Katie Westlund

Passionate About:

SHARE THIS PAGE

$

1,616

Fundraised

1

Initiatives

All Initiatives
Filter By:


Sort By:


End Date: Mar 17, 2012 10:00 PM
Volunteer Activity Message

IU volunteers will spend 8 days in a rural community in Panama to help provide solutions to the community’s economic needs. The target beneficiaries have been previously excluded from formal financial institutions & therefore lacked access to savings and credit opportunities. Beneficiaries tend to have a low level of income, lack of collateral, & low level of education. During the brigade, volunteers divide into small groups to conduct household visits in which they get to know the family, assess each household’s level of financial competency and entrepreneurial aspirations. After the assessments the volunteers provide educational and technical assistance in the form of workshops. Topics range from personal finance to basic accounting and business planning. Additionally, volunteers invest in the community savings and loan (S&L) cooperative by providing seed capital. In turn, the seed capital provides loans to a small business to either expand current operations or pursue a new entrepreneurial opportunity. Working side-by-side with community members affords volunteers the opportunity for cultural exchange, micro-finance, and consulting experience. The households benefit by learning personal financial and business skills and gain access to credit and savings opportunities. Community businesses benefit from the consulting and loans. The community benefits because the profits earned by the S&L stay in the community to be used by the community!

Volunteer Goals

Program Goal: $0.00 / Airfare Goal: $0.00

Steven G. Westlund donated $5

Feb 26, 2012 03:51 PM

Michelle Garrett donated $81

Feb 26, 2012 01:55 PM

Steven G. Westlund donated $430

Feb 25, 2012 06:52 PM

Steven G. Westlund donated $75

Saying "Mucch success to Katie and the group in all your endeavors,Love Grandma Nancy"

Feb 24, 2012 08:00 PM

Steven G. Westlund donated $25

Saying "from Ray and Mary Hess"

Feb 24, 2012 07:53 PM

charles b westlund jr donated $25

Feb 23, 2012 07:09 PM

Michelle S Granskog donated $10

Feb 22, 2012 06:02 PM

Jessie Horcher donated $10

Saying "Have fun Katie! AOT! ~Jessie"

Feb 22, 2012 05:01 PM

Alexea Candreva donated $10

Saying "Good luck Katie!"

Feb 21, 2012 09:11 PM

Anonymous donated $460

Feb 21, 2012 09:42 AM

Joseph Mayer donated $150

Saying "Do some good for me!"

Feb 16, 2012 05:43 PM

Marie Thorpe donated $25

Saying "Joseph said you were in need of donations. God Bless you on your mission trip. I will be praying for you and the success of the group.
Marie Thorpe"

Feb 16, 2012 03:55 PM

Mobile-User 845367850139124 donated $25

Saying "Enjoy your trip Katie"

Feb 11, 2012 03:39 PM

Sheri Payne donated $25

Feb 11, 2012 01:33 PM

NICHOLAS BIANCARDI donated $10

Saying "Enjoy your trip!"

Jan 24, 2012 09:17 PM

Kaitlin M. Westlund donated $250

Saying "Initial deposit! :)"

Jan 24, 2012 06:07 PM

99% Complete (success)
$1,615.75

of $1,616.00

in donations needed to reach the Initiative Goal


Complete

Thank you for your support!

40% Complete (success)
16

of 40

volunteers needed to reach the Initiative Goal