Kiva Stories from the Field

I start every meeting with clients by first offering my thanks for their time and a small recordação; a photo of my hometown, San Francisco, which I explain is also where Kiva is located. Before sitting down with clients, sensitive to Hluvuku-Adsema’s image within the community, I got the blessing from Hluvuku’s Executive Director to outline the Kiva-Hluvuku relationship and how we share responsibilities within the loan process.

To elucidate this further, I show each client a color printout of their respective business profile page from the Kiva website, explaining that they have their own dedicated page which showcases their photo and a description of both their personal and business experience. ‘Voce e medio famoso no mundo do Internet!’ I proclaim, to which they reply ‘Epa!’ Without question, the clients are first most excited to see their likeness in print since it’s not often, if ever for some, that they have seen their photo. They call over friends and family, everyone gathers ’round, laughter ensues and they say ‘Saio bem!’ (‘It came out good!’)

Here’s where it gets really exciting…

I then direct the clients to the bottom of their profile page to show them the photos that represent each lender. I explain that these people have read their business profile and were so impressed with their business, their efforts, and their future direction that they decided to contribute specifically to this borrowers loan. And then I show them where all their lenders are from; individuals and groups of people from the United States, Australia, Belgium, Norway, Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, Portugal, Switzerland, Canada, Italy, Spain, France, Austria, New Zealand, Brazil… just to name a few.

Watching their faces light up when first hearing this information is extraordinary. While it’s true that some people have little reaction to this news by their nature, the vast majority of borrowers are clearly touched to learn that people outside of their immediate community care enough about them as individuals to support them in their endeavors. Fulfilling obligations and attaining some measure of growth in the eyes of their local community has and always will be important. But my sense is that this new awareness of a global citizenry that is emotionally invested and supportive of them is not only uplifting personally, but a huge motivating factor for continued success of the business!