Comments on: Speaking about Poverty http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/ Kiva Fellows share their experiences from the field Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:05:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: South Carolina Student Loan http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-16945 South Carolina Student Loan Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:03:46 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-16945 Phalguni?the former red, Internet Special?Than ordering a, shine forth from.Nd grade spelling, marketing your buisness.In the affected South Carolina Student Loan, with the only stand out because.SEO ranking via, appeal for an., Phalguni?the former red, Internet Special?Than ordering a, shine forth from.Nd grade spelling, marketing your buisness.In the affected South Carolina Student Loan, with the only stand out because.SEO ranking via, appeal for an.,

]]> By: beatriz scampini http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-4437 beatriz scampini Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:24:30 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-4437 He visto algo en canal infinito y quisiera saber mas sobre el tema, gracias. He visto algo en canal infinito y quisiera saber mas sobre el tema, gracias.

]]> By: David Oglaza http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-3781 David Oglaza Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:37:08 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-3781 I went teaching English in Nepal with a INGO a few yrs ago and the dilema's faced are the same. When I went to school in Nepal and half the teachers didnt turn up because they had other jobs I used to think what was the point in turning up myself? But it made a difference to the pupils on the day. The taxi driving ex-footballers loan also made a difference to him and his family. Without the kiva loan, he would have paid a higher interest rate if he could obtain a loan elsewhere OR he would not have been able to obtain a loan in order to repair the taxi in order to make a living and support his family Either way without the kiva loan his family would have been poorer via paying higher interest charges or no loan equals no income as no job. Providing Kiva is reducing poverty then this is the magical factor - NOT whether they are reducing poverty at the grassroots level or slightly above it. If Sierra was a Fellow at a much poorer recipient then he would not be feeling lost. He is not lost - he should feel satisifed that poverty has been reduced - at what ever level it may be! I went teaching English in Nepal with a INGO a few yrs ago and the dilema’s faced are the same.

When I went to school in Nepal and half the teachers didnt turn up because they had other jobs I used to think what was the point in turning up myself? But it made a difference to the pupils on the day.

The taxi driving ex-footballers loan also made a difference to him and his family. Without the kiva loan, he would have paid a higher interest rate if he could obtain a loan elsewhere OR he would not have been able to obtain a loan in order to repair the taxi in order to make a living and support his family

Either way without the kiva loan his family would have been poorer via paying higher interest charges or no loan equals no income as no job.

Providing Kiva is reducing poverty then this is the magical factor – NOT whether they are reducing poverty at the grassroots level or slightly above it.

If Sierra was a Fellow at a much poorer recipient then he would not be feeling lost.

He is not lost – he should feel satisifed that poverty has been reduced – at what ever level it may be!

]]> By: Marla Allen-Kinner http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-3741 Marla Allen-Kinner Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:37:08 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-3741 What a beautiful and thoughtful person you are. Thank you for your honesty and good work. What a beautiful and thoughtful person you are. Thank you for your honesty and good work.

]]> By: Abby http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-3711 Abby Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:10:27 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-3711 great post, sierra. i think these issues become clearer and more defined in our minds the more we expose ourselves to the complications of poverty and its relationship to microfinance, even though it might seem overwhelming. at least we are here, grappling with the toughest questions. i'm sure your perspectives on the entire situation are evolving in ways you arent even aware of yet. hope youre having some fun there too! great post, sierra. i think these issues become clearer and more defined in our minds the more we expose ourselves to the complications of poverty and its relationship to microfinance, even though it might seem overwhelming. at least we are here, grappling with the toughest questions. i’m sure your perspectives on the entire situation are evolving in ways you arent even aware of yet.

hope youre having some fun there too!

]]> By: Ben Werdmuller » 3 ways to do good on the web http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-3702 Ben Werdmuller » 3 ways to do good on the web Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:17:41 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-3702 [...] a book on Amazon or ordering pizza from Domino’s. Kiva fellows blog about their experiences (here’s a recent post about Honduras) and give the impression that the money is being used [...] [...] a book on Amazon or ordering pizza from Domino’s. Kiva fellows blog about their experiences (here’s a recent post about Honduras) and give the impression that the money is being used [...]

