Learn and apply business planning frameworks and concepts of entrepreneurship in the context of microenterprises in rural West Africa.
Students are guided by our local economic development professionals and mentors from leading consulting firms to build business plans (Canvas Model) for aspiring entrepreneurs in rural resource-limited communities in Ghana. Through client interviews, concepts of microfinance, industry research, cultural sharing, and utilization of our deliverable templates, students create and present business plans with our selected clients.
In addition to our skill-based learning objectives, building cultural competence is integrated into the course to increase the quality of services and improve outcomes with community partners.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Customize your Business TeleBrigade by selecting a set of modules. Explore available modules below:
Module 1: Introductions and Program Overview
Coordinator and student introductions along with a presentation on Global Brigades (GB) and our economic development programs in Ghana. Self-paced activity: Group reviews GB Ghana’s economic development program materials in the context of its integrated community development model.
Module 2: Small Businesses in Rural Ghana
Our small business expert in Ghana talks about the culture and business environment of rural agriculture communities. Self-Paced Activity:
Module 3: Microfinance in West Africa
Talk with GB Economic Development Expert to learn about entrepreneurship in Ghana and a look at some of the microfinance organizations in the region that are supporting them. Self-paced activity: The group receives three potential entrepreneur profiles to choose who to work with.
Module 4: Entrepreneur Selection
Coordinator presents potential entrepreneurs and supports students to choose which they will work with. Self-paced activity: Group reviews entrepreneur information and informs staff of selection.
Module 5: Canvas Business Model
Coordinator walks through the Business Model Canvas framework that the group will develop with the entrepreneur. Self-paced activity: Group reviews Business Model Canvas framework further
Module 6: Initial Meeting Preparation
Coordinator presents entrepreneur information, including virtual community tour, loan details/application, and context of the business idea beforehand. Self-paced Activity: Students consulting template to prepare their initial questions for the entrepreneurs.
Module 7: Initial Meeting with Entrepreneur
Introductory meeting between entrepreneur and group to build relationship and have cultural exchange. Self-paced Activity: Group reviews notes from meeting and divides into teams and assigns tasks by sections of the business deliverable.
Module 8: Mentor Session with Professional Consultant
Mentor and coordinator help prepare the group to ask the most strategic questions during the consultation day. Self-paced Activity: Group prepares and assigns questions to ask business clients based on mentor guidance.
Module 9: Second Meeting with Entrepreneur
Live virtual session with the entrepreneur to answer questions and gather information for business deliverables. Self-paced Activity: Group begins work to create business deliverables.
Modules 10 and 11: Business Model Creation
Three working sessions with coordinators to answer questions and help students create their business model. Self-paced Activity: Continuing working in teams to finalize the model.
Module 12: Business Model Submission and Final Mentor Feedback
Group submits final business model and presentations for final feedback from mentors. Self-paced Activity: Make any last edits to the presentation and final business model based on mentor feedback.
Module 13: Loan Application
Group works to support the development of the loan application for investments in the business for submission to local microfinance organizations. Self-paced Activity: Finalize loan application for entrepreneur review
Module 14: Presentation to Entrepreneur
Group presents via a video conference to the client with the coordinator providing translation. Group receives feedback from the client. Up to 2 hrs. Self-paced Activity: Group decides to make a donation to capitalize any loans needed for the entrepreneur. Students complete the evaluation survey and prepare final reflections. Procure cooking materials and watch the instructional cooking video.
Module 15: Cultural Activity and Project Celebration
Coordinator debriefs group on feedback from the entrepreneur and reflects on personal and professional development. The team celebrates and shows off how their local dish turned out. Self-paced Activity: Group reviews monitoring and evaluation reports
Impact Reporting
Students will be included in Global Brigades’ regular newsletters and receive project updates and overall monitoring and evaluation of our programs.
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