Alina Rizvi and Marco
Sementilli, this year’s
GLOBE student fellows, accompanied Dr. Linda Sama to Vietnam for
the program’s inaugural international visit with potential
microloan borrowers and local Daughters of Charity, who serve as GLOBE field
partners.
During their 13-day trip in May to Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, and the
Mekong Delta, the trio shared information about financial literacy
training with Habitat for Humanity; visited with Nike’s
microloan affiliate program; met students at an English language
school; introduced GLOBE to the sisters of the Lovers
of the Holy Cross order; engaged with young students at the
Daughter-run school in Da Lat, including a class of autistic
children (see photo); and spoke with entrepreneurs at the Daughters
of Charity’s Home for Single Mothers, Home for HIV, Embroidery Club
and Credit Union.
Spending time with young women at the Daughters’ Home for Single
Mothers just outside Ho Chi Minh City, a haven for women who become
pregnant out of wedlock; making rice paper with borrowers from the
Women’s Union, Nike’s microcredit affiliate program; buying
products made by the women training at the
Vocational School at the Domaine de Marie convent in Da Lat;
and, meeting entrepreneurs who are part of a group loan program
through the Daughters’ Credit Union in the Mekong Delta, all
revealed potential partnerships and loan opportunities that made
this a unique experience for the fellows.
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