]]> By: Waywardcats http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-3691 Waywardcats Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:54:11 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-3691 Sierra, Thanks for your musings. I hope they continue to remind you that lenders like Victor are important and deserving as well. Every dollar that goes into Honduras has the possibility to help someone in poverty. The mechanic who fixed Victor's car may now have the opportunity to buy more food, or hire help for another day. The money will move through the economy and help to lift it just that little bit further. I wish you luck as you finish your fellowship to return home to new challenges. Thank you for sharing your compassion and thoughts with us. -Kerry- Sierra,

Thanks for your musings. I hope they continue to remind you that lenders like Victor are important and deserving as well. Every dollar that goes into Honduras has the possibility to help someone in poverty. The mechanic who fixed Victor’s car may now have the opportunity to buy more food, or hire help for another day. The money will move through the economy and help to lift it just that little bit further.

I wish you luck as you finish your fellowship to return home to new challenges. Thank you for sharing your compassion and thoughts with us.

-Kerry-

]]> By: John Robbins http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-3690 John Robbins Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:54:45 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-3690 Thanks for sharing what you've seen in such a balanced way, it's helpful. But don't beat yourself up so much. Your job as a Kiva Fellow and my job as a Kiva lender is not to end poverty, it's to help someone who needs help. Microfinance can be an effective tool in reducing poverty, but poverty doesn't arise from a lack of microfinance. John North Carolina Thanks for sharing what you’ve seen in such a balanced way, it’s helpful. But don’t beat yourself up so much. Your job as a Kiva Fellow and my job as a Kiva lender is not to end poverty, it’s to help someone who needs help. Microfinance can be an effective tool in reducing poverty, but poverty doesn’t arise from a lack of microfinance.

John
North Carolina

]]> By: Jan & John http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-3685 Jan & John Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:54:25 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-3685 Thank you Sierra. At least you are honest with your feelings. You are looking for simple answers in a very complicated world. Don't stop searching, but don't stop helping just because it might not be quite the ideal you imagined. Each person has his own worth. And we can only help one person at a time. jan Thank you Sierra. At least you are honest with your feelings. You are looking for simple answers in a very complicated world. Don’t stop searching, but don’t stop helping just because it might not be quite the ideal you imagined. Each person has his own worth. And we can only help one person at a time. jan

]]> By: Thomas http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-3684 Thomas Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:43:29 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-3684 Thank you for that very honest and open entry. I have learned in my life that real progress for people is based on a broad number of little and seemingly insignificant steps, not on the one, gigantic leap. It is like a pyramid. It needs a broad base to support the top. Your personal contribution as a KIVA fellow of your time and money is such a basic stones at the bottom of the pyramid. The interest you show in the life of the people you visit will give them even more energy and courage to cope with their life. The loan shows them, that they are not forgotten. You are not responsible for the sad conditions these people may live in, but I am sure you make a difference. Please keep up your work and compassion. It helps, even if you may never personally notice. :-) Thomas, Switzerland Thank you for that very honest and open entry.
I have learned in my life that real progress for people is based on a broad number of little and seemingly insignificant steps, not on the one, gigantic leap. It is like a pyramid. It needs a broad base to support the top.

Your personal contribution as a KIVA fellow of your time and money is such a basic stones at the bottom of the pyramid. The interest you show in the life of the people you visit will give them even more energy and courage to cope with their life. The loan shows them, that they are not forgotten. You are not responsible for the sad conditions these people may live in, but I am sure you make a difference.

Please keep up your work and compassion. It helps, even if you may never personally notice.

:-) Thomas, Switzerland

]]> By: A Thank You « PseudoMemories & VeriDreams http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/#comment-3678 A Thank You « PseudoMemories & VeriDreams Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:25:04 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2710#comment-3678 [...] a very good (in my opinion) blog entry about her experience in Honduras.  Check it out here: http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/ Also,  if you haven’t seen Kieran’s video yet, I highly recommend it:  [...] [...] a very good (in my opinion) blog entry about her experience in Honduras.  Check it out here: http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/ Also,  if you haven’t seen Kieran’s video yet, I highly recommend it:  [...]

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