Microfinance for Macroimpact

The International Development Education & Action (IDEA) student group, lead by Vera Belazelkoska '09, Nate Black '09, and Colin Halverson '09, is organizing 'the Week 2007: Microfinance for Macroimpact'. The week of November 4th will be filled with memorable events aspiring to educate the St. Olaf and Northfield community about the power of microfinance as a developmental tool, aiding impoverished persons in the developing world rise above the political, economic and cultural barriers restricting their opportunities for prosperity and happiness.

In addition, IDEA aims to fund-raise for the cause, entering a National Fundraising Challenge rganized by Gumball Capital (gumballcapital.org), a new non-profit organization started by tanford students who make micro-loans to developing-world entrepreneurs through Kiva kiva.org). In fact, St. Olaf will be the first liberal arts college competing in this national challenge, gainst schools like Yale, Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.

We encourage students to visit our website (http://www.theweek2007.org/) for the schedule of events and watch out for our posters, fundraisers, tabling, and overall presence throughout 'the Week'! We hope to aspire the St. Olaf community to come ogether and show our passion and activism for improving the opportunities and living standards of people across the globe. For questions, do not hesitate to email me (
belazelk@stolaf.edu)