Five master’s students to cycle across the Andes in support of local micro-entrepreneurs

Five students in their final year of EDHEC's Grande Ecole programme are embarking on a particularly ambitious, sporting and solidary graduation project. They plan to cycle 5,000 km from Peru to Chile in three months from April to raise funds to finance three microfinance institutions in Peru and Bolivia.

It’s a substantial, positive undertaking by Thomas Rémond, Edmond Jones and Baudouin Devys, students on the MSc in Corporate Finance & Banking programme, Enguerran Voisin, an MSc in Strategy, Organization & Consulting student, and Antoine Vengeon, who is studying for an MSc in Business Management.

In association with Rocketbike, the five friends ‒ all members of the Impulso association ‒ have chosen to support three microfinance institutions with their endeavour: Microwd, Inclusiva and Voix Libres. The institutions aim to support the entrepreneurial projects of populations in need, who are excluded from the traditional financial system.

The EDHEC students will thus come to the aid of youth and women volunteers seeking micro-loans to launch nutritional initiatives in Peru and Bolivia.

• Microwd promotes female entrepreneurship in Tarapoto, Peru.
• Inclusiva promotes youth entrepreneurship in San Vicente de Cañete, Peru.
• Voces Libres helps to integrate poor women and children in Potosí, Bolivia.

Through this humane, concrete and committed adventure, the five EDHEC students want to create strong ties and make a positive impact at the end of their studies and the beginning of their professional lives.

Thomas, Edmond, Baudouin, Enguerran and Antoine have undertaken to meet in person with the various institutions, their actors and their beneficiaries to monitor their operations and the use of the funding provided.

And they will not fail to relate their remarkable adventure, highlighting their partners and involving their community, through their Instagram account, @la_gr.andes_vadrouille, and Facebook page, La Gr’Andes Vadrouille.

Their goal is to raise €25,000 before they set off in April. The team is, therefore, actively looking for sponsors and donors to support their project.

Click here if you would like to support La Gr’Andes Vadrouille

EDHEC applauds the commitment of members of La Gr'Andes Vadrouille and wishes the five students success in this brave and impactful project.