Winthrop Microfinance - Bolivia and Panama

Laura Ullrich Start Date: Apr 7, 2015 - End Date: May 17, 2015
  • Bolivia
  • Panama

My Travel Story

by: Laura Ullrich Start Date: Apr 7, 2015 - End Date: May 17, 2015
We are a group of students from Winthrop University that are traveling to Panama and Bolivia this May to learn more about and participate in microfinance and transformational entrepreneurship. The 14 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: Panama City and Playa Blanca, Panama and 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 group that traveled in 2013.

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: Yellow Fever vaccinations, 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! 

We have a trip website that will be updated regularly before, during, and after the trip: www.winthropmicrofinance.com. Those donating more than $100 by April 30, 2015 will receive specific mention on our website and will be listed as an ‘official sponsor’ on the t-shirts we will have printed. Those donating more than $200 will also receive two t-shirts.

**please feel free to contact me 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 Eric Gaston, MBA Graduate Assistant, 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 324 Thurmond Building, Rock Hill, SC 29733.  Checks should be made out to Winthrop Foundation and "Fund 1706" should be written in the memo line.***
  • Bolivia
  • Panama