Our Mission
The National High School Microfinance Coalition is a network of high school students who are committed to providing access to financial resources through microfinance. Collaborating with leaders in the field, we analyze the impact of microfinance and how we can best use the practice to empower unbanked individuals around the globe.
Make an impact with us.
We are a resource for high school students who are interested in making an impact on unbanked individuals around the globe through microfinance. To ensure that we understand the real effects of our microloans, we discuss microfinance lending strategies and best practices, host virtual events, and connect high school microfinance clubs with mentors and leaders in the field.
Many Perspectives.
The National High School Microfinance Coalition is a group of approximately 175 high school students from fourteen high schools across the United States. Given that microfinance is a rather new, complicated, and impactful financial innovation, we believe that communication between our clubs is essential in ensuring that we maximize our impact.
Working With Experts.
Experts have not reached consensus as to the effects of microfinance; some believe it is an extremely powerful tool in alleviating poverty, and others believe that it is more harmful than helpful. We work in collaboration with advisors with a diverse set of beliefs about the tool, many of whom have worked on the ground with the entrepreneurs we seek to help and others who have conducted extensive research in the field. Constant coordination between our groups and leaders in the field ensures that we use our resources in a supportive and sustainable manner.
Above: NHSMC VIce President Simrun Kothari with Professor Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank founder.
In Tune With Research.
Muhammad Yunus invented microfinance in the 1970s, and a lot has happened since. However, many who promote microloans are unaware of how exactly borrowers use the funds. As high school students actively using and raising awareness about the tool, we believe that it is essential that we understand the real impact of our loans and use that understanding to guide our lending strategies.