful in Kenya was because of its main objectives was to teach the families how to save and manage their money.

GLOBE classes never stop amazing me! It is incredible how much I learn in every meeting. Moreover how much of a good person I want to become, every little help makes a big change in the more needed.

Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits
Log # 5  
By: Keelyn Sauchelli

To think I am already sitting and typing my log for week 5 astounds me. As this crazy semester comes midway I begin to gather my thoughts and everything I need to be as prepared as I can. However when it comes to GLOBE I do not fear a midterm. It is more about how much knowledge we have gained from various aspects of the program that can thus be applied in the world around us. 

Our class this week began to drown in oral presentations. Within all of these informative summaries social entrepreneurship was a common topic. One of the slides I discussed was 3 out of the 6 qualities of successful entrepreneurs. The first one stood out to me the most, ‘The Willingness to Self Correct.’ I am guilty of not being a fan of change myself. I don’t even like to change the color of my room! Nevertheless, we as managers in GLOBE are the driving force to make changes. We must push through and go with what is beneficial despite the obstacles in our way. 

With graduation approaching in the next year I am beginning to ponder my future and the road ahead more and more. Speaking of entrepreneurship, my view of it prior to class as opposed to presently are quite different. I once thought entrepreneurs were successful business people with a brilliant idea that would make them unbelievable amounts of money. You look at the medias portrayal of them being the images of Jordan Belfort and ABC’s Shark tank panel… they have the world in the palm of their hand and created endless success for themselves. Although somewhat true, now I think of ethics as well as CHANGE. Social entrepreneurs are business people who run organizations yet their motives are to make a change within the world we live in. This resonates with me because I can’t imagine having a career that doesn’t benefit anyone but myself. I’ve become involved in so much throughout my life that has all been completely selfless. Being in GLOBE now I feel even more passionate about doing well for those around me. I end this reflection with a great quote that Dr. Sama shared with us representing never giving up and always working towards the better good is: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
 

Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment Team
Log # 5
By: Sabine Stamer             

I joined GLOBE because I wanted to learn more about microfinance, specifically how it is an effective tool for alleviating poverty. I also joined GLOBE because I was hoping to find a way to positively impact the lives of others.

The Finance and Risk Assessment Team has now received a fourth loan application, which means that we now have the power at our fingertips to change the lives of four borrowers and their families.

Through my repeated reading of these applications and my team’s struggle to determine the best possible loan terms for our clients, I feel like I know these potential borrowers. And realizing their tenuous position and our own responsibility to affect their lives positively, is a great burden, which I take very seriously.

The situation of Dora Gonzalez Morales has specifically touched my heart, soul, and thoughts. Dora and her husband have six children and they are running a second-hand shoe and clothing business in Managua, Nicaragua. Currently their business is generating a weekly income of $75. Considering that they built this business up from the ground, with the help of their Church group, after tragically losing their jobs and sources of income, this is amazing. However, they have eight hungry mouthes to feed, pampers to buy for the youngest, rent and utilities that must be paid, and transportation and school fees also. All of these expenses sum up to be around $1100 per month, which is more than three times their monthly income of $300.

Their position presents a dilemma for our team. On the one hand we must think as bankers, and on the other we must think like optimistic social entrepreneurs, like Muhammed Yunus, Ingrid Munro, and Dr. Sama. As my teammates have pointed out this is a very high risk loan. We also do not know if they have savings, which they are now using to pay the difference between their expenses and their business revenue. In the worst case scenario that keeps running through my head, the family has already been forced to move out of their studio apartment, and children have been forced to drop out of school and search for work to generate additional income because the business has not been able to cover their basic needs (food and shelter). 

Their only hope is the loan that we will recommend to the steering committee. They have requested a $1000 loan to be paid back within nine months. Based on their current net income after expenses, which is at negative 800, this will not be an easy loan to repay. We must also keep in mind that this loan is a chance that this family cannot afford to lose. These people are would be considered “untouchable” by commercial banks and other financial institutions. So, based on what we have learned from Muhammed Yunus’s experience with Grameen Bank’s first borrowers, it is actually highly plausible, because Dora and her family are desperate, that they will repay their loan, even against the highest odds.

