Session 1:  Monday, June 14

Introductions and Organization Overview – Talk with Global Brigades’ Economic Development Expert to learn about businesses in the developing world, an introduction to microfinance and the role of small business in reducing poverty. 

Self-paced activity: Group reviews program materials and background on GB’s microfinance model. 

Session 2:  Tuesday, June 15

Client Selection – The group receives three potential client profiles and all the preparation materials via email. SA coordinator holds a conference call with the group to walk through sample deliverables and answer questions.

Self-paced activity: Groups notifies staff of client selection. Group reviews business templates and preparation materials. Volunteers practices introducing themselves to the business client in Spanish.

Session 3:  Wednesday, June 16

Meeting the Client – Program Preparation – Introductory meeting between client and group to build relationship and have cultural exchange. SA coordinator shares client information, including virtual business tour, loan details/application and context of the business beforehand. The group will review the volunteer tasks and deliverable expectations to be submitted. 

Self-paced activity: Group reviews resources prepared by the SA coordinator and notes from client meeting. Group divides into teams and assigns tasks by business topic/deliverable.Group prepares and assigns questions to ask business client.

Session 4:  Thursday, June 17

Mentor Session – Mentor and GB coordinator helps prepare group to ask most strategic questions during the consultation day.

Self-paced activity: Group prepares and assigns questions to ask business client.Duolingo Spanish competition: group encouraged to create Duolingo accounts and share their level with the group for “rewards.”

Session 5:  Friday, June 18 

Client Consultation Day – Live virtual session with business clients to answer questions and gather information for final business deliverables. Cultural exchange: opportunity for client and students to share aspects of their daily life. 3 hrs

Self-paced activity: Group begins work to create business deliverables utilizing templates.

Session 6:  Monday, June 21

Deliverable Creation – Business Professional Mentor Session: Global Brigades business staff to provide feedback session on deliverables. 

Self-paced activity: Continuing working in teams to finalize deliverables.

Session 7:  Tuesday, June 22

Deliverables Submission and Kiva Activity – Group submits presentation and sends final deliverables. Group works to support access to small businesses loans by providing loan updates to Kiva donors. GB is a partner of Kiva (a microloan crowdfunding platform)

Self-paced activity: Prepare presentation and send final deliverables to Squads Abroad business team.

Session 8:  Wednesday, June 23

Presentation to Client – Group presents via a video conference to the client with the coordinator providing translation. Group receives feedback from client. 

Self-paced activity: Group decides to make additional donation to capitalize any loans needed for specific client or helps create Kiva profile for them. Volunteers complete evaluation survey and prepare final reflections. Procure cooking materials and watch instructional cooking video.

Session 9:  Thursday, June 24

Cultural Activity and Project Celebration – Squads coordinator debriefs group on clients’ feedback of deliverables and reflects on personal and professional development. The team celebrates and shows off how their local dish turned out. 

Self-paced activity: Group members stay connected on LinkedIn and updated on the progress of the business clients from the Squads coordinator and Global Brigades business team.