TCP Global's Director recently read a book by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer. She noted similarities with the TCP Global culture and also found ways we can improve.
And while our team has no salary to increase, we ramp up our social paychecks seeing our loans help more people improve their lives each year.
Find and Empower Great Talent
In Peace Corps we were taught to find community leaders and organizations doing good work and help them do even better. TCP Global finds good leaders through RPCV referrals.
Gloria sold tomatoes on the street when FUNDEHUMAC, our partner, gave her a loan for materials to make the bags in the picture at the top. She received national awards for her successful business.
People laughed at the reservoirs. Now they replicate.
Program earnings empowered our Peru partner to implement various projects to improve his community.
Encourage Creativity
Everyone has a dream. TCP Global helps people make it a reality.
Trust Your Team & Trust Your Borrowers
First we needed the best team. Since no one on our team had served in Africa and only 1 in Asia, we recruited outside the ranks of RPCVs.
With the expanded team in place, we more than quadrupled our 2020 impact. So far in 2021 TCP Global has sent $348,000 to our partners who have issued 5,900 loans worth $895,000.
We find good grassroots partners, highly recommended by RPCVs and then we trust them to make the best decisions for their communities.
When women get loans to improve their businesses, their families live better and children go to school. They
deserve our trust.
Encourage Collaboration Rather Than Competition
TCP Global has regular Zoom meetings in English, French and Spanish to allow partners to learn from and support each other.
We have much to learn from our Africa partners. Women's groups repeatedly ask us to open programs in neighboring villages. They understand collaboration
Emphasize Quality Service Over Pleasing the Boss/Funder
When our partners make the borrowers happy, TCP Global is happy.
TCP Global partners average less than 25 open loans, allowing time for personalized attention to ensure that all are successful.
Cut Red Tape - Let Local People Make Decisions
The Nepal program is very different from other sites.
TCP Global flexibility allows programs to be designed to best meet local needs.
Context over Control Let everyone know the goals and see who has the next great idea.
Aura, who started a loan program in Ariguani, Colombia drafted a formal agreement to document the relationship between The Colombia Project and its partners. It was a great idea and has been adapted and translated over the years and is the first step for a new TCP Global partner.
Sister Ruby in Genova designed a simplified Daily Log reporting system that still works well around the world.
Rather than close the Obando program, when Sister Consuelo was transferred, she trained 3 borrowers to take her place with a nearby site as fiscal agent.
Anything Less Than Great Results Earns an Amicable Separation
As a volunteer-run organization with funds to raise and 120 sites to mentor, we seek partners like the VSLA pictured above who keep their funds invested, charge reasonable interest, collect repayments and quickly evolve as mentors.
Sites unable to keep funds fully invested in loans to help people are moved to independent status, with no expectation of further funds. The same is true for sites with reporting or interest irregularities. They can continue to loan out what they already received.
Since 75% of funds for mentored sites were sent in the last year, their 'Times Invested' number is low.
"The developing world is full of entrepreneurs and visionaries who, with access to education, equity and credit would play a key role in developing the economic situation in their countries." Muhammad Yunus
Until Peace Corps is back in the field, TCP Global is a good substitute for Peace Corps Partnership Projects for supporting development in small and remote communities around the world.
For more info, contact TCPGlobal@peacecorpsconnect.org