A risk that remains is that in their great need the family might use a portion of the $1000 (if we choose to lend this amount) to buy food instead of investing it in clothing packages and hangars as promised. However, we must have faith in our borrowers, that this will not be the case. After all, Sor. Reyna Isabel has recommended Dora and her family to us, describes them as responsible, honest, in great need, and enterprising, and is confident that they will make their business a success with the help of a loan from GLOBE. These are all qualities that we look for in our borrowers. Loaning Dora’s family the money they need to expand their business will have a great impact on their lives as it will increase revenues, leading to long-lasting financial improvements. It is imperative that we structure the loan in a way that maximizes their ability to repay, so that they can request a second and maybe even a third loan, so that their business can continue to expand and eventually generates enough income for the family to live comfortably.

Conclusively, it is essential that we, as a team, do everything possible to prevent a default. We must decide the appropriate loan amount and loan term for our borrowers. In the next three weeks we will analyze the information available on the three pending borrowers, conduct additional research, and write-up recommendations that we will present to the steering committee shortly after Spring Break.

Marketing and Fundraising Team
Log # 5
By: Michael Benjamin

It is currently the point in the term where students begin to look around at their workload and let out a sound which is closest to the noise a wounded animal would make. Quite amazingly, the term is about halfway done and there is still so much left to do. The mixer, which when the term started seemed so distant, is rapidly closing in on us. There are countless events to organize, funds to raise, presentations to make, and midterms to take. The term still feels new yet the end is near. Frankly, it is downright terrifying.

My team has had a number of great ideas throughout the term, although we have certainly begun to run into a wall. There just seems to be too much to do. We are around a third of the way towards our fundraising goal thanks to our bake sale a few weeks back and we have yet to make much of a dent in our budget. However, we still have more funds to raise. We have a raffle to organize. We have yet to truly get moving on the viral campaign. While our last meeting brought out many great ideas for what we could do, it is becoming very much apparent that it is now time for doing and executing. There is certainly plenty to do, but, to be quite blunt, it is overwhelming. At our next meeting, I am going to suggest that as a group, we streamline the remaining work for the term. This means that each manager in our team will be responsible for a specific activity: one person will handle the viral campaign, another the flyer campaign, someone else will be in charge of the letter-writing campaign, and so on. To me, that seems to be the best way to manage stress loads while simultaneously getting work done.

Since we are at the midway point, I have found the present moment to be the best for reflecting on the term. At this point, I am satisfied with my GLOBE experience. I have found that as I climb up in academic seniority, the problems of the world seem more and more distant. I used to think it was just me being a self-absorbed young adult. That description does not tell the whole story. It fails to mention that instead of discussing ways to end world issues in my classes, the focus has been much more on the causes and effects and nature of world issues. There has been no intellectual discussion on ways to remedy issues such as racism or sexism; the focus of the discussion has simply been on the existence of the issues and the nature of the issues. GLOBE has refocused that. From our assigned readings to the material covered in class to what we do outside of the classroom, GLOBE is fully entrenched in solving poverty and in shifting gender dynamics. It has been different from all of my other classes and quite refreshing.

That said, I have found that there is simply too much to do for GLOBE. There are so many good ideas and so many different avenues to pursue that it is just impossible. Compounding this issue is the ugly truth that GLOBE is one among many other activities all fellow managers are involved in. Simultaneously, we are all taking other classes, working, participating in other programs and societies, interning, and applying for jobs. I have found, at least from my experience, that it is very hard to narrow in on what should be accomplished for GLOBE. As a member of the marketing team, should I focus on raising money or on increasing our visibility across campus? Which demographic should I be trying to appeal to, students or faculty? Are there new, innovative events we can host to get the word out? It has been a challenge to blaze our own path as a team while, at the same time, following in the traditions of teams past. This is why, I think, it would be best to help set up future managers and why all the teams’ objectives had something about helping future terms: the enterprise is growing and at this point, one of the best things this group of managers can do is make life easier for all that proceed us.

