Geoff Andrews, February 13, 2013

Geoff Andrews Spring 2013

This past week we have been busy mentoring a guy that has a bakery in an area called Alta Moche. He is a young father and husband that is just recently learning how to run a bakery. He is getting a good hang of how to cook the bread and other baked goodies that he sells, but he is still having troubles managing his small business. We visit his small business two times a month to help him control his expenses and track his raw materials used and costs of goods sold. In this first month that we have been here he has shown some improvement from our mentoring and he has a lot of potential to become very successful.

We also have been busy working with a woman who is an applicant that finished the classes in the fall and we are now working out all the details of her plan. Today we went out to where she is proposing to put her small business. We had her walk us around the local area to show us her competitors. She is very impressive and I feel that she has a good idea for her project. She wants to start a clothing manufacturing business that provides uniforms to local schools and businesses. She showed us a commitment letter that these schools and businesses have given her stating that they would contract her for their uniforms. We are working the due diligence part of her plan and hopefully we can help her progress and, in the summer, get her project approved.

Either the buses her are small or we are some big dudes???

I really have been enjoying my time here because of the work we are doing. I want to work in the business world, but also form personal relationships with people and help them out. In my career, I don't want to be locked in my office doing reports, files, etc.... I want to be out meeting people and making a difference in the work. The SEED internship is providing this opportunity for me and I am grateful that I am here doing what I am doing.

Andrew Haws and Geoff Andrews January 2013

Just over two weeks in the book and our time in Peru seems to be flying.  We are working with a number of potential loan recipients in the final stages of preparing them to submit all their information in the hopes of getting a loan to start their business.  One of the most promising plan so far is a woman who wants to start her own business making school uniforms and polos.  She already has a few clients lined up and is very excited and motivated to make her plans come to fruition.

We have also had the opportunity to meet past loan recipients and see just how far their businesses have come.  One example is the women of "Panificadora Mi Barrio Progressa".  This bakery was one of the first loans the program gave here in Peru.  Not only have the women established a successful bakery and paid off their first loan, but they are in the process of paying off a second loan and have plans to improve their business by taking out a third.

As I said, we've only been here a few weeks but we are already seeing how we can make an impact.  We look forward to continuing to help the people in our program improve their lives by teaching them business principles and helping them find a way to realize their dreams.