Winthrop Microfinance 2018

Laura Ullrich Start Date: Apr 23, 2018 - End Date: May 22, 2018
  • Cochabamba, Bolivia
  • Tarija, Bolivia
  • Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
  • Cusco, Peru

My Travel Story

by: Laura Ullrich Start Date: Apr 23, 2018 - End Date: May 22, 2018
We are a group of students from Winthrop University that are traveling to Peru and Bolivia this May to learn more about and participate in microfinance and transformational entrepreneurship. The 18 of us will be working hard to create international partnerships and to help young entrepreneurs in these developing countries. We will even be participating in microfinance and entrepreneurship directly by granting and lending money to deserving clients. We like ot think of it as "Shark Tank Bolivia". Each of us is thrilled about the opportunity to travel abroad and the amazing experience it will afford us.

We will be traveling to four cities during our trip: Cusco, Peru and Tarija, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, Bolivia. During the trip we will visit businesses (both large and small), meet with government agencies, visit universities, meet with students, and visit potential microfinance projects. We truly believe that we will positively benefit the communities we visit. This is a continuation of a project started in 2013, and we are thrilled to continue the work started by the groups that traveled in 2013 and 2015.

As you all know, the cost of traveling overseas is great, and this trip is no exception. We are seeking support for three very specific parts of our trip: donations for the work we will be doing with a Peruvian orphanage school (http://cuscovolunteerwork.com/), Bolivian visa fees and bus travel within the country. All of us are paying for this trip out of pocket and we would greatly appreciate any assistance you can offer! All money raised will be split equally amongst travel participants (none will go to the faculty members). The more money we raise, the more money we will be able to provide the entrepreneurs we visit!

**please feel free to contact Laura Ullrich at ullrichl@winthrop.edu with any questions/comments**

The Winthrop Economics Club is sponsoring the trip and will be collecting and distributing the funds raised. Dr. Laura Ullrich, trip leader, and Laney Buckley, Economics major, will insure that the money is used to pay for participants' expenses in equal amounts.

***If you would prefer a tax deductible option, checks can be mailed to Laura Ullrich at 112 Thurmond Building, Rock Hill, SC 29733. Checks should be made out to the Winthrop University Foundation and "Fund 1706" should be written in the memo line.***
  • Cochabamba, Bolivia
  • Tarija, Bolivia
  • Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
  • Cusco, Peru