Technology and Communications Team
Log # 5
By: William Hernandez

Being a part of the “GLOBE” experience thus far has been beyond rewarding. As a class today we engaged in a discussion that really resonated with me, we spoke how great things can happen when you are more concerned about the ultimate goal instead of receiving credit for the work you did. I feel as if this really fits well with our GLOBE class, each team and individual carries their own workload and responsibility but we all have a common goal.

This past week my fellow IT team members and I met with Dr. Sama and reviewed our objectives and talked about some steps moving forward. Overall the meeting went well and I am happy with my team’s progress thus far and excited to see what we can achieve these next couple of months. We have been continuing our weekly meetings every Monday at the law school café. My fellow team members and I are really beginning form great relationships as the semester begins to progress. 

During this week’s meeting we actually met with Ramsha from the marketing team. We spoke about and brainstormed some possible fundraising ideas, as well as some ideas for donations for the raffle. I felt as if this meeting went well and we all put our creative minds together and I hope that we can have a few more meetings with the marketing team and work more cohesively. Each team serves their own specific area within the class but however the more we communicate and work together the more we can accomplish as an entity. 

Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits
Log # 6  
By: Jasiel Martin-Odoom

Every change maker, I believe, has an epiphany moment. There is a moment where you either see the solution clearly coming up to your consciousness or it is a moment where you realize that all the things that you have studied or experienced come together in a synergistic manner. Over the last five weeks (I still cannot believe it has been this long) I have floated around various reflection ideas with reference to the GLOBE program. For all of last week however, as I prepared for our midterm assessment, an idea started to float around in my mind. The midterm assessment brought all those ideas together in a more concrete way. Before I go into that, let us step back and look at the topics that I studied for the midterm and of course the subject matter that was used in formulating the exam question.

The first thing that came up was the ethical issues in the field of microfinance and the efforts being made currently to reduce these issues. The field of microfinance is fairly new and although it is a constantly innovating industry, the regulations have yet to catch up to the industry. For that reason, some MFIs operating outside of regulations are able to run roughshod over their borrowers and charge rates so preposterous they do nothing but put the borrowers deeper in debt. Recently with the issue of regulations and usurious interest rates, there is a lot of transparency being asked of MFIs globally, especially with regard to interest rates. Ethics codes like the Pocantico Declaration and outcome based assessments are being implemented to make sure that there is regulation.

The second thing that came up was the tendency for women to be better borrowers and the positive effects of microfinance in these women’s lives. One of the main schools of thought believes that women possess a conservative risk strategy and would make smarter decisions compared to men. Also women are, in general, more susceptible to public humiliation and peer pressure to pay back loans compared to men. Microfinance benefits women in extraordinary ways. It offers them economic empowerment, and political empowerment.

These two issues alone provide a very contemporary outlook of the field of microfinance and how GLOBE is continuously in the right space to make some of these important positive contributions. As I studied for this assessment and even during the assessment I could not help but think that the field of microfinance requires that those involved are always keeping their fingers on the pulse of the issues so they can positively make change. How that links to GLOBE is that although Microfinance in the states, for instance, is not feasible for GLOBE to get involved with because of the high operational costs, the lectures that Dr. Sama painstakingly puts together for us is more than just to teach us in an academic setting but also to give us a snapshot of the contemporary issues of microfinance. This is what I am grateful for as a manager for GLOBE!

Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment Team

Log # 6
By: Milton Parra

I’m taking a moment to reflect on how fast the semester has dashed by; and how the next few weeks will be gone in the blink of an eye. Let us ponder for a moment what that means for us as a whole, but also for ourselves as individuals. The former will go on as a distinct memory – it will perhaps have a place of refuge in the repository of information available on the internet; however, the latter will go on to the next phase in life, the next goal in our endless set of goals. The focus of today’s log is: The Next Phase. You see, for us as students, or educators, there is a next phase, a new challenge; but for those in poverty there isn’t another phase, another dream, or more aspirations, there’s only poverty. And wherever our endeavors take us, let us not forget the bond we have forged with people of distant lands; let us not forget that we share with these men the future of our children, and that they too want their voice heard, they too, like us, want prosperity for their children.

