A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story Of A Kiva.org Loan
7 January 2009
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve explained the concept behind Kiva to family, friends, and people I’ve met along the way, but each time my explanation is slightly different.
This is because Kiva is really quite difficult to explain. It incorporates frightfully odd concepts such as microfinance, acronyms such as MFIs, faux acronyms (“what does K.I.V.A. stand for anyhow?”), frequently confused verbs “lend” and “borrow”, crossovers between banking and charity, international flows of money, interest and yet no interest, is it a tech start-up or is it a non-profit? It’s both Jim, but not as we know it.
I used to start with the basics: “Kiva is a website…”. But then I thought that makes it sound a bit, dare I say it, cheap, like hamsterdance.com is a website, so then I switched to “Kiva is a web-based non-profit organisation” which is the signal to most people to stop listening immediately and start planning an escape route to the bathroom.
I like to tailor the explanation depending on who the person is, how interested they seem, whether they know terminology such as microfinance or even the internet – in some Cambodian villages knowledge of the former outweighs knowledge of the latter whilst back home in England the opposite is true.
But when it comes down to it, does anyone really understand the Kiva process from start to finish? Well sure they do! But will we ever meet these mysterious people? Probably not.
So before I left my job at Credit Suisse in London, I decided it would be great to try and follow one loan through the system from start to finish, for the benefit of my colleagues who I coaxed into making a loan, and for myself, and for anyone else who is interested.
Three months later and my little project has reached fruition and dropped right off the tree in a sticky mess. An eleven minute video that I’ve effectively been married to for twelve weeks. It haunts my dreams. I’ve developed repetitive strain injury in my left arm from sitting at my laptop.
But I’m thoroughly glad I did it as I’ve discovered a new passion for making and editing videos to add to my long list of hobbies-to-take-up-and-then-drop-months-later. And I’m right-handed anyway.
I hope that you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed making it.
Note: To watch the video in full screen (recommended) please click on the four arrows in the bottom right-hand corner of the video
To see all of the AMK loans currently fundraising on Kiva.org please click here
Additional note: To link directly to the video please use the following URL: http://www.vimeo.com/2769845
Entry Filed under: All, Angkor Microfinance Kampuchea (AMK), Cambodia, KF6 (Kiva Fellows 6th Class). Tags: cambodia microfinance, fistful dollars microfinance, fistful of dollars kiva, how kiva loan works, kieran ball cambodia, kieran ball kiva fellow, kiva loan cambodia, kiva loan life, kiva microfinance amk microcredit microloans kieranball left arm broken, kiva microloans, lend entrepreneur developing country.
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1. How Kiva Works: A Case Study Video « Wir sprechen Online. | 7 January 2009 at 03:43
[...] January 7, 2009 | # | Tags: .EN, Business, Kiva, Kiva Fellows, Society, Video, Web Follow the path of a $25 Kiva-loan from London to Preak Tamao village, Cambodia; http://cli.gs/kiva-video [...]
2. Gerrit Eicker | 7 January 2009 at 03:50
Thanks for the video! It’ll make it easier to explain Kiva to others.
3. John Briggs | 7 January 2009 at 04:20
Brilliant, instructive, entertaining. Thank you.
Curious, though, why WordPress thinks “Semi-nude tofu wrestling” is a possibly related blog post.
4. James Connolly | 7 January 2009 at 04:22
WAY TO GO, KIERAN!
We’re really, really impressed with the video. Great job. Its a masterpiece.
Look forward to you taking all of our business away when you open your own production company.
Cheers!
James and Rachelle
5. Whitney Zimmerman | 7 January 2009 at 08:39
Well done Kieran, really beautiful – and excellent use of classic rock! Love the Kiva office bit!
You’ve really set the bar high for us, and future fellows classes.
6. Jan & John | 7 January 2009 at 08:50
WOW – that is a fantastic way to connect People to People. I posted your link on KivaFriends and also had the honour to be first to notify the AMK Fan Club Lending Team. Way to go, you young folks WILL change the world one person at a time. Thank you so very much, jan
7. Diane | 7 January 2009 at 09:08
Kieran, that was completely fabulous!! Thanks so much for putting it together, for your attitude and ability, and for helping change the world. You go!
–Diane.
8. Susan Shewan | 7 January 2009 at 09:17
Great video! Really enjoyed it. Keep up the good work.
Susan
9. JD | 7 January 2009 at 09:33
Fantastic work, Kieran! I got really excited watching this, and not just cause I make a cameo.
Kiva Fellows rock!
10. Zack | 7 January 2009 at 10:17
Best Kiva video ever. The office is buzzing!
