A Sustainable Solution to Overcome Global Poverty: Microfinance Projects Thriving Under the Support of International Volunteers and Interns
Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) August 07, 2013 -- With proper training and fair access to economic opportunities, the cycle of poverty and hunger can be broken, leaving independence and self-sufficiency in its place. Volunteers and interns through Cross-Continental Solutions have recently travelled abroad to participate in microfinance projects around the world in order to help local communities get out of poverty. They believe that both economic and social situations will improve if less poverty, hunger, and inequality exist in the world. By providing financial services such as training and small loans, microfinance projects teach the world's poor to help themselves and lift their families out of poverty. At the same time, volunteers benefit by gaining valuable work experience in the fields of business coaching and microfinancing. Some students even take such international internships for university credit. Intern and volunteer abroad programs in microfinance help provide a sustainable impact to alleviate global poverty.
Christin Rebarz from Germany recently spent two months in Africa doing microfinance projects with Cross-Continental Solutions and helping under-served community members. She provided consultancy services, performance assessments, business coaching, and fund-raising support to members of the community.
Christin's African experience can be viewed in the attached video, where one can witness her rewarding microfinance work, as well as some fun times dancing with locals and other international volunteers from Canada. By the end of the video, Rebarz expresses how grateful she is for this life-changing opportunity, "I would like to thank Cross-Continental and Jenn for all the support, planning, organization, and process of this internship. I did microfinance work here in Kenya with some amazing groups. I am so grateful that I had the chance to take part in this. It has been one of the most valuable experiences in my life."
One of the truths about international volunteering, as described by Rebarz, seems to be that the volunteer always takes away as much from the experience as those he or she has come to help. “I can truly say, I had an amazing time and will cherish it forever. Kenyans are so friendly and one can’t help but feel grateful for the experience. I met so many people and they all welcomed me with open arms, taught me about their culture and shared their experiences. For me, living in rural Kenya was the best way to experience the African way of life. To feel the gratitude, kindness and happiness of people is the best and biggest reward.”
Since the field of microfinance is constantly expanding, many impoverished nations are accessible to those willing to provide volunteer assistance. Unique to the industry, Cross-Continental offers personalized trips, geared to each volunteer’s specific areas of interest or expertise, while meeting the budgetary requirements of its international travelers. Happy intern Rebarz sings the praises of the reasonable cost of her trip, “Like most volunteers I did not have much money, since I had just completed my university degree, but was keen to experience Africa. The program fee is, in comparison to other organizations where you pay 3-times as much and still have to pay for lots of extras (i.e. for accommodation), amazing.”
As for her overall intern abroad experience, Rebarz puts it into her own words. “Ever since I was a teenager I wanted to come to Africa and volunteer. Over the years I researched many organizations but there always seemed to be something holding me back. Last year I came across the Cross-Continental website and the straightforward approach of their website appealed to me. I did not have to do any digging to find the information I needed, be it the program structure, prices or anything else."
Rebarz continued sharing, “What makes Cross-Continental really stand out, though, is their flexibility and efficiency. I was able to leave for Africa within a month after contacting the organization, so no months-long preparation and waiting for responses. All my emails were answered immediately and I was also given the contact info of one of the previous volunteers, who I could talk to about any questions or concerns. It is a wonderful and really interesting experience that I would recommend to anyone who is considering coming here [Kenya], because the people are very interested in learning about whatever you have to offer; be it microfinance or anything else.”
With the experience and support of well-trained volunteers like Rebarz, microfinance projects abroad are bound to bring success and a new way of life to their recipients. Rebarz shares: "Thanks to Cross-Continental, I was able to realise my dream of working and living in Africa and I will always be grateful for the wonderful eight weeks I spent in Kenya." Explore the options or plan a life-changing trip at http://www.CrossContinental.org.
About Cross-Continental Solutions:
Cross-Continental Solutions provides quality yet affordable intern abroad, volunteer abroad, cultural immersion, language study, and gap year programs. By living and working side by side with the local people, participants gain an exceptional cross-cultural experience and the opportunity to make a difference. International internships can even be taken for university credits. Covering a wide range of needs, opportunities are available in areas such as: Teaching, Healthcare, Community Development, Business Coaching, Microfinance, HIV work, Care-giving, Orphanage Work, Journalism, Photography, Wildlife, Agriculture, Environmental, Tourism, Marketing, and more. Programs are available at many locations around the world, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Jian Leslie, Cross-Continental Solutions Inc., http://www.crosscontinental.org, +1-604-700-6096, [email protected]
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