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Past Projects

2010-2011 Project

SCIO designed and implemented a micro-insurance product for the microfinance institution Village Exchange Ghana.  This product helped the MFI reduce the risk of default and its associated negative consequences. Should the breadwinner of the family pass away, the microinsurance payout enables its benefactors to fulfill loan repayment, have a graceful end to a graceful life, and provide welfare for their dependents to continue to meet education or business needs.  In March 2011, six students from Tepper and Heinz School went to Ghana to visit the client and deliver the product.

Key Deliverables for the Micro-insurance Project:

  • Market Assessment: researched client’s needs to determine the best micro-insurance product that aligned with its interests
  • Insurance Partner Recommendation: ensured that client was in the good hands of an insurance provider; reviewed contracts and created a pricing model for evaluating policy costs
  • Marketing Plan: developed comprehensive marketing strategies and lesson plans for the client to educate its partners about micro-insurance, including information about the Ghanaian regulatory landscape and the IT infrastructure required for additional processes
  • Financial Models: educated the client about financial sustainability and business planning through financial forecasting and budgeting models

 SCIO 2012 Ghana Implementation Trek

2009 - 2010 Project

SCIO worked with a host of organizations in Ghana to develop a microinsurance manual. The manual is a comprehensive resource that equipped fledgling microinsurance organizations with information on how to integrate microinsurance products into their portfolios. Towards the end of the year, SCIO also engaged Village Exchange Ghana (VEG), the client for the following year.

Milestones for the project throughout the year included:

  • March: SCIO members traveled to Ghana and met with leaders of STAR microinsurance, Initiative Development- Ghana, and Village Exchange Ghana to gather data regarding microfinance in the region and in order to meet potential client organizations.
  • April: The Project Team achieves significant milestones in near completion of the microfinance manual development. SCIO selects its potential client organization as Village Exchange Ghana (VEG) and reaches out to the organization to determine compatibility.
  • May: VEG signs contract so that SCIO can began focused microfinance implementation.

2009 Ghana Implementation trek

2008-2009 Project

SCIO aimed to improve employment and lack of tourism to Katapatthar, India by converting an abandoned King's Palace into a fully functioning traveler's lodge.

Successes included:

  • decreased unemployment rates.
  • high projected annual earnings of over $18,000 (9 lakh rupees).
  • locally affordable room rates.
  • self-sustaining business.
  • ensuring that a portion of profits be donated to the local school and hospital.

India Project 1

 India Project 2

2007-2008 Project

The "Panama Brigades" project was the seedling of SCIO. With this project, 80 students offered consulting services to four distinct businesses in the impoverished communities of Panama. The businesses included an orchid farm, a cobbler shop, a tourist shop, and an orphanage.

At the end of a year-long engagement, which included a one-week trek to Panama, the teams:

  • Created marketing plans with brand logos and designs
  • Sold contracts in Panama City
  • Designed a logistics distribution plan
  • Helped finance local businesses

The solutions that were implemented were chosen and pursued due to their long-term sustainability and positive impact on the businesses and the community that each business supported.

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