11. Tdunbar | 7 January 2009 at 19:55
I got teary-eyed watching it again. Awesome, bong pra Kieran! Wish the blog could somehow reach more people without having to dig for it.
12. Nick Cain | 7 January 2009 at 21:04
Kieran,
I’m an incoming fellow, KF7. Thanks for putting together such a wonderful video. Tremendous job. You’ve made me even more excited to head off to Paraguay in a few weeks, which I didn’t think was possible!
All the best,
Nick
13. Paula | 8 January 2009 at 00:10
What a fabulous video – can you put it on Youtube for some more exposure and ease of linking?
I think I need to go make a(nother) loan to Cambodia
14. Steve Brady | 8 January 2009 at 07:33
Awesome video – forget the day job in accounting! I would love to link my Team – CMI – to your video.
15. John Robbins | 8 January 2009 at 09:36
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome!!!
Is there a way to access the video w/o linking to this specific page? I’d like to send it around to all the folks who work in our office, but I fear getting them to locate it on the page and then make a second click may be too much for them to handle. (At least it will be if they’re as lazy as me.)
John
16. Richard | 8 January 2009 at 09:38
Awesome video, and I don’t use the awesome word very much. Keep up the good work.
17. Sanjaya P | 8 January 2009 at 10:08
This is THE Kiva video!!!!
Amazing Work!!!!
18. Radhika | 8 January 2009 at 12:57
Kieran, We love the video, it was very entertaining. Hope you are having loads of fun in Cambodia
19. Anh | 8 January 2009 at 13:49
Kiva for dummies made easy… nice work K!! If only you put as much effort into MIPS…. *sigh*
Will def pass this on!
20. April | 8 January 2009 at 14:08
Awesome video, Kieran! Great AV skills and fun way of telling the story & Kiva process. May you enjoy your next venture, whatever it is!
Peace,
April Newman (Kiva HQ volunteer during your training)
21. Stephanie Herrera | 8 January 2009 at 16:43
What a fantastic video! Kiva.org should put this in a prominent place on their website.
22. John Briggs | 8 January 2009 at 21:36
Here’s a link directly to Kieran’s video on the Vimeo website:
http://vimeo.com/2769845
23. James MacKenzie | 8 January 2009 at 22:23
Amazing. I need say no more. But I will. I hope this video gets picked up by news organizations and gets the publicity it deserves. Great job. James
24. Samia Malik | 9 January 2009 at 02:18
Hey Kieran
that video is brilliant…the way you have edited it, the music, the text, the images, they all work together perfectly – I can see how you were obsessed by it – but more than all that it’s your passion for the concept that shines through
Well done you have created something really inspiring
25. Kieran Ball | 9 January 2009 at 04:35
Thanks so so much for all the great comments everyone! I don’t know what to say other than that I REALLY enjoyed making the video, I REALLY think Kiva are brilliant, and I really hope this will give people a better feel for how it all works.
Feel free to share it however you like, all I ask is that you include a link back to this blog so that more people can read about the great experiences of the Kiva Fellows.
Thank you,
Kieran
26. Navaid Ahmed | 10 January 2009 at 01:19
Kieran
Awesome, uplifting, empowering. Keep up the good work!
27. Nic Wise | 10 January 2009 at 05:12
Fantastic video, might be enough to get a few more friends using Kiva.
Thanks!
Nic and Leonie – Isle of Dogs, London (about 15 mins walk from Credit Suisse!)
http://www.kiva.org/lender/leonie
28. a fist full of dollars - the story of a kiva loan | 10 January 2009 at 05:31
[...] What got me about Kiva is just how simple it is. Anyone can lend to people in countries where small amounts of money – for us – mean a hell of a lot, and it feels really good to loan money to motivated people – rather than just give it for “aid”. More info here on the Kiva Fellows blog. [...]
29. Sandra Hanks Benoiton | 10 January 2009 at 07:57
Thanks for this …
I’ve posted it on my blog, and on my facebook page.
Wonderful job, Kieran!
30. Aysha Griffin | 10 January 2009 at 08:34
Kieran, Yes! Kudos on a well-produced and informative video. As others have asked: can you provide a more-direct (e.g. YouTube) link to share with my mailing list?
Last holiday season, in my monthly real estate newsletter, I suggested Kiva gift certificates as perfect gifts. I also bought several on behalf of the young relations in my life. One 13-year-old was so excited he spent hours pouring over the Kiva site considering who to loan his $25 to. He told his friends and they raised $100 more to support four additional businesses. His global interest and activism in Kiva helped him get accepted into a private high school. Giving has its many rewards!
