Fresh out of the Angers Graduate School of Business, ESSCA, Johan Benichou, Benjamin Sierra and Loïc Linard decided to take a year to fulfil a childhood dream: a round-the-world bike adventure!
A sporting challenge which includes a human aspect, as they have decided to meet with some 90 microfinance players: both microfinance institutions (MFI) and beneficiaries of this practice, in particular those in rural locations.
BNP Paribas offered to support this extraordinary adventure, providing not only financial backing but also international expertise in microfinance and assistance in making their project more visible and their approach more credible.

Why focus on microfinance?

“Microfinance offers a range of financial products to all those who are excluded from the traditional or formal banking system. It is particularly aimed at very poor families to help them carry out productive activities that generate an income, therefore allowing them to develop their very small businesses. It includes 4 essential products: microsavings, microinsurance, fund transfers and microcredit. The World Bank recently suggested that microfinance had directly or indirectly benefitted some 500 million of the world’s poorest people”, said Johan.

Loïc, Benjamin and Johan agree: “microfinance is an interesting, current, and indeed, a highly topical subject, much-discussed in southern countries and one that fits in perfectly with our professional objectives… but it is not a subject that gets much media coverage. Therefore we have decided upon this angle of attack: to contribute, in our way, to increasing media coverage and awareness of microfinance. How? By going into the field, with our cameras and our interview guides, and meeting the people who make and receive microfinance loans”.

Follow Loïc, Benjamin and Johan along their journey around the world throughout this year. On this blog you will find a cultural and educational travel diary that is packed with photos, videos and interviews!

The great adventure has already begun: destination Nepal!