International marketing and global future students worked hard in the Pau Amerelo community to assist those interested in starting a business, or enhancing an existing one. Below is a narrated slideshow, several photos, and a story about their experiences.

During the opening day of the small business class, Park student Annette Pelletier (left) was in charge of the ice breaking activity.  Park student Fabio Garcia (center) was the translator and Joseph-Rindal Pierre-Canel (right) spoke about financial management.

Park's International Marketing and Global Future students taught a "Pequenas Empresas" (small business) class to six women from the Pau Amerelo Community.  The class hopes to teach to the women's needs and expectations.  By the end, a successful business is the goal of each participant.  Slideshow

Park MG490 student Lindsey Deegan, assisted by Rachel Crawford, made a strong impression on a business class at Pau Amerelo, where the service learning trip occurred. This clip is of her presentation on 3-9-06. Video

By Alan McArthur

This morning, the business management group hosted the first of five classes for members of the community to learn more about managing, “pequenas empresas,” or small businesses.  The professors leading the class were Michael Fitzmorris and Olga Ganzen.  While the professors were in attendance to help with any questions, the class was actually taught by the students.

The students were Simona Cibotaru, Rachel Crawford, Lindsey Deegan, Catrina Lloyd, Annette Pelletier, and Joseph-Rindal Pierre-Canel.  Translating was provided by Fabio Garcia and Hugo Cavalcante.

The class was attended by six women from the local community of Pau Amarelo.  Some of the women already owned businesses and wanted to improve their profits, while others wanted to open a business and were seeking advice to get started.

 “I own a school for young kids,” says Adriana Monteiro, via a translator, “with about 100 students and ten teachers.  We have fixed costs and I would like to fill classes for more profit.”

Other students are interested in opening businesses ranging from selling homemade jewelry and candy to selling pet supplies to opening a beauty parlor. 

Today was simply designed for the teachers to assess the needs of the students and for the students to feel comfortable sharing their needs.  The class started with a game organized by Pelletier involving listing five adjectives to describe themselves and then listing things they wanted to learn from the class.

"This was my first time in front of a group of people who are not my peers," says Pelletier, "everyone was so helpful."

After the game was finished Pierre-Canel began speaking to the students about some of the future topics they will learn about later in the week. 

Pierre-Canel briefly presented ways to improve a business.

“We need to make a difference.  Have to think about how to draw customers to my business.”

Another one of the students was Elian Nascimento, who would like to open a business of her own.  Her business would involve selling items from her home, including jewelry and candy.

“I have a lot of things I’m doing,” Nascimento says, via a translator.  “I’d like to open a small store or business, but I need to know how to diversify.”

By the end of the class one of the students became the teacher.

Monteiro taught the Park students how to play the “kissing game.”  All of the students stood in a circle and each kissed the person on the left or right.

Pierre-Canel finished the class by saying, “In business you have to take a risk.  The point of business is either to do what you love to do or to make money.  We all want to make money.”