COURSE INFORMATION:

FINC 360: Microfinance in Ghana (3 credits)
INTB 390: International Social Enterprise and Development Ghana (3 credits)

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

Students will work on two social enterprise projects in Ghana. The project will be in OKURASE, Ghana and supervised by Project Okurase, a US registered NGO. Okurase is a rural village in the West Akyem Municipal in the Eastern Region of Ghana, West Africa. Okurase is comprised of 3000 people of whom 1400 are children. The people of the village are predominantly farmers (cassava and corn) and wood carvers (drums and Ashanti stools). Though the people of the village are hard working they have many challenges to survival including no clean water, lack of proper sanitation, limited health care, and limited educational opportunities. Economic security and poverty are key problems.

Project OKURASE is supported by MUSC and a number of organizations in the Charleston area. It believes that with resources such as education, job training, health care, clean water, and family support, people in need in rural villages around the world can be empowered to solve their own problems. The primary objectives of Project OKURASE is to work in concert with the people of their rural village to improve health and mental health of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and empower women to improve health and well being. Per the vision of the village, the Nkabom Centre for Skills Training and Formal Education has been built. Education and Training needs are being assessed.

CofC Students will work with CofC and/or MUSC faculty on a variety of projects related to the Project's mission, students' interests, and academic background. Potential projects are usually centered on social enterprise and economic development, water/sanitation infrastructure development, education and skills training, and public health. This year, students will be assessing the financial viability of tilapia farming.

*This program will require students obtain a yellow fever vaccination and malaria medicine for their time abroad

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

-Students must have an overall GPA of 2.5
-Students must already possess a valid passport, or be able to obtain a valid passport

PROGRAM DIRECTORS:

Dr. Rene Mueller
Department: Marketing
muellerr@cofc.edu
843-953-5394

Dr. Rene Mueller is a Professor of Marketing. She joined the College in 1996. She has led student groups to China, Honduras, and Austria. She has taught in many countries and works with colleagues from many countries. She has been involved with Project Okurase on several initiatives and was the instructor of record for a Maymester2015 trip to Okurase (4 of her students also completed a Spring semester internship with Project Okjurase in Ghana).

Dr. James Malm
Department: Finance
malmj@cofc.edu
843-953-5192

Dr. James Malm is an Assistant Professor of Finance. He joined the College in Fall 2014. He teaches courses in business finance, financial management and financial modeling. He has served as the Co-Advisor of the CofC Microfinance Club. More recently, he led MBA students to Prague, Czech Republic. He sheds light on numerous international issues in his courses. Dr. Malm is originally from Ghana.

Note: For questions regarding on-site program details and course content, please contact the program directors. Any inquiries regarding application processing, billing, or scholarship opportunities can be directed to the Center for International Education(contact information listed above).

*A minimum number of participants is required for all study abroad programs to run