Aggie International Entrepreneurs

Academy for Future International Leaders – International Leadership Project 2010-2011 - Microloan Distribution in Comayagua, Honduras

Overview Aggie International Entrepreneurs is a

micro-finance pilot project launching in the city of Comayagua, Honduras.

Basics: 2 weeks volunteer work 4 week business course implementation Credit-bearing (in progress) Launching: Spring 2012 (course) &

Summer 2012 (project implementation) Microloan of 20 000 lempiras (c.

1000USD) per group of 4 entrepreneurs working together in the same industry

To pilot a project that will build entrepreneurial capacity in a severely underprivileged area, specifically the Honduran city of Comayagua, via micro lending and business education.

Mission Statement

Key PartnersIn Honduras:Horizontes al FuturoCENET

At TAMU:Mays Business SchoolDepartment of International StudiesStudy Abroad OfficeAFIL

Works skills and rehabilitation center for ‘at-risk’ Hondurans Skills training

Lack resources to help their skills program graduates pursue a business Horizontes al

Futuro

Business Course Designed a

manual About 50%

Complete Basic business

principles Written in basic-

level Spanish

Difficulty: keeping in tune with

the level of education of the Comayaguan micro-entrepreneurs

Lack of support from CENET in helping us complete the course as initially thought

Credit-Bearing Designation Intention: to facilitate recruitment of

students and enable them to apply semester financial aid to their involvement in the project.

Tool that will aid in sustainability Spring 2012 course Hurdle: TAMU “red tape”

Student ParticipantsLooking for about 8 students – 2 groups of 4 for direct mentoringStudent Conditions for qualification are as follows: Must be upper-level Must be an Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, or

International Studies (emphasis in Commerce) major Better if they are receiving from Mays Business School a(n):

International Business Studies certificate Latin American Business certificate Entrepreneurial Leadership certificate

Must have a 3.0 GPR or higher Must have a working level of conversational Spanish Must attend all required training events and meetings Must complete their fundraising before project implementation

in Honduras

Difficulties Encountered Communication with key partners in

Honduras Inability to travel Time management Department of International Studies is

being dissolved effective 2012 Loss of key partner

Revised Project Extending experience length from 4

weeks to 6 weeks to allow for 2 weeks of personal volunteering

Credit – bearing experience In progress ~ allowing for greater use of

financial aid and reduced cost Moving implementation dates - delaying

Revised TimelineNovember 2011

 

Complete obtaining approval for credit-bearing proposal and

place Aggie International Entrepreneurs on the curriculum.

December 2011 Have 8 students selected and registered through the study

abroad office.

Spring 2011 Complete course at Texas A&M

Summer I 2012 Implement project in Comayagua, Honduras

Projections for the Future Hopeful but expect several difficulties to

arise, particularly it making it credit-bearing Partner with Global Business Brigade

(potential) Implement in Spring 2012 and Summer

2012 Guide future AFIL group in taking up this

project Susana will continue to attend TAMU and

remain the point of contact with Horizontes