Geoff Andrews- Spring 2013

The Last Week: Geoff Andrews – Spring 2013

This week was a short week down here for us. Due to a Peruvian holiday that is on Thursday and Friday, we have only had Monday through Wednesday to work with the people. Yesterday and today we have been doing some office stuff. This week has flown by and it was our last week of work so we are wrapping up all of our work with the projects and preparing them for the next interns and the study abroad students.

This week I was focusing on re-writing a business plan for one of our loan applicants. Her idea for her small business is to open up an internet café in an area that desperately needs internet access. After visiting her location multiple times and having meetings with her in the office we have felt that it is a very good business opportunity for her. We have conducted all of the due diligence with her and I was able to re-write a more efficient business plan to present to the study abroad students. She is very excited for this opportunity. She is a very sweet lady and has no problem with doing the required work. She was a very good person to work with.

Today Andrew was able to meet with Luis in the morning here in the office. Luis brought Andrew all of the remaining bids and lists of his future inventory! Luis was originally going to open a store in his father-in-laws home, but after receiving an awesome opportunity, he was able to acquire a little town-home on the opposite side of Trujillo. This area is has a brand new neighborhood of town-homes. Luis had the idea to change his plan completely and open up a store in his future neighborhood. This was such an enticing idea because this is a brand new neighborhood with no other mini grocery markets. Luis would have little direct competition. Andrew and Luis had to redo his plan and reorganize things, but today they were able to finalize a decent part of it. There is still a little work left for the future interns, but Andrew has done great work with Luis.

This has been such an amazing opportunity to be here in Peru, working with the SEED internship. I am very grateful for all of the things that I have learned. I have learned things that will apply to me in school, my career and in my life. I will always remember working here and I know that this will provide a great foundation for my future goals. I am grateful for DanPer and the quality of employees that they have here that make this program function. It has been a humbling learning experience for Andrew and I. This next week before we head back to the USA we are going to take a detour and hit up Machu Picchu down south. We are excited to get out and know more of Peru. Thanks for everything!!!