University Programs

Next Microcredit Challenge November 17-23, 2008

We raised over $5400 on two campuses in 2007, and now we’re looking for hosts for the fall challenge at schools across Canada! Want to get students on your campus involved in a fun and innovative competition while making a meaningful difference in the lives of families in the developing world? Then we want to hear from you!

Contact us for hosting details at info@globalafc.org

UPDATE - Many schools have indicated that they would like to have the flexibility to hold the Challenge at other times of the year to suit their school calendars. SO, the new Microcredit Challenge Guide is now available to schools to help them run a challenge, with our funding support, anytime it suits their student body!

What is the Microcredit Challenge
The microcredit challenge is simple: teams have one week, $100 and only the limits of its own creativity to create as much social change and raise as much money as possible.

Global AFC funds competing teams of 2‐5 students on your campus with $100 “microloans”. Teams have one week to use their entrepreneurial skills to raise as much money and create as much social change as possible using only this original loan. At the end of the week the loan is paid back and all proceeds remain in student run microcredit funds at the participating campuses. These funds help developing world entrepreneurs pull themselves and their families out of poverty.
Contest Details:

1) Each team must have between 2 and 5 members.

2) Each team will receive a $100 microloan and ONE WEEK to create as much social change as possible while as much money as they can.

3) The original microloan is repaid, and the entire amount raised will go to a local student controlled microcredit fund on your campus.

4) Rules will be provided, but creativity is the key!

5) Teams will be judged on amount raised, creativity, and sustainability.
For additional universities joining the competition Global AFC will provide the initial $100 “microloans” for up to ten teams, promotional materials and a guidebook detailing how to run the event successfully. All money raised may be placed in a locally controlled microcredit fund, in the central Global Agents for Change microcredit fund, or directed to a specific microcredit project if agreed to by all parties.
Contact us for more info about joining the competition or hosting one at your school!

***AFC University is the student run arm of Global Agents for Change, forming chapters and running programs aimed at helping students to understand global issues and to impact their world as social entrepreneurs.

What’s a social entrepreneur?

A social entrepreneur is someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a solution to make social change. Whereas business entrepreneurs typically measure performance in profit and return, social entrepreneurs assess their success in terms of the impact they have on society. While social entrepreneurs often work through nonprofits and citizen groups, many work in the private and governmental sectors.

Having launched successfully in fall of 2007 with the University Microcredit Challenge, AFC-U is increasing awareness of microcredit and engaging students in creative initiatives to build a student run microcredit fund! Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia put forward a total of ten teams raising nearly $6000 in ONE WEEK for microcredit funds that their students will control.

Check back for details soon as programs develop - AFC-U will be busy coming up with new and exciting ways to engage students in making their world a better place!

Questions:

SFU Students- Contact us directly at info@globalafc.org
UBC Students - ubc@globalafc.org or visit their chapter site : UBC Chapter Website

Want a chapter at YOUR school - contact us and we’ll get you started!