Introductory Meeting

1. Introductory Meeting

2. AGENDA • What is Microfinance? • About Penn Microfinance • Project Teams • Bangladesh • China • Ghana • India • Nicaragua • United States • The Penn Microfinance Conference • Professional and Social Events • How to Join

3. WHAT IS MICROFINANCE? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxOzmJPj0IY

4. ABOUT PENN MICROFINANCE THE FIRST AND LARGEST UNDERGRADUATE MICROFINANCE ORGANIZATION • Founded in 2005 • Mission: • To raise awareness about microfinance while providing opportunities for students to get involved in the field • To offer support to and consult for established international microfinance institutions • To encourage networking and career development in microfinance for students • To build a community of people who are passionate about poverty alleviation and social impact • 6 Project Teams • Bangladesh, China, Ghana, India & Latin America • Chance to work with world renowned MFIs • Sustained relationships with clients • Annual Conference • Professional and Social Events

5. DIVERSE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES Research Field Work Consulting

6. Project teams Bangladesh | China | Ghana | India | Nicaragua | United States

7. UNITED STATES • Facts about Microfinance in the US • 40 million households (106 million people) w/limited access to dominant financial institutions • In fact, 28 million people are completely unbanked • Microenterprises (<5 employees) = 18% US employment & create 900,000 jobs per year

8. UNITED STATES • Goals • Work with at least 2 microfinance organizations • Accomplish well defined and important projects for the organizations • Develop knowledge of microfinance in the US vs. International Microfinance • Improve leadership skills through leadership positions (Research, Logistics, Marketing etc) • Spring Site Visits: meet micro-entrepreneurs in Philly & NYC and present final projects • Who are we looking for? • All schools/majors; Passion for helping others/poverty alleviation • Entrepreneurial spirit: 1st Year of Initiative • Language skills welcomed- diverse borrowers (many immigrants) • Desire to provide domestic impact • Individuals unable to travel outside of the United States in May (time/$) • For more information contact Cindy Berman cindyb39@gmail.com

9. BANGLADESH • Birthplace of Microfinance • Dr. Muhammad Yunus • First microloans in village of Jobra • Grameen Bank • Over 20 million borrowers

10. BANGLADESH • The Khan Foundation • Millennium University • Rural Credit Program • Samitis and IGAs • Democracy for Development • Ghashful • Urban and Rural MIcrocredit • Microenterprise • Education: NFPEs • Health Clinics • Goals • Support MFIs in development of potential projects • Produce and distribute literature • Conduct searches for funding possibilities

11. BANGLADESH • Contact MiftaChowdhury at mifta@sas.upenn.edu

12. INDIA • Introduction • Currently working with Bangalore based urban MFI, Ujjivan • Team successfully traveled to India last May in our first year of existence • Spent a week conducting field visits and observing loan officers and clients • Project Goals for 2011-2012 • Work on deliverables Ujjivan requested • Advertising campaign • Improve outreach to sparsely populated areas • Return to Ujjivan next summer with a solid proposal • Stay informed on changes in Indian microfinance

13. INDIA • Contact RishaAsokan: risha@sas.upenn.edu

14. NICARAGUA

15. NICARAGUA

16. GHANA • Introduction • Ghana: the first sub-Saharan African nation to achieve independence in 1957 • English-speaking, former British colony • “Africa for beginners” –The Lonely Planet • Our Work • Our partner (for 3 years): Village Exchange Ghana –an NGO registered since 2003 • Two consulting trips scheduled over the summer –flexible timing • 25-30 members (leadership positions available) • Looking for dedicated, passionate individuals with an interest to learn more about microfinance

17. GHANA • Projects • Financial, accounting, marketing, and business development support for VEG • Strategic vision: research on successful models of microfinance and implementation • Fundraising projects • Summer consulting project: experience microfinance first-hand by visiting villages and interacting with clients

18. GHANA • Recreation and Travel • Opportunity to travel throughout Ghana • Monkey Sanctuary, Cape Coast Slave Castle, Busua Beach, Wli Waterfall, Downtown Accra, Canopy Walk • Strong Volunteer Network within Ho • Meet other volunteers living and working in Ho • Many social events to meet other native Ghanaians • For more information contact Chloe at roldanc@sas.upenn.edu

19. CHINA • Overview • DABA Ecology and Poverty Research Organization (大巴山生态与贫困问题研究会) • 10-20 Members (Leadership positions available) • Skills: Relative comfort with Chinese, No prior microfinance experience necessary • Commitment: 1-3 hours a week • DABA • Location: Pu Tong County, Sichuan, China • Focus: Rural Development: Ecology (agricultural), Sustainability, Cultural • Targeting 3 neighboring villages • How we operate • Teams and Meetings • Grant-writing • Microfinance Framework • Contact: Skype and emails

20. CHINA • Summer Trip 2011: May 13th to May 22nd • Visited 3 target villages: Jobs & Wealth disparity • Taught at 2 schools • Discussions with DABA • Recreation – Shanghai • Three year plan • Looking Forward • Mission: Assist and guide DABA in launching a self-sustainable microfinance fund • Grant-writing: solid business plan and grant template • Microfinance Framework: efficient program • Challenges • Cash strapped • Interest rate / loan aversion • Building an entire microfinance project from scratch • Please contact angjus@wharton.upenn.edu if you have any questions

21. ANNUAL CONFERENCE

22. CONFERENCE TEAMS

23. FAST FACTS • First and largest undergraduate conference in the country • Network with high level professionals, researchers and students in the field • 3 conference teams: • Speakers • Marketing & Logistics • Sponsorship

24. SPEAKERS, MARKETING AND LOGISTICS, SPONSORSHIP • For the past five years we have had keynotes such as Rupert Scofield, CEO and President of Finca, Matthew Flannery and Premal Shah, CEO and President (respectively) of Kiva, Alex Counts, CEO and President of Grameen Foundation, and Mary Ellen Iskenderian, the President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, Gina Harman, CEO of Accion USA • Sponsors have included Accion, Morgan Stanley, Opportunity International, IBM, Deutsche Bank, CGAP and Standard Chartered • Benefits: • Communicate directly with established professionals in microfinance • Engage in high level discussion about microfinance topics • Gain research experience by brainstorming the direction in which you want your panel to go • Leadership opportunities: 4 to 5 panel heads for each conference, marketing and sponsorship leaders

25. MARKETING AND LOGISTICS • Time commitment is mostly during the second semester • Deciding on a theme and the panels – leadership opportunities • Creating marketing materials and spreading the word on campus • Lots of logistical work to be done through the second semester to pull of a conference as big as ours

26. EVENTS

27. SOCIAL EVENTS Welcome to Penn Microfinance BBQ Saturday, October 1 1-3 PM October Movie Screening 2011 Trip BYO November BYO – India/Bangladesh December Study Break - Simpson’s Episode January BYO – Latin America February Service Day March Pubs Against Poverty* April Race Against Poverty* BYO – China May BYO - Africa

28. PROFESSIONAL EVENTS • Wharton Social Business Plan Competition • March 2012 • Subcommittee Applications Due October, 8th • Marketing • Sponsorship • Logistics • Content • Microfinance 101 Workshop • Last Week of September • Location: TBD • Social Business 101 Workshop • Spring 2012 • Location: TBD

29. JOIN US

30. Applications DUE Sunday, September 18th, 11:59 pm Applications will be available online at www.pennmicrofinance.org For more information please email contact@pennmicrofinance.org