Enterprise Development, Program Impact Audits and
Budgeting Team
Log #3
By: Najwa Sobti
The Peace Corps had always been in the back of my mind but even to
this day, I have fear of joining from so many different directions.
I feel that my family won’t approve of the idea that I should get
into my career as soon as I graduate. In a sense, they are banking
on me. Since I am extremely inspired to work in many underdeveloped
countries, the Peace Corps could ultimately help me help the
world. I have recently felt so pressured in some of the
courses I have taken and programs I am in to describe something
“interesting” about myself. I feel I haven’t found my calling or
myself, therefore; I feel that I have only sustained thus far,
rather then truly live! I feel I have worked hard but there is
nothing interesting as of yet to show for it. I have gone about my
day and don’t feel as though I am doing what I have to do but
rather, merely meeting my basic level of survival.
This is how I feel very close to a lot of the women that we discuss
in GLOBE. Many of them feel pressure from their families or fear
they will not approved of if they take a loan from multiple
microlending agencies. Although they see it as the best
decision for themselves and could possibly benefit everyone
involved, they still place their family on a pedestal as the
deciding factor.
I also come from a Muslim background and it is very difficult to
establish as a woman that you want to do something entirely for
intrinsic value. Everything you do is essentially for your family;
there is no self. But what I think GLOBE does, is it makes lending
not entirely a self-virtuous step but more group-oriented with
common goals.
I can only hope that I can make the right decision pertaining to
participating in the Peace Corps, as the women in these poverty
stricken communities have done while having to face a life-changing
choice.
GLOBE has truly inspired me to believe that I must be bold enough
to take the proper steps to ensure I make the right decisions
pertaining to my future aspirations.
Finance and Risk Assessment Team
Log # 3
By: Catherine Sims
There is a program similar to GLOBE in Houston, TX at St. Thomas
University called the Social Entrepreneurship Program (SEP). I am
curious to learn about them because I had a hunch that seeing some
of the challenges they faced, their solutions to those challenges,
or even something as simple as their website would be useful to us.
A few other members of the class saw the website and it inspired
them to make changes to our own website which I find really
exciting. Taking the material that we’re learning and finding ways
to apply it to our challenges with our unique situation is only
possible when we look outwards at what other successful MFIs are
doing and even backwards to what past GLOBE managers accomplished
in order to make progress.
The high expectation Dr. Sama had for our class will come to
fruition. The ambitious objectives we all started with at the
beginning of the semester are being tackled piece by piece. The
Finance Team’s objectives of really building connections and
figuring out an efficient way to track the loans are being met as
we zero in on exactly what we want to communicate to the Daughters
of Charity to ask for their help. While we have a lot of work to do
on our end, we really could do more to help them do their jobs as
well as possible.
Communication between all of the teams seems to have improved
greatly as we are collaborating on projects to raise awareness
through the survey created by the Marketing Team and utilizing the
new Facebook page created strictly for communication among the
teams by the IT Team. A number of us have even reached out to past
GLOBE Managers for their input and ideas about our current
ventures. The Finance Team is working with the Marketing Team to
figure out the best way to acquire funds for the GLOBE Student
Fellows Fund. We are making leaps forward and I really would like
to continue the trend of making changes incrementally to address
issues that have fallen by the wayside in years past.
Marketing and Fundraising Team
Log # 3
By: Michael Morettoni
Our bake sale was a smashing success! We raised just over $300 by
selling baked goodies donated by the GLOBE managers. In my last
post I recognized how important, and sometimes difficult,
communication among the different teams can be. Even though it was
trying at times to reach the other team members, in the end, we all
came together beautifully; I really was most pleased with the
collaborative teamwork. Our table was overflowing with the donated
baked goods and was always staffed with managers eager to spread
GLOBE’s message. We even had managers hand-delivering the GLOBE
message and baked goods throughout campus. I was impressed and
reassured of the commitment that we all took together when we
joined the class.
The Marketing Team has also begun serious research for our term
paper, investigating the possible mission drift within the
Microfinance industry due to the introduction of ‘for-profit’ MFIs.
