Info Session: SWRK 748: Microfinance and Womens Empowerment in India

Interested in studying in India during winter break? Attend the info session to learn more about SWRK 748: Microfinance and Women’s Empowerment in India:

This course includes travel and study in and around the city Mangalore located in southern India. India is a country acknowledged as the world’s largest democracy with a population of over 1 billion. India has a thriving microfinance industry that has come under scrutiny in the past year. While microfinance has been touted by many as the panacea in helping raise people out of poverty, empower women and aid in development from the grassroots level, it has come with some serious attendant costs. By visiting all the actors involved in microfinance, including the bankers who make the loans to women who receive the funds, and NGOs that facilitate the self-help group models, this course will enhance our understanding of the impacts of microfinance on both income generation and women’s empowerment.

Dates in India: December 30, 2014 – January 9, 2015

For more information, please contact Dr. Femida Handy at fhandy@sp2.upenn.edu