Eric worked with the international fellows this past summer to research impacts, new loan products, and preparations to extend credit to additional clients. Before Lumana, he worked with microcredit and gardening programs in Mozambique, and has also studied microcredit in The Philippines and lived in Mexico. Currently he is studying Public Administration at the University of Washington.

Ben is an Economics Major at Seattle University. He's excited to further Lumana's research on the farming industry this summer, as he's concerned about the global food market's impact on individuals.  He's currently the Seattle University Debate Team President, and is passionate about the intersection of economic ideas and people.  In his spare time this summer, he plans to meet and record local musicians, and get some Ghanaian musical inspiration.

Kelly's fellowship centers on working with Lumana's fishmongers, providing market research to help develop financial products that will be most beneficial for clients in this industry. He's volunteered with various local non-profits in the Seattle area such as Habitat for Humanity and Junior Achievement as well as working as a liaison for the Board of Directors at Global Visionaries. He is currently Business Administration Major concentrating in Social Enterprise and Economics at Seattle Pacific University.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/kelhaugen

As a fellow, Chris is researching the local food and restaurant industries to learn how to better serve them through microfinance. He is a business major at the University of Washington in the French track of the international business program. In the past, he has also worked on rural education projects in India.

Erica is studying Finance and Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington. This summer she will focus on researching the industries of the tailors and kente weavers to build upon Lumana's existing research. This will inform her interest in craft and artwork as a means for livelihood. As the exiting President of the Social Entrepreneurship Club and Director of Philanthropy of the Undergraduate Women in Business she is passionate about exposing individuals to opportunity. She is especially excited to catch a couple of Ghanaian football games and maybe join in on a match or two.

Halla's parents moved to the United States from Pakistan in 1983 in order to escape religious persecution in Pakistan of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In 1990, Halla was born in Queens, New York. When she was two years old, her family moved to Washington State and this is where she has been raised. Halla attended Snohomish High School and was involved in extracurricular activities such ASB, Newspaper Club, Teens against Tobacco Use Club, Key Club and others. Halla was really involved in school, but in her free time, she spent a lot of time with family. Also, Halla is an active member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, so my family went to the mosque often. Through her frequent visits to the mosque and family gatherings, Halla was able to immerse herself in Pakistani culture. Halla learned a lot about the cultural values, cultural traditions, cultural food and dress. After graduating from high school, Halla enrolled into the University of Washington for her bachelor’s degree. She started off as a pre-medical major, but soon realized that it was not for her. Halla took a class in international studies, and really enjoyed the subject so she switched her major. At the University of Washington, she had to adjust to large classes. She realized that she would achieve greater success in a smaller classroom environment. This led her to her decision of transferring to Seattle University, where she would have smaller classes and more personal engagement. For Halla's sophomore year, she attended Seattle University, which enabled her to excel academically as well as socially. She was able to get involved in different activities that catered to her interests such as volunteering, becoming an orientation leader for international students, and getting involved in the Global Awareness Program. In the future, Halla wishes to attend law school and further her studies in the realm of international studies. In the meantime, she look forward to exploring what else Seattle University has to offer.

David Swanson is a Junior pursuing a double degree in Humanities and Economics with a Specialization in International Economic Development, as well as a minor in Non-Profit Leadership. He is also the president of the Seattle University Global Water Brigade, which went on a service trip this past summer to Honduras in order to work on a water system, providing an indigenous community with access to clean water. This year, he is working with club leaders to expand such service trip opportunities for SU students into new areas of development. Outside of Seattle U, David works with the Washington Access Fund, a local Community Development Financial Institution that serves individuals with disabilities, and has gained much experience there in fundraising, grant writing, and program development. David’s international experience, along with Honduras, includes volunteer work in Tijuana, Mexico with Esperanza International and Kolkata, India with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. Through his non-profit/NGO experience, he has developed a passion for international work as well as a commitment to development projects around the world. David hopes to pursue a career in International Development, working on microfinance/microenterprise or basic needs development in underdeveloped areas of the world.