Introduction

Hola! My name is Karna Mital. I am a rising junior at Duke University, majoring in Econ and Math. Currently, I am part of a group of 6 Duke students participating in DukeEngage Chile 2009. Our project involves interning with an NGO called Accion Emprendedora (AE), an innovative organization striving to alleviate poverty through sustainable entrepreneurship. Specifically, it trains budding entrepreneurs in particular facets of running a business, a curriculum that enables the entrepreneurs to be more successful. Our role is to help AE improve at what it does - potential projects for this years intern class include compiling data/designing surveys to enable AE to measure outcomes better, designing exercise banks/case studies/teachers' manuals for various AE courses, planning alumni interactions through an association and annual reunion, and retailoring an existing discussion group for female entrepreneurs.

This blog details my experiences in Chile for the 8 weeks between June 6-August 2, 2009. I intend for it to be a personal, rather than formal endeavor, so I might describe experiences at AE and interesting observations about Chile in equal measure. Some of my fellow Duke students on this trip are also blogging, below are links to theirs. I may also reference specific posts of theirs from time to time:


Grant Alport (note that Grant's blog is the official DukeEngage blog for our trip)
Jordan Stone

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy my blog!