Pictured: Helene Dudley accepts the 2013 Lillian Carter Award (Photo credit: Amber David Collins)
November 1 2016 - Today's lecture featured Helene Dudley, a decorated Peace Corps volunteer, and a member of the Rotary Club of Coconut Grove. This passionate Rotarian introduced the micro loan program known as the Colombia Project. Additionally, in recognition of her Peace Corps service, she received a Presidential Lifetime Service Medal and the Lillian Carter Award from President Jimmy Carter.
The Colombia Project ( now a part of the TCP Global program ) provides help, through these micro-loan programs, pro-bono assistance focusing on marginalized communities like in Colombia and around the world. In effect, an ingenious sustainable design that actually "jump starts" whole communities with minimal help to locally based small businesses.
The loan cycle begins with donations, and in fact is supported 100% through these endowments. The money is then distributed to the loan recipients, the TCP Global administrative partners then mentor the small business owners and collect the loan repayments. Half of the loans payments collected go into a permanent loan pool. This system establishes a lasting, sustainable loan account that will serve the community in perpetuity, rebuilding not only businesses but whole lives.
This project is a joint Peace Corps and Rotary International effort, and Helene mentioned that the two organizations share in fundamental philanthropic philosophies, so much so, that she believes that Peace Corps volunteers should become Rotarians once their time of service is done, further enabling and sustaining good will through this association of like minds.
The motto behind this Colombia Project is one that should be adopted worldwide for indeed "A little help goes a long way!"
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