FESR Rocks the House!

WOW!

So- the technical end of this program has come. The group- aside from our somewhat confused "coordinator" and me have left for their respective sites of livelihood and travel.

It's hard to describe in words- without writing a short story- what we have done and experienced here working with FESR (the micro-credit org I've been interning with), what it has meant, and how friggin bad ass these people are. I've been working with four MBAs from Kellogg, three other undergrads from around the country, and a load of awesome Vietnamese people who bring down the house. We broke up into several different projects- doing something like an audit on their social return (trying to measure to good they do- the shit I always hated in economics but now see as necessary for these people to get outside funding). Other projects included a focus on their retail business loans- finding success stories and creating a pamphlet/brochure in the end, and an "integrated marketing" project that reviewed the fiscal stability of the organization. In the end, the whole team produced a well documented overview of their current loan practices for partners and potential sponsors, additional forms and suggestions to get more accurate data to track progress of loan recipients, a website (because Cary and Ron are, awkwardly phrased, both the man) and a brochure for future spenders.

Technically speaking, I have learned a tremendous amount about micro-credit operations- how they sustain themselves internally as well as how they work with their clients. I also feel quite accomplished with the work we've done. The last night some of us were cranking out this brochure and a professor came in from AIT in Bangkok- he's partnering with FESR and a Canadian NGO to work on a healthy market project- i.e.- women in the markets will get loans to help sanitize their stalls and make their practices safer for the environment (because imagine it now: people throw huge blocks of ice on the floor where animal blood and fish juice has been draining all day while it sits out...) Anyhow- the girls gave this guy a paper copy of the presentation I had helped give just earlier that day- as a comprehensive, English overview of what they do. Shit damn! How awesome! Wham bam and I already felt like we made a differece.

On a personal note- I have so much respect for the men and women who work at FESR. Living in Vietnam has definately been an experience- the closest by far I have ever been to another culture. There's good and bad, but take for example that our last day there was a ceremony- almost like graduation. They thanked us sincerely, giving us each little plaques and candies made in temples (like a blessing). There is such deep tradition here that infuses everything- even business. An older man from the board came to give his thanks- refined and dignified with every move. The girls cried. (Also- aside from the FESR crew- I worked with some amazing professionals and students from the states. I learned from and love them all- okay, or most of them).

On a fun note- the Vietnamese throw down and the last two days were a mish mash of no sleep, going out, presenting, crunch time, going out again, not sleeping again, drinking for lunch with Mr. Hai, karaoke (which i will dearly miss)...work, play, nap, work, play harder, nap- wait no time- go work or play again!

The rest of my time here will be spent doing some fairtrade stuff for a friend back home (Trani you rock) and helping out/learning more at FESR before I head out to Laos for a brief stint in the mountains.