I definitely think that micro-lending is a practice that could have some real use in America, but it would have to be different in structure from the program in Belize that we have been working with. Unfortunately, micro loans would not help people who were trying to start small businesses, in my opinion. Small businesses such as the women we met had would probably not go over well in the States. However, I do think that micro loans could have an impact on people's lives here as well.
Micro loans could be given to help people make money apart from a small business setting. For example, if someone needed a basic vehicle to get to a job, micro loans might be the way to help them better their situation. Or if a woman needed to pay for daycare in order to attend classes or get a job, that might have some real use as well. Just because someone does not have a business plan does not mean that they would not make money as a result of the loan. I would love to see more micro-lending for this purpose in the U.S.
My experiences in Belize have shown me how much difference a relatively small sum of money can make. Although the conditions there are vastly different than here, I think we can use some of the concepts of micro-lending here as well, with some modifications. It's great that people in Belize can know the feeling of pride of owning their own business and helping themselves.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Post Trip review
Considering that I am an economics major, our experiences in Belize with microlending have related greatly to my major. I was first attracted to the idea of making this trip because of the microlending concept that I had studied before. It was amazing to see the concepts studied actually happening in real life! It's one thing to sit in a classroom and talk about it, but another altogether to see it happening. Other concepts, such as the invisible hand of the free market, were displayed when bargaining prices for goods. That doesn't happen in the States - we just pay the price they say to - so to see everyone paying what they valued for the good really brought to mind the principles of consumer surplus and producer surplus.
Now, on to career aspirations...I get stressed out every time I am asked that question. I still don't know what I want to do after graduation, so I don't like to talk about it. I did right in my journal on the last morning, however, commenting how natural it feels for me every time I go on a trip like this one. I really could see myself in a position with the Peace Corps or something like that where I make a career out of service for others.
Now, on to career aspirations...I get stressed out every time I am asked that question. I still don't know what I want to do after graduation, so I don't like to talk about it. I did right in my journal on the last morning, however, commenting how natural it feels for me every time I go on a trip like this one. I really could see myself in a position with the Peace Corps or something like that where I make a career out of service for others.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Opening Post
Hey guys!
Welcome to my first post of many!
My expectations for this class are, of course, primarily to prepare me for our trip over Spring Break. In order to do this, I am looking forward to the assigned readings that we have from Muhammad Yunus, the found of the Grameen Bank. Already, I've read a few chapters ahead in the first book, and I am loving it! Even though we are not required to read more than selected chapters, I will probably go ahead and read the whole book. I hope we have a lot of time to read and discuss the country and its people in our class meetings. I think the experiences that a few of our classmates have already had with the program will be a valuable asset. Like someone mentioned in our last meeting, I also expect us to become friends and get to know each other before we go to Belize. I think that our small group size gives us a unique opportunity to work as a close unit. I hope that we can take advantage of that.
As far as the trip is concerned, at this point I honestly don't know quite what to expect. I would love to meet some of the people whose lives are changed by this program, as well as to see how the program really works.
The one concern (or shall I say question) I have regarding this trip is the amount of fundraising we are doing to prepare. Aside from talking about a few events that we have planned to raise money (most of which will take place after we come back), I am concerned that we may not be doing a lot of fundraising. Considering that this project is capital-intensive, I would love to raise a ton of money to help out as many people as we can! Maybe in the next couple of class meetings we can more clearly define plans and goals for fundraising.
As far as what I will do to contribute to Team Belize this year, I will be mentally and physically present and prepared for all meetings. I will be actively involved in class discussions, and I will take the initiative to research independently outside of assigned duties to be as prepared as I can be for this trip.
Welcome to my first post of many!
My expectations for this class are, of course, primarily to prepare me for our trip over Spring Break. In order to do this, I am looking forward to the assigned readings that we have from Muhammad Yunus, the found of the Grameen Bank. Already, I've read a few chapters ahead in the first book, and I am loving it! Even though we are not required to read more than selected chapters, I will probably go ahead and read the whole book. I hope we have a lot of time to read and discuss the country and its people in our class meetings. I think the experiences that a few of our classmates have already had with the program will be a valuable asset. Like someone mentioned in our last meeting, I also expect us to become friends and get to know each other before we go to Belize. I think that our small group size gives us a unique opportunity to work as a close unit. I hope that we can take advantage of that.
As far as the trip is concerned, at this point I honestly don't know quite what to expect. I would love to meet some of the people whose lives are changed by this program, as well as to see how the program really works.
The one concern (or shall I say question) I have regarding this trip is the amount of fundraising we are doing to prepare. Aside from talking about a few events that we have planned to raise money (most of which will take place after we come back), I am concerned that we may not be doing a lot of fundraising. Considering that this project is capital-intensive, I would love to raise a ton of money to help out as many people as we can! Maybe in the next couple of class meetings we can more clearly define plans and goals for fundraising.
As far as what I will do to contribute to Team Belize this year, I will be mentally and physically present and prepared for all meetings. I will be actively involved in class discussions, and I will take the initiative to research independently outside of assigned duties to be as prepared as I can be for this trip.
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