From the Cubby is the community blog-space of the Duke Microfinance Leadership Initiative (DMLI). The name pays homage to one of our first supporters–The Duke Center For International Development (DCID)http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/centers/dcid/– who encouraged our nascent initiative in many key ways, including providing us with our first “office” space (the Cubby) and our first “staff” person (through work-study). Through this blog, we hope to open up our “living laboratory” for learning about and engaging with microfinance, social-entrepreneurship, and sustainable enterprise to other members of the Duke community and beyond.
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The Duke Microfinance Leadership Initiative (DMLI) is a collection of students, faculty and staff at Duke University building connections across campus and beyond to the fast-growing worlds of microfinance, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable enterprise.
We offer a range of opportunities for you to get involved. These opportunities include hosting innovative and exciting events; advocating for and sponsoring academic courses on microfinance; multi-disciplinary research forums; and career development and connections with leaders in the field. We are dedicated to fostering the career development of future leaders in the field through internships and other hands-on experiences in the U.S. and abroad.
A recent addition to our work is our own Microfinance Investment Fund, which will partner with small microfinance organizations in need of capital, as well as provide students with a “Living Laboratory” for learning about how microfinance really works. This will include participating in the loan development and sending DMLI members post loan-cycle to measure impact of the loans on each recipient.
Our team is growing by the day, so come inside, see what we are up to, and find out how you can get involved!
