About the Organization

FINCA Perú's broadest goals are to build human capacity and participation, particularly that of women who are often most disenfranchised. Its Ayacucho program supports community savings and lending services through village/community banks, reaching over 6,000 indigenous small entrepreneurs who would otherwise have no access to the formal banking system. These entrepreneurs are almost all Quechua women working as market and street vendors, small store owners, artisans, food processors, agricultural producers, and in other family income-generating activities. Through communal cooperation, education and local savings, client-oriented lending is used to build group solidarity, bolster individual confidence and skills, and help grow these micro and small enterprises. FINCA Perú's program in Ayacucho has a Director and 40 field promoters, supervisors, and support staff.

Job Description

Interns will be assigned specific objectives and tasks consistent with their previous preparation and the particular needs of the program.

Some illustrative tasks are:

• Interview loan recipients and compile information
• Translation
• Hands-on accounting, budgeting and business guidance to individual micro enterprises
• Helping to put together budgets and business plans
• Pulling together program documentation, syntheses of results and presentations for the Promoters and the board of directors
• Help with training in good business practices, cooperative action and group solidarity
• Support leadership training
• Develop awareness of basic human rights
• Assist in the teaching of a financial and social literacy class for the 8 to 12 year-old children of FINCA Perú clients

Interns will prepare a written, specific work plan with their supervisor and have monthly performance reviews. Local, on-site orientation to the cultural aspects of working with Quechua clients will be provided by FINCA Perú personnel and resource persons.

# of Positions per term

2

Start Dates

Any academic term.

Duration of Internship

3-6 Months

Academic Background

Economics, Business, Marketing, Merchandising Management, Apparel Design, Anthropology, Latin American Studies or Women's Studies/Gender Studies with a focus on international development.

Skills/Experience

Interest/knowledge of small/medium business planning and practices highly useful. Also management, organizational development, social communications and gender in development skills and backgrounds are very pertinent. International marketing coursework or experience is a plus. Women's Studies/Gender Studies coursework strongly recommended. Prior exposure to third world poverty and interest in poverty alleviation. Generalists are welcome, but must have strong cross-cultural communication skills and be able to work collaboratively and creatively with members.

Language Ability

Intermediate-advanced Spanish skills. Quechua is the native language in the area, but Spanish is also widely spoken as a second language.

Other Requirements

The nature of this internship is very independent. It is best for interns who are highly self-motivated and willing to take initiative.

Good interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, team work, cultural sensitivity and flexibility to adapt to on-going and multiple activities. Prior study abroad or international living experience or significant travel experience required.

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.
ALL ESTIMATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

IE₃ Program Fee

The IE₃ program fee is $3450 for the first term for both in-state and out-of-state students and $1000 for each additional term, regardless of credit earned. You do not pay tuition for the term(s) you are abroad. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
International Travel	$1500-$1800
Visa Fees
Recommended Immunizations	$500

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	$80-$150
Food	$250
Local Transportation	$50
Recreation	$50
Personal Expenses	$50

Compensation

None.

Additional Expense Information

International Travel: Rountrip airfare to Lima plus roundtrip Airfare from Lima to Ayacucho.

Ayacucho is a colonial-style city with approximately 120,000 citizens. It is is located about 300 miles from the capital city of Lima and about 8,000 feet above sea level. Ayacucho sits in the middle of the driest area of Perú and is the major business and commercial center in the region. Historically, it was the capital of the last pre-Inca Empire as well as a big colonial town. Known as the city of churches, Ayacucho, is a calm city with old streets full of charm where it is good to walk in order to become accustomed to the extremely quiet atmosphere.

To learn more about Ayacucho, Perú check out:

• This website.
• This video featuring Ayacucho and some of its artisans.

To learn more about FINCA Perú:

• Visit their website.
• Read the FINCA Perú Newsletter featuring our interns from summer 2008.

To learn more about intern experiences at FINCA Perú:

• Watch and read an interview with a summer 2009 intern, Tyler Rockey.
• Check out these blog entries from spring 2008 interns Teresa Roark and Dustin Cady.
• Read these reports from from past interns Liz, Megan and Rachel.