Microeconomic Development Group

From The Collaboratory

Quicklinks
The MED Group!
Projects
Zambia Paper Project Zambia Savings-Led Project Forgotten Voices International Project
Members
Hope Hess, Group Leader Heather Ryan, CSLA Project Advisor Trey Overholt, CSLA Project Advisor Sam Wheatley, CSLA Project Leader Nick Martino, Site Team Leader Sarah Baranik, FVI Project Leader Mary High Lara Stilwell Quincy Herrold Brianna Morrell Dylan Thomas Derek Perella Calvin Ruth Laurie Doyle Brad Steinweg Rachel Dirksen Jonathan Norton
Advisors
J. Lynn Conrady Jesse Schwamb Matt Nissley

Summary

The Micro-Economic Development Group began in 2006 with the intention of using students' growing business acumen to assist in economic development through business development. For the 2007-2008 year, our primary focus was to develop partnerships, research micro-finance, and find development opportunities in Zambia. During the 2008-2009 school year, the group worked in partnership with the Brethren in Christ Church in Zambia to start two Savings and Credit Associations using the Village Savings and Loan (VSLA) program. This program enables rural Zambians to save capital as well as potentially take out loans for small businesses or immediate needs. During the 2009-2010 school year, the MED group expanded its knowledge of SCAs through studying the Chalmer's Curriculum as well. During the summer of 2010, a team of six members returned to Zambia again and started 2 SCAs- an ASCA an and the VSLA manual into one d a ROSCA model-using a combination of VSLA and Chalmers curriculum. During the 2010-2011 school year, we successfully combined the Chalmer's and VSLA manuals into a one Community-led Savings and Loan Association curriculum which we will translate to Spanish for the 2012 Costa Rica site team trip. The group will continue working toward a January 2012 site team to Costa Rica. On this site team, we will implement our new Community-led Savings and Loans Association curriculum. The goal will be to train and equip seminary students in Community-led Savings and Loans. MED also has an ongoing relationship with Forgotten Voices, and an affiliation with World Mission Associates. During the 2009-2010 school year, the group also is working on creating a marketing bundle for college students to spread the word about the organization of Forgotten Voices.[http://www.forgottenvoices.org/2/

Mission

The MED Group partners with communities and individuals to develop, analyze, and expand business opportunities with the goal of supporting and growing local economies, as well as providing group members with practical opportunities to use and expand classroom knowledge, while integrating ministry and business.

Vision

The MED Group is a student-led Christian organization that endeavors to serve domestically and in the developing world by utilizing classroom knowledge and mutually beneficial partnerships while striving to enhance the lives and communities of the marginalized through sustainable economic empowerment.

• Theme Verse: Isaiah 58:10 (New International Version)

And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. New International Version (NIV)

News

• Meetings are on Monday's at 7:00pm in Jordan 172
• Welcome to our new members!

Projects

Current projects

• Costa Rica Seminary Training Project
• Zambia Savings-Led Project
• Forgotten Voices International Project

Past projects

• Mondragon Conference
• Zambia Paper Project

Future projects

Resources

• http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/ites/0204/ijee/ijee0204.htm
• http://www.uncdf.org/mfdl/index.php?_mode=students.readings
• ME Minutes
• MFI Connect

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