Volunteer
Opportunity description
Opportunity description
Volunteer in a microfinance institution in Africa. The
field of Microfinance has received a lot of attention since Muhanned Yunus
received a Nobel Prize after founding the Grameen Bank. Thousands of
microfinance institutions (MFIs) provide financial services at the community
level in Uganda, usually through Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs).
SACCOs have had mixed results–a few have been very successful while others
struggle to survive. Interns in this program work in a SACCO with a successful
track record. The first few weeks are spent working with the SACCO staff to get
an idea of the day to day activities, the strengths of the organization and to
determine what projects within the SACCO to pursue during the rest of the
internship. Interns can pursue a wide variety of projects in collaboration with
the organization including business skills development, developing business
plans, microfinance education outreach an
field of Microfinance has received a lot of attention since Muhanned Yunus
received a Nobel Prize after founding the Grameen Bank. Thousands of
microfinance institutions (MFIs) provide financial services at the community
level in Uganda, usually through Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs).
SACCOs have had mixed results–a few have been very successful while others
struggle to survive. Interns in this program work in a SACCO with a successful
track record. The first few weeks are spent working with the SACCO staff to get
an idea of the day to day activities, the strengths of the organization and to
determine what projects within the SACCO to pursue during the rest of the
internship. Interns can pursue a wide variety of projects in collaboration with
the organization including business skills development, developing business
plans, microfinance education outreach an
d project monitoring and evaluation.
Participants in the project must commit to at least six weeks. Past experience
in banking, accounting, or financial services will be a real advantage.
Uganda is the lush pearl of Africa on the northern
shore of Lake Victoria where the Eastern African Savannahs meet the western
rainforests. The natural wonders of the country include dramatic waterfalls,
incredible wildlife including the last troops of mountain gorillas, and Lake
Victoria, the second largest lake in the world. The people of Uganda are well
known for their hospitality and warmth. Uganda ranks among the world’s poorest
countries and has little in the way of basic infrastructure such as
electricity, running water, waste management and access to education and
healthcare. ELI works with local organizations based in Iganga District, about
three hours east of the capital Kampala. Iganga town lies on the Mombasa to
Kampala Highway–one of East Africa’s major transportation routes. The bustling
highway gives the false impression that the town is teeming with traffic, but
just a few hundred yards from the highway, cars become a rare sight and quiet
village life takes over.
shore of Lake Victoria where the Eastern African Savannahs meet the western
rainforests. The natural wonders of the country include dramatic waterfalls,
incredible wildlife including the last troops of mountain gorillas, and Lake
Victoria, the second largest lake in the world. The people of Uganda are well
known for their hospitality and warmth. Uganda ranks among the world’s poorest
countries and has little in the way of basic infrastructure such as
electricity, running water, waste management and access to education and
healthcare. ELI works with local organizations based in Iganga District, about
three hours east of the capital Kampala. Iganga town lies on the Mombasa to
Kampala Highway–one of East Africa’s major transportation routes. The bustling
highway gives the false impression that the town is teeming with traffic, but
just a few hundred yards from the highway, cars become a rare sight and quiet
village life takes over.
Participants must be at least 18 years old or older at
the time of their program.
the time of their program.
Please for more info about this program or to apply
online visit our site at www.eliabroad.org
online visit our site at www.eliabroad.org
Feel free to contact us directly at info@eliabroad.org
How to apply
Please for more info about this program or to apply
online visit our site at www.eliabroad.org
online visit our site at www.eliabroad.org
Feel free to contact us directly at info@eliabroad.org
