HELIO project provides loans
In Belize, a country where student loans are rare or come with steep interest rates, University of Indianapolis students are poised to help. UIndy students involved in the HELIO (Higher Education Loans, International Opportunities) project are working to create an international loan fund that would offer affordable student loans for students at Galen University in Belize.
“Not only is this a great resume builder, it is also a chance to help people who are really in need,” said HELIO Advisor and Associate Professor of Finance Rachel Smith.
The HELIO project is offered as a course at UIndy. The UIndy School of Business sponsors the project. Students who wish to get involved can sign up for the course and join one of the four teams: marketing, finance, information technology and accounting. Twenty-two students are involved this semester.
Students involved in the HELIO project are working toward creating an international loan fund that will offer loans to students from Galen University in Belize. Photo contributed by Bass Photo Company.
“This is an opportunity for students all over campus to get involved, not just business students,” Smith said. “Education, global leadership and international relations majors would find benefits in working with HELIO.”
One such student is Hannah Snyder, a senior, honor student and global leadership major. Snyder is working with HELIO toward the goal of making a documentary based at Galen University about the loan fund, detailing personal stories of Galen students who have benefited from the project.
“A student documentary is a great way to raise awareness in an interesting and informative way, without being pushy about giving donations or showing support,” Snyder said.
The HELIO project officially launched Oct. 27, with an information session in Schwitzer Student Center, accompanied by the launch of a Web site through which the project will be managed.
Smith explained that in the beginning stages of the project, HELIO would like to gather support from UIndy internally, before turning to the general public for donations and support.
“In the long term, we want to take the project external, starting HELIO branches on other campuses, all working together to provide the same kinds of loans,” Smith said. “For now, we want UIndy students to get involved in these beginning stages, both through donation[s] and working with the project itself.”
HELIO students will speak to MBA classes in the coming weeks to spread the word about the international service project. Additionally, UIndy students can win some high-dollar prizes if donations are made to HELIO in their names.
For example, if any UIndy student raises $1500 for HELIO, the student will receive a free iPad. Other incentives include an iPod touch, an iPod nano and an iPod shuffle. Donations can be made via the Web site at www.helioloanfund.org.
For now, the project will focus specifically on Galen University; however, Smith hopes that as a long term goal, the project can be expanded beyond the confines of a single university and help other students in need in the developing world.
