The Global Microcredit Summit

The Point Loma Nazarene University contingent at the global Microcredit Summit held in Valladolid, Spain from November 14-17 had a wonderful time joining almost 2,000 participants from close to 100 countries for a great time of learning and networking. The initial purpose for PLNU's involvement was the presentation of a commissioned paper at a workshop entitled "How can Microfinance contribute to restoring dignity and transforming lives in urban slums?" The paper was co-authored by Rob Gailey and Rebecca Harver and Rebecca is doing a Spanish translation of the paper as part of an honors project for her senior year.

The workshop included a summary of the paper and then presentations by an esteemed panel of leaders of organizations doing microfinance in urban slums. The panelists were from organizations operating in Uganda, India, Kenya, and Turkey. Several audience members were from practitioner organizations as well, including from organizations operating in South Africa and the Philippines. Needless to say, there was a lot of wisdom in the room as we discussed ways that microfinance can be leveraged for those who suffer from difficult living conditions in urban slums.

In addition to the workshop there were outstanding plenary sessions where we heard from world leaders and leading practitioners in and donors of microfinance initiatives around the world. Even leaders of the business world shared. The CEO and President of Danone, headquartered in France, spoke of his company's partnership in Bangladesh with Grameen Bank to get low-cost, highly nutritious yogurt to children living in poverty so as to improve their health. The partnership is a unique approach to a "social business" which is a no-dividend, no loss profitable company, where all profits are poured back into the company's mission.

 

We also heard from Nobel laureate, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who shared about his discussions with Reebok/Adidas that have led them to create a shoe for under two dollars that can be sold to poor people around the world in a similar social business approach. The Queen of Spain also shared her personal and her country's support for microfinance around the world.

 

PLNU students/alums were well represented at the Summit. MBA alum and current MBA Program Assistant Lalaine Beltran and current senior Spanish major Rebecca Harver, served as volunteers for the global Summit. Both women did a great job volunteering and were commended by the Summit for their work. 

A highlight for the ladies was getting to meet and talk privately with Queen Sofia of Spain and Professor Muhammad Yunus. Pictures of these special meetings are attached and perhaps one of them will write up their story of their time in Spain.

Rob also participated in a one-day workshop at the end of the Summit on poverty measurement tools used in  microfinance to track how poor people are when initially being served by an organization. The organizations can also use these tools to "track" movement out of poverty by these families over time. Rob is looking to use some of these tools to help child sponsorship programs, particularly the one operated by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, track the families of sponsored children.

We had a wonderful time in Spain and we are thankful for a great learning and networking experience.

Contributed by Professor Rob Gailey

Happy Thanksgiving!

I will rewind back to where I left off after this one post... I just wanted to take a moment to reflect upon our last stop of the morning of Thanksgiving Day...Omaha Beach...

 

... There really aren't words for what I am feeling... From the moment I saw the sign from our bus, I felt a sense of sorrow and grief envelope me... I have always felt a tremendous sadness in hearing and seeing the losses of WWII, as with other wars, but experiencing it in person was almost too much... 

As I walked through the information area I saw the screens where I could find Uncle Jack's burial plot... I typed his name in and there it was... 

 

... I made my way to the cemetery along the road on the edge of the beach, I began to think more deeply about all of men and women who lost their lives there... I wanted to be alone in my sadness but asked a few friends to join me simply to take pictures, though i was even uncomfortable doing that as everything in my being needed to withdraw and contemplate on what I was in the midst of... 

... then I rounded the corner to see row after row after row of the white crosses and stars of David marking the graves of our soldiers, 9,387 in total... My heart ached as I wept for those who had sacrificed their lives, as well as for the families that were forever touched by this tragedy, including our own...

 

Through my tears and sadness I couldn't suppress the overwhelming mix of emotions that I was feeling as  I walked in the wet grass to find Jack's grave... The last section of the cemetery... second to last row and second to last from the end... 

There it was. I stood just staring at it and although I never knew Jack, I felt as if I did... I found myself thinking as a mother, wife, sister, child... and of my own son and what a devastating loss it must have been... 

... I wept for Jack, for my mother in law, for all of the family... And looked across the cemetery as it seemed to go on forever... 