Our goal as a western nation is to achieve equality for all; and for all to be equal - all must have access to capital - must have access to fair lending, to lending that works to bring man closer together, and to better society as a whole.

We must accept the road ahead of us, a road filled with challenges. However, we must realize that GLOBE, like any pillar, is the foundation of a life long journey. We cannot eradicate poverty overnight, no matter how robust our ideas are, though this should not hinder our efforts to move closer to a world where all men are equal.

GLOBE has been a stepping-stone in my academic endeavors, and it has brought about a reawaking of my emotional feelings. I am someone who is reserved and described as cold, but when I read our borrowers stories I can’t help but weep in the dark corner of my room. Yesterday was another great day in my life, I was accepted into EIRP, and I can only feel privileged to have been given such an opportunity. I will have the opportunity to work with Dr.Sama for a whole year, I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead as I know I can always count with her advice.

Marketing and Fundraising Team

Log # 6
By: Ramsha Hussain

We as a team have split the responsibilities and duties of the group. My particular task is managing the raffle. This week we finally started to collected prizes. So far we have 2 movie tickets to AMC, a carryon suitcase, $25 movie gift card, two picture collage frames, personal artwork, and a silk scarf from Vietnam. My personal goal is to make this raffle the biggest raffle thus far in the existence of GLOBE.  Each raffle prize will be connected with GLOBE and have a personal story. The reason I want to do stories for the prizes is that I want people to have a positive impression of the raffle, and therefore purchasing more raffle tickets. The prizes that I am currently trying to still put together include: 2 more movie tickets, merchandise from both of the basketball teams men’s and women’s, a raffle donation from the IT department on campus, also having some St. Johns apparel, and maybe some prizes from other sports teams on campus. The raffle can easily bring in $600, which will really help us reaching our overall fundraising goal. 

One of the main things I am extremely excited for is the Viral campaign suggested by Scott and implicated by Alina. We are the first campaign to really take advantage of Give Campus. In seeing how successful the basketball team was in rising funds I am confidence that GLOBE will do equally as well. Give campus campaign is a great tool that can be used by all the future GLOBE classes. The Give Campus concept is similar to GoFundMe, which I have seen be highly successful. 

This week we also had our midterm progress report presentations. It was great seeing what the other classes have been doing this semester. Everything that all the groups have been so hard at work on is all connecting. We really are one big company. Each department is a different body part of the part; having its own purpose but together we work a one unit, one living breathing moving body.

Technology and Communications Team

Log # 6
By: Joshua Ramirez

This week has been very interesting to say the least. From givecampus to talking with Milton after class until midnight. I must admit that things are falling my way. And this year, more so than the previous years, opportunities are presenting themselves. Now it is on us to be prudent and make the right moves. I feel that decisions shape us and reveal our true character. So by taking on this new opportunity that we have with givecampus I think we are showing to ourselves that we care about GLOBE and its importance to us because this is a huge project. And it could have a huge impact if done correctly.

There are also great repercussions if not done correctly. We will waste a lot of time and resources if we do not execute properly. Having said that, as long as focus and plan accordingly and thoroughly think about every aspect of this opportunity I think we can nail it! This could then increase donations and bring us to the next level in terms of visibility.

Visibility is a huge issue I think. I never knew what GLOBE was until Marcel (My coworker at the time) asked me to do some work for GLOBE. At first I was reluctant, but once I got to learn more about the program and (selfishly) wanted another thing to put on my resume, I went for it. When I wear my GLOBE shirt to play soccer or hang out with friends I get questions. What is GLOBE? What do you do? I gladly explain but then I think I am only affecting one person at a time. There should be a better way to get the masses to know about GLOBE. I wish I had all of the answers, but I do not. I guess we will have to wait and see what will be this window to the masses, but I do think givecampus has a chance of being that window.

Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits
Log # 7
By: Umulisa Dukuze

GLOBE doesn’t only gives loans to its borrowers and stops there. It does more than that. One of its main goals is to help people to be self-reliant, and it can’t achieve that mission by only giving loans to its borrowers without following up how those loans will be used.

Loans may easily get wasted or misused, not necessarily because the borrowers have been careless about the money they have been given, but instead because they may not be aware of the profitable businesses that they need to invest in. That is why GLOBE does not limit itself in providing loans but it also shapes its borrowers into better borrowers. One may wonder how does GLOBE shape its borrowers into better borrowers? GLOBE recognizes the fact that borrowers need to know how to save money, they need to be healthy, educated, etc. in order to be better borrowers. Does this mean though that GLOBE marginalizes illiterate or unhealthy borrowers? The answer is no. Instead it turns the unhealthy into healthy borrowers, the uneducated into educated borrowers, etc. Researches are done on what is needed in those areas where GLOBE operates or is planning to expand before loans get released. GLOBE manages risks before hand and not after, it pays attention to crisis before they happen. Its high managing risk significantly minimizes loans defaulting. Studies done before the release of loans, tackle issues encountered by those countries in which GLOBE operates, like social, cultural, economic, and political issues. This gives a clearer picture of what should be done for borrowers in those countries. Researches done before hand allow GLOBE managers to know what kind of business plans should be created for their borrowers in order to raise their profits, thus turning them into better entrepreneurs. 

In conclusion I would say that GLOBE never forgets that its core goal is to alleviate poverty. It is a great thing to financially support poor people, but it should be done in the most efficient way in order to turn the poor into the self-reliant. Challenging measures need to be taken to achieve that goal but GLOBE is more than ready to face those challenges and overcome them. 

Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment Team
Log # 7  
By: Zachery Allen

This week has been a particularly important week in my consideration and understanding of the borrowers. Dealing with the poorest of the poor often deals with communicating through the sisters to individuals who are illiterate. Considering how to portray a message to these people in a way that represents GLOBE’s message has forced me to place myself in the shoes of a person who cannot read that is trying to improve their life by starting a business.

In order to understand how someone who is illiterate might learn I Googled, “how to teach without writing.” I Googled, “how to teach people through pictures.” I also Googled, “how to share ideas without writing.” All of the searches lead to results for teaching people to read. In doing this, I realized just how difficult it is to communicate, on paper, with people who are illiterate. After reading various articles about how one can teach people through writing, I came across an area for those with severe dyslexia describing the importance of making a personal connection with the individual looking at a diagram to convey a message without words.

It is in making a connection with the potential borrowers that I needed to place myself in the borrower’s shoes to see what I, as a borrower, would be looking to do when procuring a loan through GLOBE. I would be looking to be self-sufficient.

When considering the loan cycle, the borrower, the Sisters of Charity, and GLOBE’s mission, I came up with a basic illustration to convey GLOBE’s mission to make individuals independent in one diagram:

This picture represents the borrower receiving a loan from GLOBE, buying resources from a supplier, selling the goods to consumers, repaying the loan, and then being able to do this again without a loan. The borrower makes a connection with the individual in this picture with a face due to people’s natural tendency to connect with faces. They see themselves as going through their business process while paying off the loan showing that they come out better and more independent than they were before taking the loan.

The importance of creating a basic, easy to understand, illustration lies in the importance of conveying the same message to each person that hears about GLOBE (whether they are literate or not). A common misconception with microloans is that when you pay them back, you are essentially back to square one and have not gained anything. The diagram I have portrayed shows the potential to use the loans as an opportunity for improvement.

