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The Sustainability of Global Links

International Programs Alumni

*Corail Camp is on the outskirts of Port au Prince. So far away in fact that it can take from 1 to 4 hours to get into the city. The area feels barren and dusty but people who have been resettled here from their neighborhood, an urban slum, are grateful to be out of their tents and into real structures. They are doubly grateful that the houses have roofs of tin and not the concrete that crushed so many of their neighbors. Before the earthquake a concrete home was ideal to resist yet another natural enemy, the hurricane. General scenes in the afternoon and evening show how this is becoming home for the thousands resettled here. From a man walking home with his starched white shirt from the laundry (another industry that is a heavy user of charcoal for the ironing process) to neighbors gossiping over the wash and kids playing in the rocky street.

One benefit of Global Links’ model is that they are able to sustainably help thousands of impoverished people across Latin America. The importance of this work can not be overstated, and the effect Global Links has on impoverished communities is truly remarkable. However, one limitation of their model is their reliance on volunteer labor. This means that during the summer, the quantity of goods that can be sorted and shipped is diminished. The amount of goods that are sent to impoverished communities ebbs and flows with the quantity of volunteers that the business has. 

Due to the sheer volume of medical surplus, Global Links has no problems getting donations. There is always an opportunity to get more donations by just contacting the businesses. There is no economic incentive for hospitals and other medical centers to throw away their goods, so Global Links is a pathway for those products to get to the correct people. However, supply chains are a challenge that Global Links faces on a day-to-day basis. Goods are commonly shipped in freight containers on ships. Recently, many ports have been struggling to keep up with the demand for shipping. This results in longer shipping times and higher shipping expenses for Global Links. 

I am very interested in the opportunity to learn finance from the perspective of a non-profit. The funding challenges that face these businesses would make an internship an incredibly valuable learning experience. Further, I would be able to learn about grants and other forms of funding that are available to nonprofit and for-profit businesses alike. This knowledge would be invaluable if I pursue an entrepreneurial route in the future.

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