The Junior World Affairs Committee will be hosting Tricia Bridges as she speaks on microcredit and world poverty on Wednesday, September 24th during Megalunch. The presentation will be held in Durant Auditorium.

Tricia Bridges is the President and CEO of Chiapas International, which gives loans to small businesses to help people in the developing world support their families. The company helps provide clean water, literacy training and business training for farmers based in Colombia.

Mrs. Barnes, sponsor of Junior World Affairs Committee believes that the student body will benefit greatly through the opportunity to learn about the microcredit industry.

“These loans are very, very small,” said Barnes. “About $100 each. And companies like this don’t expect these businesses to pay them back. Most of these loans are given mainly to women, because a lot of times men will take the money and high-tail it.”