Thanks Kiva staff and fellows for all the difference you are making in our world! — Aysha
31. David Sahlin | 10 January 2009 at 12:07
That was an incredible video. I look forward to using Kiva.org in the future!
32. soeren says » Blog Archive » “The Story Of A Kiva.org Loan” | 10 January 2009 at 13:08
[...] colleagues decided to hand him a $25 loan and have him follow it around the world. And so he did! A fantastic, enthralling story with a [...]
33. Carlos Montero | 10 January 2009 at 13:34
Great video, Kieran! I think I can get a few more friends to use kiva.org just with the “Batman Loan” scene
34. Virani kids | 10 January 2009 at 14:35
We are 3, 8, and 10 year olds who have been participating in KIVA over the past year. We sit with our parents and look at the profiles then decide where we want to contribute. This video inspires us to help more people around the world and we “totally get it now”
We will pass it on!
35. V | 10 January 2009 at 19:02
Instead of website, you can call it a Web Portal or a Web Platform or an e-Platform….
You are right, just calling it a website kid of makes it sound small, while it is so big.
I am a Kiva Lender.
36. Jean-Christophe | 11 January 2009 at 04:32
You did a great job with this video Kieran
We can get more people understanding what is P2P lending thanks to your fantastic video. Thanks so much for putting it together !
37. Kathy Cullinan | 11 January 2009 at 07:05
I loved the clip and only wish you had an office in Northwest NJ. It would be an honor to be part of your team. I love KIVA, have given gift certificates as gifts and shared your website with many friends. Keep up the good work and thank you!
Kindest regards,
Kathy
38. M Vee | 11 January 2009 at 08:07
YES … Can’t wait for your next one !!!
39. Nine | 11 January 2009 at 08:35
Excellent video! I have zero attention span and I still really enjoyed it. I’m a lender, too.
40. Sierra Visher | 11 January 2009 at 11:42
Totally entertaining, moving awesome. The bar has been set for us and for every other Kiva Fellow. WELL DONE. I’m sharing it with everyone I know.
Also, Cambodia is the next place on my list of places to go.
41. Inspiring video: “A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story Of A Kiva.org Loan” | 11 January 2009 at 13:34
[...] http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/07/the-story-of-a-kiva-loan/ [...]
42. Chris Skinner | 12 January 2009 at 04:31
Brilliant stuff Kieran. The best user-generated video I’ve seen on the web in memory and part of my blogging today.
http://thefinanser.co.uk/fsclub/2009/01/social-microlending.html
43. Good Dogg | 12 January 2009 at 07:20
Thanks Kieran. I’ve sent it to several people.
Keep up the good work!
44. sarah | 12 January 2009 at 08:21
wow, what a fantastic video!!!! i too have been telling friends and students about kiva for the last 2 years without much response and was just about to send out a New Year mail to remind people of how amazing the organization is…then i see your clip and voila! perfect…adding it to the spiral blog today http:thespiraltree.blogspot.com
huge thank you for creating it and in such a funky, intriguing, entertaining way – hooray! kiva rocks!!
45. Simon Deane-Johns | 12 January 2009 at 09:54
Absolutely fantastic, Kieran. Inspirational. Well done!
46. Chris, Sonia & Nicholas | 12 January 2009 at 11:56
This is really fantastic!
We have only one thing to say and that is – Thank You!
47. ghafarighafari | 12 January 2009 at 13:49
Great video. I’ve created a personal blog, where I channell all of my advertisement dollars towards kiva loans.
This video is very helpful and making other understand what the heck kiva is.
Nice job.
48. Tracy Kelso | 12 January 2009 at 14:56
Fantastic Video!! You did it. Now everyone can know how KIVA works just by watching a video. We all know how to do that
GREAT WORK!! Keep it up.
49. Nathan Medcalf | 12 January 2009 at 16:25
This is a great video. I am sending it to a bunch of people I know. I looked for it on youtube and couldn’t find it. It would reach a lot more people that way. How can I upload it to my Facebook page.
50. Jackie | 12 January 2009 at 20:02
Kieran, I loved your video! What a fantastic job you did! Thank you for all the work you are doing as a Kiva fellow!
51. karen harold | 13 January 2009 at 03:00
The video was good however I dont understand why you felt the need to include the name of your company credit suisse, have they given a large donation to kiva for this advertisment
52. | 273 | 13 January 2009 at 08:22
[...] Jan.13, 2009 in Inspiration, Kiva, Video This is a great video, following the life of a Kiva Loan, from Kieran Ball who left his banking job in London to volunteer as a Kiva Fellow in Cambodia. Read his blog post about the experience here. [...]