The rest of our group joined me after a few minutes to give me flowers and offer their thanks for the sacrifice of our family and I wanted to share that with you... that was difficult for me as I never imagined that I would be as overcome as I was with the need to experience this in my own way and alone...the sadness, grief, and pain. 

 

I walked away then and began to make my way to our meeting place... as I did I found myself lost in my thoughts as images replayed over and over in my head... images of the day as well as from films I have seen and stories I have heard and read...

On this day of thanksgiving I have a lot to be thankful for, but I can't help but be especially thankful for the men and women who have lost their lives defending our freedom throughout history, to their families, and to those who continue to protect the freedoms of our country. 

Fado?...

You may or may not have heard of Fado... In Portuguese Fado simply means destiny or fate. The Portuguese culture believes that everything they experience in life is their fate... throughout the countryside Fado can be heard at restaurants and small cafes and follow two main styles, either Lisbon or Coimbra...

We were fortunate to have our Fado night planned by Paula and Joe, friends of Randy's... 
A small restaurant filled with culture and ambiance awaited us... 

 
We ordered dishes that were very typical Portuguese fare and as our food arrived the entertainment began...

Fado is truly an emotional experience... both for those singing and for those watching... the words and actions of the performers expressed a passion and an emotion that came from deep within... they told a story... and although I was only able to catch a word here and there, I knew there was a much deeper, more powerful meaning than I could possibly imagine.

I took a moment to step outside for some fresh air and was greeted by our first Fado singer, Xxxxx. He asked me... In Portuguese, if I was warm... I answered yes but quickly told him that I did not speak Portuguese and he clearly did not speak English... I called to Paula to please come translate for me... My new Fado friend then began to tell me the story of the village we were in and that it had been more or less leveled in an earthquake in 1111... He said that the village was rebuilt on top of the rubble... he continued to share a quick history of the surrounding area... and although Paula helped me to understand his words, his eyes and expression spoke to me perhaps more deeply... the passion, pride, and love for the history of his country and his people was evident and heartfelt...

This went on for about 15 minutes until he was brought back in to join the other singers once again... I told him that I appreciated his gift of singing and thoroughly enjoyed the evening... After about another hour, we made our way outside to head home... as I passed him he said goodnight and thanked me for coming kissing my cheeks goodnight. Thank you my friend...for sharing your heart and your joy with me...

The Trip  Begins…

Thursday, November 17…

Jose and I arrived several days before our students as we had a quick 36 hour business trip to Germany before beginning our time in Portugal. We returned to Lisbon, and still had 24 hours before the students arrived. Randy took Jose and me to 

a small area called Cascais… along the breathtaking coastline. 

 

It was a lovely day as we  strolled the streets and had lunch  together in a small  restaurant… we ate outside which was a great way to  continue to absorb the culture and people of the country.

  

Friday, November 18... The Arrival....

Off to the airport for the first wave of arrivals... Randy and I, along with his friend Otto, sat enjoying a coffee waiting for the familiar faces as they arrived from across the pond.  

Finally they rounded the corner... one by one, all with the same look of relief that their journey was over and that their friends were waiting to welcome  them... the same feeling I had experienced earlier that week.

We piled in the car with bag and baggage and headed to the Institute that would be "home" for the next week... and held to our promise to keep them awake as long as possible as we waited for the rest of the arrivals to trickle in over the course of the next few   hours... All of their faces and actions clearly said that rest could not come soon enough.

 

After a lunch of homemade chicken soup and a few minutes of shut eye,  we gathered the troops and headed to Sintra for the afternoon and the beginning of our Portugal adventure.  Sintra is a lovely town that has quaint shops, small cafes, and a warm feel… the perfect start to our “field trip”…

 

We walked the streets of Sintra wandering from shop to shop… after about an hour, I looked at the students around me and began to see their eyes glaze over as fatigue began to set in… We stayed for a bit and then headed back to the Institute for a light dinner and to further settle into the rooms and the routine of our trip.

 

By Sunday all of the students had arrived and everyone had settled in nicely... Now that all have had a few good nights of rest, the fun can truly begin…