Danielle Krabbe serving as Business Brigade volunteer in Panama

[March 21, 2013]  LITCHFIELD -- Danielle Krabbe, a junior at the University of Illinois, is participating in Global Business Brigades, the world's largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization. She is currently spending seven days in a rural community in Panama to help provide solutions to the community's economic needs.

The beneficiaries typically have a low level of income, lack of collateral and low level of education.

Krabbe is conducting household visits in which she assesses the family's level of financial competency and entrepreneurial goals. She then provides educational and technical assistance in personal finance, basic accounting and business planning.

The Business Brigade volunteers invest in the community savings and loan by providing seed capital. The seed capital provides loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs to either expand current operations or pursue new business opportunities.

Krabbe is studying in the College of Business at the University of Illinois and majoring in marketing and management. She is a 2011 graduate of Litchfield High School.

Danielle is the daughter of Roger and Dana Krabbe of Litchfield and granddaughter of Dan and Marilyn Wheat of Lincoln.