53. Jill | 13 January 2009 at 12:02
Thank you very much for making this video. We are big KIVA fans and also have difficulty explaining it. I’m going to share your video on my blog and try to get the word out even more.
54. LaraLem | 13 January 2009 at 15:17
As a big fan of micro lending and P2P Lending, i agree with you it’s hard to explain to “regular Joes”, hence why this is not as widely accepted as we all *believers* want.
You did a great job, and should be looking for a job as videographer. Brilliant.
I found out about this idea on change.org
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/solving_the_credit_crisis_from_the_bottom_up
Check it out and vote so Obama hears about social and micro lending on his inauguration day
55. Emma | 13 January 2009 at 22:01
Any suggestions for (non-professional) folks who want to make videos explaining and sharing the work of other social entrepreneurs? I have some short footage from a group trip working with social entrepreneurs abroad, but I don’t have months of time to put it together into something so fancy. How do you make the most bang for your effort?
Thanks so much for the inspirational video and getting the word out about kiva!
56. How do Kiva Loans work? | Watch Documentary Film Online | 14 January 2009 at 04:19
[...] via [...]
57. Ank | 14 January 2009 at 11:24
Every year we arrange an evening on 8.mars, the international day for women. I will show the video there. It’s very inspiring to see the video. I hope there wil be more!!
58. Chris | 15 January 2009 at 04:18
As has been said so many times – this is truly awesome in the actual sense of the word! I want to ask, as a teacher who does video with my class (and often forces them to create their own music for copyright reasons), were these musical pieces cleared with the owners on the basis of the nature of the topic? If so, how did you contact them, and what did you say? If not, have you had any feedback from them on the use of their songs? i.e. have they been supportive?
Thanks Kieran, and keep up the great work. I will definitely be sharing this with my classes.
Chris in Toronto
59. Davey | 15 January 2009 at 09:12
I’m a great supporter of Kiva, and all it stands for. But the video is quite awful. Please make another one, a bit more professional, less frenetic and less amateur.
60. Pamela & Rudy | 16 January 2009 at 15:57
Thank you for making such a wonderful video. We enjoyed it and plan on sharing it with Grandchildren to teach them about micro-lending, what it is and how it works. Your video is excellent– it is professional and is not amateur. Keep up the good work.
61. A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story Of A Kiva.org Loan by Kieran Ball « Khmer Muse | 17 January 2009 at 21:27
[...] It explains Kiva perfectly, and explains my role as a Kiva Fellow in Cambodia. [...]
62. Arne | 19 January 2009 at 14:56
Killer Cambodian soundtrack in there! Really liked watching this video. I was in Cambodia in 2003 and can relate. It’s a poor country, but the people are really friendly, hardworking and generous. Keep up the good work.
63. Teresa Fissel | 20 January 2009 at 08:06
Thanks for brilliant video. I have been lending to Kiva for over a year now. I appreciate how simple it is to lend and how organized it is, keeping me updated and current on all of my loans. Keep up the good works!
64. Ben Young | 20 January 2009 at 14:31
Thank you very much for sharing this, I will be putting it up on my blog very soon, micro finance is such a great way of people who are trying to help themselves.
65. Claire Leisink | 21 January 2009 at 02:36
Hi Kieran,
I am a French journalist and I make a report on Kiva. I work for ARTE, a French-German channel. Our programm is broadcast every Friday at 7pm.
I contact you because yesterday, I interviewed a French lender from Kiva and she talked about your video, she said it was great. It was a way to go further than the simple text and pictures of a project everybody can see on Kiva website.
I went myself to Senegal to film one of the project supported by Kiva. I wanted to know if it could be possible to use your video made in Cambodia to enhance the interview of my lender in France. If yes, is it possible to have it in high definition?
I leave you my phone number : 00 33 6 70 17 52 17 or 0033 1 72 76 54 11
Or you can send me an email
cleisink@capatv.com
Thanks very much
Claire Leisink
66. Paul Monaco .org » A Fistful of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan | 22 January 2009 at 17:19
[...] You can read more about this video on Kieran’s blog. [...]
67. Guest Post - Social Actions Round-up No. 23 « CauseWired Communications | 25 January 2009 at 13:09
[...] Kiva shares a moving video called, The story of a Kiva loan. [...]
68. A Fistful of Dollars, Behind the Scenes: Volunteer Editor Helps Kiva Entrepreneur Reach Her Goal « Kiva Stories from the Field | 28 January 2009 at 23:04
[...] my last blog I posted a video which followed a loan from London to Cambodia (A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story Of A Kiva Loan). The client that featured in the video was the smiley and exceptionally accommodating Van Makara, [...]