Our research is preliminary, but our findings so far are
disturbing. Our mission in GLOBE is to alleviate poverty through
the financial empowerment of entrepreneurs in the developing world.
Introducing profit margins and stakeholders can certainly disrupt
the social mission that many MFI’s, including GLOBE, hold
dear.
This week we read a chapter of Muhammad Yunus’ book, “Banker to the
Poor”, which detailed the efforts to bring microfinance outside of
Bangladesh and into developed nations. Our time in class so far has
been devoted to learning the concepts of microfinance and their
applications in the countries that GLOBE has actual borrowers
(Vietnam, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, etc.). So I was
surprised to learn that the principles and methods of the Grameen
bank could be so easily applied to the poverty stricken areas of
the United States. Yunus visited with notable politicians and
community leaders, like Bill Clinton, in Arkansas, Chicago, Harlem,
and many other centers of poverty. While reluctant initially, the
methods and ideology of the Grameen bank were adopted and
eventually succeeded.
The most important lesson from this chapter was that poor do not
deserve to be stereotyped or defined by their poorness, even though
they may feel that way themselves. In every rural town and urban
center Yunus visited he was met by creative, hardworking, and eager
people who only needed opportunity to help better themselves.
Negative characterizations about American individualism or American
reliance on welfare are dangerous and shallow because, as Yunus and
his associates proved over and over again, the poor are just as
resourceful and have just as much humanity as anyone else with a
degree or a full wallet in their pocket.
Technology and Communications Team
Log # 3
By: Nicollette Lygeris
From the classes we have had, I have learned that teamwork is very
valuable. This is something that I have learned through experience
and from presentations, guest speakers, and readings; it is very
important, especially in this class.
This week I was excited to announce the new objectives I had for
the week. The website will finally be updated along with the
e-Portfolio. Since I have asked to be the new team liaison, I have
noticed I have a lot more responsibilities and tasks, as a leader
of the IT Team. One thing I learned about was time management. This
is essential when dealing with a group. Since we have 5 members, it
is hard to meet with everyone and get things settled. I've learned
that you need to work with people’s schedules accordingly, as well
as be prepared at meetings. This may come across to some people as
a concept of common sense, however; the simplest things often tend
to get overlooked. When organizing a meeting, you need to realize
that it must accomplish the goal at hand. Communication is key. In
order to effectively communicate, you just make your goal clear as
well as come up with strategies to make that goal clear. I jotted
down ideas and tried to make them concise and communicate them to
our group. We all exchanged ideas and wrote them down. As far as
successful teamwork, I think we've achieved success.
In class we spoke about the difference between wants and needs. Our
starting point of discussion was about people that were considered
'lowered class' and what their monetary needs would go toward
initially, as opposed to people that lived 'comfortably.' This is
when critical thinking comes in… people who are using their every
penny toward something useful would certainly use their money for
the basics: food clothes and shelter. Family plays a role as well.
People who work for needs as opposed to wants would work for food
on the table, clothes and rent. Anyone who is working will tell you
those are their goals. However, those who are middle class will say
the same things, but it does not mean the same. This class has made
me humble myself and realize that our ‘needs', when it comes down
to it, are actually wants. In other words, the phrase ''I need
shoes'' in middle class terms actually means “I need a NEW pair of
shoes.'' Those who don't have any extra money do not buy new things
because they don’t FEEL they need to buy new shoes; they buy new
shoes because their shoes are torn and tattered. Middle class
people do not live the luxurious life but they do have the luxury
of buying shoes to feed their wants or just their monetary urges.
This class has taught me to realize that there are differences
between wants and needs.
In conclusion, this ties into my idea for our group paper. I have
chosen the idea of technology and how it is used in developing
countries. For us, technology is more of a want than a need. People
in developing countries would need something like this. Access to
technology can open so many more doors. With technology you can
gain knowledge, connection with others, and so much more. I am
excited to see what this week leads to, as I will be helping out
the Finance Team as well.