 

Marketing and Fundraising Team
Log # 7
By: Leilani Blira-Koessler

Wow things are really getting intense with midterms in most of my classes.  Leaving me to ask myself, can I really do all of this on time, and at a high level.  In the end the answer is yes, or at least somehow things are not as bad.  And as Dr. Sama appropriately reminded me, I strive to think of all the good our class is doing.   As students we really are changing lives one loan at a time.  The conditions of the clients that we are serving are bad, really bad.  Allowing myself to shift my attention to her statement was like being dipped in cold water. Dr. Sama assured me that with all that I was feeling, I was still in a place of privilege in comparison to our clients.  It is our clients who are really dealing with pressures—that of survival for themselves and for their family. Though I know that I am taking GLOBE as a class the fact that we are involved in improving the quality of lives for individual is huge and the pressure comes from meeting all of the goals.  GLOBE thus far has provided 66 loans involving 94 borrowers! All of these loans are taking place in developing countries and impressively hold a default rate of approximately 18%, largely due to illness. Reflecting on these facts helped to set up the background to confidently move forward with our group’s goals to host events.

So the marking team’s next event is GLOBE’s mixer.   We aim to provide an environment that will engage prior GLOBE alumni and their guests. We hope to encourage the purchase of raffle tickets, the proceeds of which go to the female borrowers of GLOBE.  I am glad we have events that will keep GLOBE in the front of people’s minds.  After the semester in GLOBE I can see how easy it is to get pulled in other directions.  The mixer will be a great opportunity to remind everyone of their wonderful experience with GLOBE and of the meaningful work that is possible due to microfinancing.  Helping GLOBE with its efforts is Scott Van Deusen.  Mr. Van Deusen is Executive Director of Advancement Programs and graciously met with a few GLOBE managers to see where he could help us.  This meeting was very fruitful.  Originally, we were experienced problems with obtaining raffle items.  One reason for this, which was brought to our attention by Mr. Van Deusen, was that as a group we had not put enough attention to who our audience for the raffle were.  While we were diligently working towards meeting all of our goals Mr. Van Deusen mentioned over and over, we were not considering the obvious—who is our audience.  This of course made it difficult for things like choosing a raffle item. As soon as Mr. Deusen brought this up, it was like a light went on. I received his message clearly and was able to change tactics and move towards successfully obtaining the right raffle items.  We also look forward to working with Mr. Van Deusen on a GiveCampus project where donations may be given with an attached message as to why to donate.  This is exciting because we believed if used properly, and by that I mean to urge all of our contacts to view the site, we have the potential to gain a lot of traction for fundraising.  Fundraising is a huge part of GLOBE and we are looking for all of the ways to effectively do this.   

Technology and Communications Team
Log # 7
By: Jhoselyn Escobar

Yesterday our last info session took place at Bent Hall 109, best known as GLOBE central. These sessions are specially made for prospective new managers, where we inform them about what is GLOBE why and how it can change your life. I was very pleased to see a good amount of people and managers in the meeting. It started with an introduction of our mentor Dr. Sama explaining what GLOBE entails. I must admit I am never bored to see Dr. Sama talking about GLOBE, the passion, love and knowledge she gives is truly inspiring for me. I suddenly had a déjà vu, of me sitting there 2 semesters ago. I remember being so intrigued and confused with GLOBE even after the info session. But, when I saw Dr. Sama talking about this amazing program that helps the more needed and the way she did it I was sure that Ill become part of this program and make the best of it. I remember saying to myself that this is how I want to talk about my future job, this is how I want to work, and this is how much love at least I should have for what I’ll end up doing.

After the info session what interested managers usually do, is that they fill up an application and send their resume in other to have an interview. So that is what I did and soon enough I heard back from Dr. Sama. I was very scared and anxious because I really wanted to be part of this, so I could not mess it up. Luckily my interview went great, I believe due to the high interest I showed for GLOBE. However, that semester even though I was accepted, I was not able to be a GLOBE manager due to some credits problems with school. It was very disappointed but I believe that everything happens for a reason and that actually wait for one semester will be beneficial for me. Il anxiously awaits and became a GLOBE manager in spring of 2015.

