"FOR ME, AN AREA OF MORAL CLARITY IS: YOU'RE IN FRONT OF SOMEONE WHO'S SUFFERING AND YOU HAVE THE TOOLS AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO ALLEVIATE THAT SUFFERING OR EVEN ERADICATE IT, AND YOU ACT." -PAUL FARMER

There are a plethora of international organizations in place striving towards eliminating extreme poverty but despite the Millenium Development Goals put forth, the abject poverty still persists. Every day I ask myself, what can I do as a twenty year old student living thousands of miles away with no direct relation to those living in the most remote and destitute areas? If money being injected into economy hasn't worked then what will?

I think what can alleviate some of the extreme poverty is microfinance. Microfinance is a general term to describe financial services to low-income individuals or to those who do not have access to typical banking services. Through microloans, many of those living on less than a dollar a day will be able to establish a line of credit. The ultimate goal is for the microentrepreneurs who use these loans to become poverty graduates gaining the power to educate their loved ones and communities at large. 

The GLOBE Program is essentially a microfinance instution through which I have been able to use my knowledge and resources to truly make an impact. As a member of the Finance and Risk Assessment team I have been able to work with my team to manage the GLOBE loan portfolio which is constantly evolving as we find solutions to a number of our problems. Some of these problems just come with the territory of having borrowers in the most desolate, hard to reach areas. For instance, oftentimes borrowers are difficult to locate when they live in the rural as opposed to urban areas making it nearly impossible for our field partners, the Daughters of Charity, to keep us updated regularly. 

A number of the problems are some that we do have control over. Some systemic change needs to take place in order for the program to be sustainable. It is an incredible learning experience and fanned the flame burning inside to make a difference.