69. P2P Foundation » Blog Archive » How does Kiva work: the (video) story of a loan | 1 February 2009 at 23:56
[...] (background here) [...]
70. Savi | 4 February 2009 at 08:12
What an amazing video! I felt myself tearing up when Mrs Van Makara said she would lend to a stranger too – this is good karma in action. Thank you for making this and sharing it with us.
71. Create a Strong WHY to Achieve Your Goals | Follow Up Success | 8 February 2009 at 19:35
[...] From building homes in Mexico, supporting micro banking and water projects through Rotary and Kiva, or working on my newest cause the Global Hug Tour, MY WHY is happening! This year alone being a [...]
72. Relief » Kiva : idée de projet de classe à caractère mondial | 9 February 2009 at 10:43
[...] Un seul dollar par élève peut mener loin, à l’instar de ce prêt d’un groupe de travailleur (Kiva Stories from the Field : A Fistful of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan) : [...]
73. grcae | 19 February 2009 at 04:24
GOD BLEES MR.LARRY LOAN AGENCY,,,,FOR OFFRE ME LOAN…FOR MORE VIA:loan_dept01@hotmail.com
74. Jill | 19 February 2009 at 04:51
This video inspired me to do a Kiva loan give-away on my blog. I’d love it if anyone who sees this would go visit, leave a comment, and try to win a $25 loan. The person who wins gets to go to the Kiva site and pick the entrepreneur to whom they want the loan to go.
Together, let’s do some good today!!!
75. le blog à Ollie » Nouveaux liens | 23 February 2009 at 11:55
[...] A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story Of A Kiva.org Loan « Kiva Stories from the Field [...]
76. Sophy | 4 March 2009 at 18:58
Hi Kieren,
Your video is really wonderful!!!
Best reguard
Sophy
77. Un Puñado de Dólares/Une Poignée de Dollars « Kiva Stories from the Field | 5 March 2009 at 18:53
[...] below. No sooner had Abby Gray (KF6) suggested via a mass email that it would be useful to have A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story Of A Kiva Loan in French so that she can show it to her MFI in Francophone Africa, than offers to translate/edit [...]
78. Drew Behnke | 8 March 2009 at 21:07
Awesome video!
Can anyone tell me the name of the Cambodian pop song that comes on at 7:44? I have been looking for this song forever since I went to Cambodia but cannot find it…
79. Jane | 9 March 2009 at 02:12
Excellent video! Great job!!
80. First Quarter 2009 Review « Kiva Stories from the Field | 31 March 2009 at 15:53
[...] Fistful of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan by Kieran Ball (Cambodia-Indonesia) [...]
81. I’ve read about micro-lending connector… « Paul M. Watson | 18 April 2009 at 02:51
[...] Reply Tags: money (12) I’ve read about micro-lending connector site Kiva.org before but this 11 minute video really brings the process home to you. It isn’t just a website but a dedicated team of people [...]
82. free documentaries online | 24 April 2009 at 06:59
Interesting indeed! Thank you.
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84. Unilove | 11 May 2009 at 13:19
This video is amazing, Kieran. Too bad being a KIVA Fellow is not a career…. We’ll miss your efforts on behalf of KIVA, KIVA lenders, and the field MFI’s. An impossible act to follow…
Unilove
a KIVA lender
85. Eicker | 28 May 2009 at 14:09
WITH GOD ALLTHING….ARE BE GOING WILL ….
BY THE HELP OF ONE MR..LARRY SMITH (LARRY LOAN AGENCY)
FOR MORE VIA:loan_dept01@hotmail.com
86. Greg Peterson | 20 June 2009 at 12:56
Loan Offer To All. Apply Now
Contact us today for a quick and urgent loan at a very low interest rate. Apply now and get your financial problems solved.
87. Mr Rechart Alecner | 17 August 2009 at 18:18
Good day to you all.
I am Mr Rechart,a God fearing man and a private loan lender,registered by the Nigeria registered of company,we give out loans with 3%interest rate ranging from $5000-$100,000.000 Usd,please kindly contact us for your loan with this very E-mail address: rechartalecnerloancompany@gmail.com
Regards,
Mr Rechart Alecner
88. suzieleung | 15 September 2009 at 11:09
Awesome video… Thank you! Kiva rocks–just made my first microloan yesterday, and I’m so excited!
Suzie
89. emily | 8 October 2009 at 08:02
Interesting indeed! Thank you.
http://www.farsichat.com