Entry #41 Spartan Global Development Fund (SGDF) Students Speak: What SGDF means to me.

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As we approached the 2022-2023 academic year, I asked returning student members of our Spartan Global Development Fund the question, “What does Spartan Global Mean to you?” Although I have written about SGDF in various articles and on this blog, I wanted to share the students’ words directly.  (See entries ## 20, 31, 32, 33 and 34 for my stories about SGDF and microfinance.)

​In their responses, which are the basis for this essay, students offer thoughtful observations about their experiences while making microloans.  We continue to make direct loans to small businesses in Guatemala facilitated by our own field partners, and we make loans around the world through the online lending platform KIVA. (To learn about Spartan Global's activities, go to
Spartan Global’s website at www.spartanglobalfund.org. Also, see our team’s page on the KIVA website at https://www.kiva.org/team/spartanglobal to learn about how we participate in their lending programs.   With 70 KIVA team members, we have contributed to at least 3,243 loans through that program.) 
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I am proud of our students and their dedication to extending economic opportunity to small entrepreneurs across the world. A small loan makes a major difference in the lives of individuals, their families, and their communities.  

The entries below reflect the passions of young people who take great satisfaction in making a difference for others. Although we are based in the Broad College of Business at <ocjogam State University, please notice the wide variety of interests, passions, colleges, majors, minors of the student members. That diversity enriches our organization, and each member makes unique contributions to our efforts.  

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