For aspiring business students to engage in a sequence of international business experiences to develop a business plan for a refugee-owned microenterprise in Athens, Greece

Students will:

• Engage in real-time with local business experts and rural business owners
• Explore details of existing microfinance opportunities in Greece
• Understand how business principles are applied in a small business in a rural setting
• Learn how to use business assessment tools during a consulting process
• Develop business communication and assessment skills
• Work to develop intercultural competencies throughout the course.

Entrepreneurship Business planning Learning Objectives: Students that successfully complete the program will be able to:

• Analyze a business’s strengths and weaknesses to develop appropriate solutions.
• Learn how to consult with clients from rural and indigenous communities.
• Discuss economic and social issues impacting rural and indigenous communities in a developing country.
• Understand microfinance concepts utilized in community banks in Greece.
• Create a business plan for a small business.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Module 1: Introductions and Program Overview

Coordinator and student introductions along with a presentation on Squads Abroad (SA) and the work of our parent organization Global Brigades (GB) in Greece. Self-paced Activity: Group reviews GB Greece’s business development program in the context of GB’s Holistic Model for community development.

Module 2: The Refugee Crisis

Local refugee expert facilitates discussion on the causes of the crisis and its impact in Greece from a social and economic lens. Self-paced Activity: Group watches a video on the refugee crisis for context. Research on the contribution of refugee and migrant-owned businesses to economic inclusion, social integration, and the economy of the host country.

Module 3: Business Opportunities for Refugees and Migrants

GB’s program manager provides the context of small businesses in Greece and opportunities for refugees and migrants. Self-paced Activity: Group reviews program materials and background on SMEs’ operation in the Greek business environment.

Module 4: Entrepreneur Selection

Coordinator presents potential entrepreneurs and supports students to choose which they will work with. Self-paced activity: Group reviews entrepreneur information and informs staff of selection.

Module 5: Canvas Business Model

Coordinator walks through the Business Model Canvas framework that the group will develop with the entrepreneur. Self-paced activity: Group reviews Business Model Canvas framework further.

Module 6: Initial Meeting Preparation

Coordinator presents entrepreneur information, including a business community tour, and the context of the business idea beforehand. Self-paced Activity: Group prepares and assigns questions to ask the entrepreneur. Students practice introducing themselves in the business client’s mother tongue or Greek.

Module 7: Initial Meeting with Entrepreneur

Introductory meeting between entrepreneur and group to build relationship and have cultural exchange. Self-paced Activity: Group reviews notes from meeting and divides into teams and assigns tasks by section of the business model.

Module 8: Mentor Session with Professional Consultant

Mentor and GB coordinator help prepare the group to ask the most strategic questions during the consultation day. Self-paced Activity: Group prepares and assigns questions to ask business clients based on mentor guidance.

Module 9: Second Meeting with Entrepreneur

Live virtual session with the entrepreneur to answer questions and gather information for business modeling. Self-paced Activity: Group begins work to create a business model utilizing Canvas framework.

Module 10 and 11: Business Model Creation

Two working sessions with coordinators to answer questions and help students create their business models. Self-paced Activity: Continuing working in teams to finalize the model.

Module 12 – Business Model Submission and Final Mentor Feedback

Group submits final business model and presentations for final feedback from mentors. Self-paced Activity: Make any last edits to the presentation and final business model based on mentor feedback.

Module 13: Presentation to Entrepreneur

Group presents materials via a video conference to the entrepreneur with translation by the coordinator and cultural mediator (if needed). Group receives feedback from the client. Self-paced Activity: Group reflects on the presentation and feedback from the client and makes any edits to deliverables. Procure cooking materials for cultural activity.

Module 14: Cultural Activity and Project Celebration

Squads Abroad coordinator debriefs with the group and the team celebrates with a traditional dish. Self-paced Activity: Group reflects on the TeleSquad experience.  Students will be included in Squads Abroad’s regular newsletters and receive project updates and overall monitoring and evaluation of our programs.