For aspiring business students to engage in a sequence of international business experiences to develop a business plan for a rural microenterprise in Central America.

Students will:

• Engage in real-time with local business experts and rural business owners
• Explore details of existing microfinance opportunities in Panama
• 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 
• 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) . Self-paced activity: Group reviews economic development program materials in the context of GB’s Holistic Model for community development.

Module2: Country Overview and Role In Globalization

Talk with GB Economic Development Expert to learn about the communities unique role in globalization and both the economic and social effects. Self-paced activity: Analyze and reflect on the effect of globalization in rural/indigenous communities and their integration in Global Supply Chains.

Module 3: Economic Development and Microfinance

Talk with GB Economic Development Expert to learn about businesses in the developing world, an introduction to microfinance, and the role of small businesses in reducing poverty. Self-paced activity: Group reflects on GB economic development model and the role of microfinance as a tool for poverty alleviation. Spanish competition: group encouraged to create Duolingo accounts and compete for “rewards” for who gets furthest throughout the class.

Module 4: Client Selection

Coordinator presents three potential client profiles and supports students in choosing. Self-paced activity: Group reviews client information and informs staff of client selection.

Module 5: SWOT Framework

Coordinator walks through the SWOT Analysis framework as a tool to examine and consult businesses. Self-paced activity: Group reviews business templates and sample deliverable materials.

Module 6: Initial Client Meeting Preparation

Coordinator presents client information, including a virtual business tour, and the context of the business beforehand. Self-paced Activity: Students review the Spanish business packet and Executive Summary template to prepare their initial questions for the clients.

Module 7: Initial Client Meeting

Introductory meeting between client and group to build relationship and have cultural exchange. Self-paced Activity: Group reviews notes from the client meeting and divides into teams and assigns tasks by business topic/deliverable.

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: Client Consultation Day

Live virtual session with business clients to do SWOT analysis and gather information for final business deliverables. Self-paced Activity: Group begins work to create business deliverables utilizing templates.

Modules 10 and 11: Deliverable Creation

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

Module 12: Deliverable Submission and Final Mentor Feedback

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

Module 13: Presentation to Client

Group presents via a video conference to the client with the coordinator providing translation. Group receives feedback from the client. Up to 2 hrs. Self-paced Activity: Group decides to make a donation to capitalize any loans needed for the specific client or helps create a Kiva profile for them. Students complete the evaluation survey and prepare final reflections. Procure cooking materials and watch the instructional cooking video.

Module 14: Impact Reporting and Project Celebration

Squads coordinator debriefs group on clients’ feedback of deliverables and reflects on personal and professional development. Students will be included in Squads Abroad’s regular newsletters and receive project updates and overall monitoring and evaluation of our programs. Self-paced Activity: Group reviews monitoring and evaluation reports.