Looking at the prospective manager in the meeting I could not believe how fast time had passed and that I only have 2 more months as a GLOBE manager. Can I be manager forever? I asked my self. Surely I can be and will be involved with GLOBE for the rest of my life but sadly I won’t be able to take this “class” again. The best that I can do now is to enjoy every moment I have, make it count.

Dr. Sama left the room so we can talk with them alone. I know how intimidating can be to talk in a GLOBE table for the first time. These candidates were very much shy but we started the conversation and made them fell comfortable. We told them what our basic duties as managers are. I cannot believe how much we have done so far and even more how much we still have to do. It amazes me to see how much GLOBE has helped me to grow not only academically but also personally. Once we addressed all the questions the prospective managers had, the meeting was done. I noticed that all of our managers talked passionately about GLOBE and other activities they are involve with. I was doing it too myself. I am so proud and happy of this. From the moment Dr. Sama introduced me GLOBE I wanted to be as passionate as she is and I am very happy to have that passion growing inside me. I think there is nothing better than to love what one is doing, perhaps the only thing better is to passionately love what one is doing. I am grateful that GLOBE allows me to do that. 

Enterprise Development and Program Impact Audits
Log # 8  
By: Collin Stubblefield

This has been the craziest semester for me by far. I’ve had more unexpected events this semester than ever before. But every single one makes me realize how fortunate I am to be able to deal with the issues that come to me. I spent the last day of my vacation home dealing with my best friend, who works for my father, getting his finger crushed and a piece taken off. I wasn’t at the shop with him, but the manager grabbed him and carried him to the sink and then eventually got him to the ER. Two other friends and I all showed up to the hospital and were there to support our friend. Initially he was told that he could possibly be losing his finger, but after all was said and done the doctor was able to save his finger. I know this seems kind of unrelated but let me explain. The fact that he was able to get into a car and get to a hospital and get the proper treatment saved my best friends finger. If he were stuck in a village and had no option other than to rinse it with unsafe water, he could’ve lost his finger, his hand, his arm or possibly his life.

Health care is such a luxury that we take for granted. And not even health care, we take clean running water for granted without a doubt. Once again, realizing what poverty really is and how fortunate we are puts things in perspective for me.

At the end of the day, I’m just glad my friend Khang still has 5 fingers on his left hand.

But on a more positive note, we are 11 donors away from reaching our goal, and I am very glad that I got to be a part of the success so far. I’m very glad we got this campaign started because all of my family and friends really live in Florida and we launched it at the perfect time right when I was going home to be able tell everyone about it. I am in the process of getting all the people who have donated because of me or because of someone I sent it to so I can send them a personal thank you for helping our class and the program. I am proud to be an advocate of this program and this fundraiser and I look forward to hitting 188 donors!

The team is continuing work on the research paper, and personally I am working with Sabine from finance and Josh from IT on our mutual objective of continuity within the program for future classes to come. Sabine did some amazing work over the break and I really commend her for her efforts. Everyone is really working hard to make this semester the best semester yet.

I think you said it best tonight, Dr. Sama: go GLOBE!

 

Finance, Budgets and Risk Assessment Team
Log # 8
By: Lewis Psofimis

I can’t believe this is already the 8th log. It seems like yesterday I was just writing about my excitement to get to know the program and begin to work with these students who I now call my friends. Some of these people have even become my closest friends. GLOBE has allowed us to collaborate with some of the brightest, most diverse students across many majors. A few of us have come up with an idea of our own to branch out and start our own enterprise.  If there is one tangible thing I can take away from this experience, it’s the people that I have worked with and will continue to work with in the future.

The #94GLOBEborrowers campaign has revitalized the program for the students. It is something that we have all been able to be a part of as a group and allows us to track our hard work. The fact that we are way ahead of schedule in borrowers has also been uplifting for our spirits. With a lot of the work we do, it is a long process that doesn’t allow us to see immediate results. This fundraiser has provided that missing excitement that was starting to wear on the program. I have a feeling this mixer is going to be a great opportunity for us to reach levels that we didn’t even imagine going into this.

