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Microfinance Service Trip

Applications can be found at www.bc.edu/microfinancetrip and the deadline is Friday, September 25, 2009.

In 2007, the Carroll School introduced a service/immersion trip that would explore the concepts of microfinance and economic development.  The first two trips brought students to Cochabamba, Bolivia, but in 2009, the trip's location changed and fourteen students traveled to Nicaragua. 

This 10-day alternative Spring Break trip consists of visits to NGO’s where students participate in home-stays with local families, learn about microfinance, and engage in a hands-on service learning project.  The trip is sponsored through CSOM and is open to all Boston College undergraduates.

The Microfinance Service Trip is led by two Boston College administrators and two student leaders.  The leadership position is a year-long commitment and the trip will take place during spring break 2010.  Any Boston College student can apply for this position.  Desired qualifications for the student leaders include the following: previous leadership experience, proficiency in Spanish, some knowledge of microfinance/Latin America/economic development/social entrepreneurship. 

If you have any questions regarding this trip, please email bolivia@bc.edu.

See What Microfinance Trip Participants have to say about their experience:

My favorite part of the whole trip was the talks that I had with my host family at nights, after a long day of work. We talked about anything and everything, it was so interesting to hear what they had to say about America, their own country, and our project's role in the community.  -Participant, 2009

This experience pushed me beyond my comfort zone, allowing me to see the challenges and opportunities that exist in service, specifically sustainable development.  An eye-opening service-learning trip that illustrates our global impact and the ways that many lives can be improved.  I will never forget the energy that filled the room as the families learned about the bakery opportunities. - Participant, 2009

Although I am confident that our service in Nicaragua has made a real impact on the lives of those with whom we worked, I’m most excited by the impact it has had on us and the challenge now presented to us to integrate this experience into meaningful action and a push for change. - Participant, 2009