Future Project: Malawi

Potential Project: Tanzania

Non-loan Projects: Course on micro-finance & Partnership with Centro Fox

Current Projects:
The Yucatan Project: Early 2008 Social Entrepreneurship Program designed development strategies for 53 low-income Mayan communities. Loan recipients engage in different programs depending on their community. SEP currently had $15,000 in revolving funds in the Yucatan today. In one community 100 women were given $100 each to grow habanero chilies for the production of hot sauce. These women developed a hot sauce recipe. Now they are able to produce their hot sauce for manufacturing and sales. The goal is to sell their product locally in hotels and restaurants. The ultimate goal is to successful sale the product locally and eventual import the product into the United States.

Partner: organization Fundacion Ayuda Para Ayudar (APA).

Read more on the Yucatan

The Pakistan Project: In the spring of 2009, the University of St. Thomas Social Entrepreneurship Program initiated its Pakistan initiative which focuses on honey production and commercialization in the northern regions of Pakistan, specifically Chitral and Kaghan. This project began through a partnership between UST SEP and the Hashoo Foundation. The Hashoo Foundation is a non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on economic development in Pakistan. The UST SEP is in the process of allocating $20,000 in loans to 200 women for the production of honey. The program in Pakistan aims to provide capital to women in the northern regions of Pakistan so that they can produce honey to the local markets. The goal is to commercialize their honey regionally and, eventually, internationally.

Partner: The Hashoo Foundation

Read More on Pakistan

The Zambia Project: In collaboration with Worship Power House in Lusaka, Zambia UST Social Entrepreneurship Program administered a revolving fund of $2,800 dollars benefitting 12 women with AIDS in creation of a variety of self-sustaining businesses.

Partner: Worship Power House in Lusaka, Zambia

Future Projects:
The Malawi Project (St. Patrick’s Parish (Lilongwe, Malawi)): In January 2011 the Social Entrepreneurship Program visited St. Patrick’s Parish in Lilongwe, Malawi. The students and faculty met a group of 65 women who have contracted aids. These women are mostly single mothers or widows and are involved in entrepreneurial ventures such as food and cloth production. The SEP is currently seeking funds to support and enhancing their current business passions. We are currently in the process raising $6,500 to support 65; each woman would receive $100. Our current field partner, St. Patrick’s Parish, is currently in the process of identifying individuals that will be administrators of the loans.

Partner: St. Patrick’s Parish, Lilongwe Malawi

Potential Project
Mozambique & Tanzani: In January of 2011 the UST Social Entrepreneurship Program sent four students and two professors to Africa to examine potential projects and collaborations in Mozambique & Tanzania. The projects are currently under development.

Non-loan projects:
Partnership with Centro Fox:The past year, UST Center of International Studies and Social Entrepreneurship Program formed a partnership with Centro Fox, a non-profit NGO. Centro Fox was founded by former Mexican President Vicente Fox Quesada and based in San Cristobal, Guanajuato, Mexico. Our collaboration with Centro Fox will focus on:

* Coordinating service learning opportunities
* Developing study abroad programs
* Creation of Think Tank of experts
* Institutions & universities within the field of micro-finance
* Establish of an annual poverty forum
* Summer Certificate Program for High School & college students

Partnering with Centro Fox will provide SEP to work with other universities around the world.

MICROCREDIT 2010 ANNUAL REPORT