A Roundtable Discussion on Alternative Approaches to Microcredit
March 12, 2008 @ Open Book
1011 Washington Ave. South. Minneapolis, Minnesota
10:00 AM- 12:30 PM
This dialogue will be a discussion among Twin Cities community members about how to effectively engage in ethical and sustainable microcredit work. This discussion will be centered on three projects seeking to develop alternative microfinance models. First, Kasia Paprocki and Jason Cons will share the Goldin Institute’s findings and recommendations from our extended research work on understanding microcredit from the perspectives of recipients. We will focus directly on our recent research in rural areas in Banglaldesh. Second, Joe Selvaggio will discuss his innovative MicroGrants program, which provides grants of $1000 to poor people with potential to help them acquire the necessary assets to make new starts or begin new entrepreneurial ventures. Third, Chingwell Mutombu will discuss her work with the First Step Initiative, which has initiated a microcredit program in DR Congo that emphasizes the creation of market linkages to ensure markets for recipients’ entrepreneurial ventures. After these brief presentations we will engage in a round-table discussion with attendees about the need and strategies for providing ethical and sustainable microcredit programming and engage in a debate about how both donor communities and programs can cooperatively create such programs.
Please RSVP to kasia@goldininstitute.org or call 312.951.1691; or contact us to learn more about this event or the Goldin Institute’s Improving Microcredit Project.
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