United Students Microfinance Foundation

"'United Students Microfinance Foundation (USMF) is an organization that focuses on Youth-led development.

USMF was established upon the strong belief that young people are not only tomorrow’s decision-makers and economic agents, but they are also individuals who can contribute greatly to aid development, peace and security, both at the local and global level. The aim is to create a platform where students can actively participate in international development issues and assess the relationship between the private sector and development. [cite web |url=http://www.u8development.com/default/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=1&mosmsg=Item+successfully+saved.|title=U8 Global Partnership for Student Development |accessdate=2008-29-08]

USMF primarily focuses on offering microfinance services to entrepreneurs in the Global South, but also offers financial and non-financial services such as social investing, business advice, and output maximization. USMF partners with NGOs, Professionals, and Academics who provide support to the members and staff in researching individual markets with the aim to identify how the private sector can best be utilized to facilitate for poverty reduction. [cite web |url=http://www.usmf.org.uk/ |title=USMF|accessdate=2008-29-08]

Youth Involvement

USMF has an asset-based approach towards young people and believes that their imagination, ideals and energy are vital to the continuous development of society. USMF is built upon the concept of bringing together young people and letting them actively contribute by using their skills and abilities. [cite web |url=http://www.usmf.org.uk/ |title=USMF|accessdate=2008-29-08]

Member Schools & Universities

USMF does not require any member to be associated with any schools or universities, yet has a very strong presence within these types of institutions. USMF has students involved from a range of schools and universities including:

- Bournemouth University

- Cambridge

- Copenhagen Business School

- Harvard University

- London School of Economics

- Oxford University

- Princeton University

- The Arts Institute at Bournemouth

- The School of Oriental and African Studies

- University of Warwick

USMF builds on the development initiatives already existing in Universities such as The U8 Global Student Partnership for Development [cite web |url=http://www.u8development.com/ |title=U8 Global Partnership for Student Development |accessdate=2008-29-08] , Cambridge and Oxford University International Development Courses [cite web |url=http://www.humanitariancentre.org/idc/course/ |title=Cambridge University IDC |accessdate=2008-06-11 | publisher=Cambridge Humanitarian Centre] [cite web |url=http://www.oxfordhub.org/oxfid/about-idcs |title=Oxford IDC |accessdate=2008-06-11 | publisher=Oxford Student Hub] , and Warwick International Development Summit [cite web |url=http://www.wids.org.uk/ |title=Warwick International Development Summit |accessdate=2008-29-08]

Vision

USMFs vision is to become an effective, profitable, and sustainable organization operating as a vehicle for the eradication of poverty and the achievement of economic and human development on a global scale. [cite web |url=http://www.usmf.org.uk/ |title=USMF|accessdate=2008-29-08]

Mission

- USMF will deliver microfinance opportunities to underprivileged people with the goal ofenabling them to start their own businesses and take themselves out of poverty.

- USMF provides young people in the Global North with the opportunity to deepen theirunderstanding of the challenges the Global South faces today and reflect accordingly.

- USMF engages young people in the Global North and South in activities which willempower them and enable them to take an ownership of the organization making adifference in their own lives, and ultimately, the world. [cite web |url=http://www.usmf.org.uk/ |title=USMF|accessdate=2008-29-08]

References

External Links

* [http://www.usmf.org.uk Official homepage]