The finance team is a really good example of a bunch of individual personalities coming together. I feel that we are all the types that love to work on our own as far as projects and assignments. Now we are all collaborating and working together to achieve the many objectives we wanted to achieve. We all continue to work on our own with certain objectives but many of them, like the loan recommendations, require us to be a team and make decisions we can all agree on. It has turned out to be a really good mix for us, especially since we all have other projects and activities to collaborate on outside of GLOBE. We only have one month until our final presentations so it is important that we step up and continue to work to achieve everything we set out to do.
 

Marketing and Fundraising Team
Log # 8
By: Silken Solomon

A map is a map and it is simple as that. Or is it?...

Our guest speaker today was Dr. Barrett P. Brenton, who is a Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Global Development at St. John’s University. He spoke to us about the various uses of maps and I found it to be quite informative because I would personally consider myself to be a person who isn’t that literate in map reading/navigation (and also struggles with using technology too). He showed the class how to use Google Maps for several purposes. One thing that he brought to our attention that I found to be particularly interesting is the fact that maps tell a story of factual information. A map can show everything from agricultural patterns in a specific area to the growth rate of HIV in individuals living in a particular area. Before this speech, I thought of maps and graphs to be used for statistical purposes only but now I certainly have a new point of view.

In other news, it’s almost time for the mixer! This is GLOBE’s 4th mixer and I’m excited to see specifically what our will be like and how it will compare to those in the past. I have been delegated to set up a plan as to how we will decorate the venue and Ramsha and Leilani will be visiting the bar over the Easter break so we can actually see how it looks and we can get an idea of how to decorate. All week, Ramsha has been collecting raffle prizes and we are still waiting on a couple of teams to give their contributions, as well. This has been a good week for the Marketing Team, I think. We’ve accomplished our goals for the week (which encompass the raffle and the mixer). In terms of getting other groups involved in this project, we’ve asked the IT Team to create a raffle flyer and we are creating a sign-up sheet so all the managers have the opportunity to help set up and break down after the event. I’m anxious to see how this event will turn out.

One of our most projects that the class is currently engaged in is the crowd-funding project. Alina explained to the class how GiveCampus works, how we can donate, and how we can be advocates for our cause. I think one thing the class really needs to keep in mind is that we don’t have a set dollar amount to reach, but a set number of donors. There were several great ideas discussed in class today in regards to getting people involved in donating (i.e. a “Donor Hall of Fame” and prizes given based upon the amount a donor gives). Based off all the ideas contributed, I think it’s a good assumption to make that the overall class is enthused about getting GLOBE’s name out and informing as many people we can about our fund and our cause.

 

Technology and Communications Team
Log # 8
By: Mark Jones

This has easily been the most exciting week in GLOBE thus far. The givecampus.com campaign has started off even better than I thought it would, with the very realistic chance that we reach our goal of 94 donors by the Annual GLOBE mixer. 94 donors seemed like a pretty hard number to reach at first, but now we might get there in less than 10 days. It is exciting to see how far we can take #94globeborrowers. Since GLOBE has never had a campaign like this, we will set the bar for any future campaigns.

An important part of raising funds through campusgive.com is to use the internet and social media to promote the campaign. As a member of the Technology and Communications team, we will have to take on the challenge of spreading the word in the virtual world. Over the past few weeks, the team has been doing a consistently good job at posting on social media sites. Each of us has also used our personal social media accounts to help promote the campaign. There has been a lot to post with the new campaign and I think that we can only spread the name even further.

We have already raised over $2,000 in a week and every manager is looking forward to eager to improve upon that number, but it is important to keep up with other work such as the research report. Now that the ball has begun rolling with the campaign, we can shift more of our focus back to the research report. I enjoy doing research for our report, as I think the technology that goes into developing a country is a very interesting subject. Halfway through the year, we are just now beginning to hit our stride as an entire team of managers.