SeaMo and other members of the Seattle microfinance community will be hosting the premier of Bonsai People, a documentary about Muhammad Yunus’ drive to build social businesses as the next wave of development.
The screening will be on April 18th at UW’s Kane Hall at 7pm with a reception preceding it at 5pm.

To receive an invitation, please join the Bonsai People group on LinkedIn:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=4278884&trk=anet_ug_grppro

About Bonsai People Documentary:
Bonsai -Celebrating the Vision of Muhammad Yunus from micro-credit to social business. What if you could harness the power of the free market to solve the problems of poverty, hunger, and inequality? To some, it sounds impossible. But Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is doing exactly that. Yunus did his part to fight poverty by micro-lending $27 to 42 women, an effort which has now grown to 8 million women and 8 billion dollars. But he didn’t stop there; whenever he sees a problem he starts a social business – showing the world that complex problems sometimes do have simple answers. It’s not about handouts, it’s about a hand up.

There’s an upcoming microfinance event taking place in Cambodia, put on by BWTP (Banking With the Poor).

What (main event): Workshop Building Partnerships in Microfinance

This three (3) day training course is designed for management of a range of microfinance providers and other stakeholders, including MFIs, banks, insurance companies, NGOs and government agencies. The course content aims to:

• Raise awareness of the potential of partnership approaches in microfinance;
• Better equip managers of financial and other institutions to assess, enter into and maintain mutually satisfactory partnerships that enable them to better deliver sustainable and appropriate financial services to the poor.

When: February 20-22, 2012
Where: Siem Reap, Cambodia

What (side event): Invest in Mekong Region Marketplace

When: February 22, 2012 – 1:00pm – 5:00pm

Where: Siem Reap, Cambodia

It’s a bummer this event isn’t a month earlier given that I’m in Siem Reap right now. I plan to be in Chiang Mai starting on the 11th or 12th of February, but we’ll see if I can make it back here in a month to attend.

Once again, Opportunity International is offering some Insight Trips that allows participants to view Microfinance at work in the countries where their loans are at work.  Opportunity International is offering three trips in early 2012:

Colombia and Nicaragua
January 15 – January 21
Travel to Colombia to experience how Opportunity contributors live out Christ’s call, bringing hope and justice to displaced persons. Then, journey to Nicaragua, the second most impoverished country in the hemisphere, to see a holistic program blending economic development strategies with microfinance. Read more

Rwanda
February 26 – March 2
In the “Land of a Thousand Hills” discover firsthand how Opportunity helps to bring reconciliation to people recovering from the 1994 genocide. Meet rural clients, attend a Trust Group meeting, visit our newest branch in the Nyamata slum, and open your own account at URWEGO Opportunity, Rwanda’s fastest-growing bank. Read more

Colombia (Young Ambassadors for Opportunity)
March 25 – March 31
Enjoy the beauty of the rich Colombian culture and landscape with adventurous young professionals and entrepreneurs who have a passion to create positive change in the world. Learn how microfinance gives impoverished Colombians real opportunity, helping them to transform their communities. Read more

On November 10, Grameen Foundation will host its inaugural “Hong Kong Grameen Foundation Experience,” celebrate solutions to ending poverty across Asia. As part of the event, Grameen is hosting an auction with a distinctive selection of art and exdperiences.  From art to travel and internships, there are some great items at the auction.

A multi-media portrait of Muhammad Yunus:

3-Day Family Visit to Southern Luzon in the Philippines:

View all of the items at Grameen

From Blassys:

Global Partnerships is hosting a PartnerTrip to Peru where travelers can meet microfinance entrepreneurs at their houses and see how their lives have been changed by microfinance loans.

An Incredible Journey to See Microfinance in Action
Global Partnerships invites you to accompany Global Partnerships on an incredible journey to Latin America to experience firsthand how microfinance changes lives.
Designed for donors who have made or who are considering making a personally significant gift to Global Partnerships, PartnerTrips provide an authentic encounter with entrepreneurs who are improving their lives with the help of microfinance.
As you visit their homes and businesses, you will have the opportunity to hear their stories, observe their crafts, and talk with them about their struggles and successes. Throughout the journey you will gain a unique understanding of the cultures, people and landscapes of these beautiful countries.

The next trip is November 12-21 to Peru.
Since 1994, Global Partnerships has been escorting travelers to Latin America and currently offers PartnerTrips to Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru.

See photos from our last Peru trip in our Facebook album.

If interested, download the application form or contact Chris Megargee at: 206.456.7813 or cmegargee@globalpartnerships.org

Our friends over at SeaMO posted this event for Lumana, so I wanted to share it on myKRO as well to spread the word:

Come join us for a night of inspiration and fun at Lumana’s Annual Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction! As an attendee, you will be supporting Lumana in creating empowered communities and meaningful opportunities for active youth leaders worldwide, while experiencing a truly exciting program with our evening’s theme: “Learning From Our Clients”. Our event will feature a silent auction, with opportunities to bid on exciting items like Seattle sports packages and tasty Washington liquors. There will also be a thrilling raffle with a chance to win a cruise with Holland America Line, a wine toss, a delicious dinner provided by Salty’s, live music by Ocheami, Omanhene’s Ghanaian chocolates, and our guest speaker Valerie Nkamgang Bemo from Cameroon, a Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The night for Lumana’s Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction drawing closer and you don’t want to miss it, so be sure to secure your seats or tables and RSVP at http://lumana.org/annualbenefit For a sneak preview of our event theme, “Learning From Our Clients” check out the new addition to the Lumana blog on our website here! Also check out this great video filmed by KCTS 9 on Lumana: Watch the video here

For those in the Seattle area and interested in Grameen’s Mobile Health Program, Grameen Foundation Technology Center is hosting two events this month:

Breakfast
Date: Wednesday, September 21
Time: Doors open at 7:30 a.m., program from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Speakers: John Tippett, Mobile Health Technology Program Manager and David Edelstein, Vice-President, Technology Programs
Place: Grameen Foundation Technology Center — 2101 4th Avenue, Suite 1550, Seattle
RSVP: Register online or call 206-325-6690 x209
Please Note: Space is limited and registration will close at 50 attendees

Happy Hour
Date: Wednesday, September 28
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m., brief program at 6:30 p.m.
Speaker: Tim Wood, Director of Mobile Health Innovation
Place: Solo Bar – 200 Roy St. Seattle, WA 98109
RSVP: Register online or on Facebook

A few friends and I are attending the DUDE FEST next Saturday, August 27th in Fremont to raise some money for Lumana Credit by watching the Big Lebowski in an outdoors showing. I’m stoked!

Here are the logistics for those in the Seattle area who are interested:

What: Join Lumana and the Fremont Outdoor Cinemas for a screening of the Big Lebowski complete with a White Russian bar and music by Two Buck Chuck, a portion of all proceeds from the event will go towards benefiting Lumana’s programs helping women start businesses in Ghana, West Africa.

When: August 27th at 5 pm (movie starting at 9 pm)

Where: 3501 Phinney Ave North, Seattle, 98103

Why: To raise money for a good cause, get drunk off white Russians, and watch an awesome movie. What’s not the like about that?

Cost: $12

Order tickets here - http://fremontoutdoormovies.eventbrite.com/