Past Events:
2005-2006 School Year
Fall semester
- Partner-student introductionSeptember 2005Held in the small theatre of the Wilkenson Center, this event brought together for the first time under the auspices of the Economic Self-Reliance Student Association poverty-eradicating organizations' representatives with BYU students. These organizations, which consisted of HELP International, Eagle Condor Humanitarian Foundation, Chasqui Humanitarian, as well as others, gave oral and video presentations to the 70-80 students who participated in the event. Students were able to ask questions concerning the organizations and available internships. And of course, students were able to enjoy a nice pizza dinner compliments of ESR SA.
- Small Fortunes documentary premiereOctober 27, 2005This event began with the screening of the BYU-PBS production documentary, Small Fortunes: Micro-credit and the Future of Poverty to nearly 250 enthusiastic students and interested citizens from the community. Following the documentary a panel comprised of the director of the film, representatives from non-profit organizations featured in the film, and BYU's own micro-credit guru, Warner Woodworth-who kept the audience entertained with his witty antics. The atrium area just outside of the first floor auditorium of the Tanner Building was filled with booths from many non-profit organizations, including Yehu Microfinance, Enterprise Mentors International, Engage Now, HELP International to allow students to mingle with representatives from these organizations.
Daily Universe Article
- Internship FairNovember 2005Hundreds of students were able to meet and mingle with representatives from many of ESR SA's partner organizations. These included such groups as Enterprise Mentors International, HELP International, Yehu Microfinance, Ascend Alliance, Care for Life, Cause for Hope, and Freedom from Hunger. Multiple internships were secured through this event held in the Tanner Building.
- Fro-Yo Holiday FundraiserDecember 8, 2005Although not an official ESRSA event, students from the organization were the main organizers of this community fund-raiser. On Thursday, December 8, 2005, Fro-Yo donated the money raised by frozen yogurt sales from 7-9 pm to Yehu Microfinance, one of ESR SA's partners. Many from the community, as well as students, came in crowds during this time to support the effort that was benefiting many impoverished women entrepreneurs in Kenya. In-store donations were also accepted. The results superseded expectations by more than one thousand dollars. In the end, BYU student and owner of the Fro-Yo, Kara Forrest handed Yehu Microfinance the $3658.74 raised by the holiday event.
Deseret News Article #1
Deseret News Article #2
Winter semester
- Care Week events:
- Dare to Care danceFebruary 24, 2006This event was the first of its kind during a Care Week at BYU. By recruiting the collaboration of 13 other clubs on campus, ESR SA was able to raise $939 for Ascend Alliance through the Dare to Care dance. A hip-hop dance was held in the Terrace and a country dance upstairs in the Wilkenson Center. Short performances by the Break Dance Club, Club Style, and the Black Student Union's Stepping Queens in the Terrace during this time were a definite highlight.
Daily Universe Aricle
- Micro-credit marketFebruary 24, 2006After having purses that were made by a woman in the Philippines who benefited from a micro-credit loan shipped to BYU, the ESR SA sold these crafts at the Kennedy Center's annual Hunger Banquet. Many took interest in the unique purses, which are made from used plastic juice containers. The event raised $250, directly benefiting this recipient of a micro-credit loan offered by one of ESR SA's partners, Enterprise Mentors International.
2006-2007 School Year
Fall semester
- Opening SocialSeptember 20, 2006To start out the 2006-2007 school year, the ESRSA held an opening social event for all students interested. The event was held on the 20th of September, a Wednesday night, in the Tanner Building. The turn out was excellent with over 60 people attending and only standing room available. Along with informing the students about the club and its goals, objectives, prior and planned accomplishments, the students were able to hear from microcredit experts Todd Manwarring and Warner Woodworth. Several heads of sponsoring NPOs also spoke about their experiences and their respective organization's operations, such as Troy Holmberg from Yehu Bank, Students were also able to hear from fellow students who had been on internships with these organizations. Following the event, students were given the opportunity to network with these individuals and one another.
- Small Fortunes documentary showingOctober 12, 2006On 12 October 2006 the Economic Self Reliance Student Association, in connection with the Economic Self Reliance Center held a showing of the PBS documentary Small Fortunes: Microcredit and the Future of Poverty. Following the documentary a short Q&A session was held. Panel members comprised microcredit guru Warner Woodworth, Caroline Dailey, Jennifer Boehme Kumar, Sarah Carmichael, and Brady Barlow, each representing microcredit organizations. The atrium area just outside of the first floor auditorium of the Tanner Building was filled with booths allowing students to mingle with microcredit organizations and discuss internship opportunities. Approximately 75 students were in attendance.
- Benefit show fund-raiserNovember 1, 2006Combining with Divine Comedy and Laugh Out Loud for a charity fund-raiser for Cause for Hope we met together to support a good cause and to have a good laugh while we were at it. Cause for Hope is an organization working to eradicate poverty in various countries of Central America. Their programs do not offer hand-outs; rather their programs help others help themselves rise out of poverty through the use of micro-credit loans, and other self-reliant tools. About 250 attendees from the campus and community came to the Joseph Smith Building auditorium bringing in $434 for the people of Central America.