The story of a dog, a ghost, and a Kiva Borrower
5 August 2009 at 18:19 Robert Mittelman 13 comments
by Rob Mittelman, KF8, Peru
When I visit Kiva Borrowers, I bring along a colour printout of their Kiva Profile for them to keep. For many of them it’s a real thrill. They knew their information was on the internet but had never seen their page, their picture, or read their own story before (our stories appear in the original Spanish underneath the English translation). It usually gets passed around and shown to all present. There are always lots of giggles and some embarrassment as I tell them people in the US know about their little restaurant, people in Spain know about their market stall, or how someone from Norway is familiar with their handicrafts. Most take very good care of the printout while I’m around. I don’t know where it ends up but I’ve yet to see it folded up, stuffed in a pocket, or left behind.
One of the most exciting parts for them is seeing their Kiva Lenders and where they come from. For most the people reading this blog, that’s you! They want to know who these strangers are who helped fund their loan. Many of them have had trouble securing loans from loan officers and people they know and who know them. So, to get a loan from someone they have never met is unheard of. I’ve seen their faces as they scan the list and pictures of their Kiva Lenders and they are as excited as you and I are when, as Kiva Lenders, we scroll the Lend tab on Kiva.org choosing our next Kiva Borrower to support.
One of the most popular messages the Kiva Borrowers I interview have for their Kiva Lenders apart from thanking them is to let them know that they won’t let you down. You believe in them and they appreciate that more than I can express. They feel connected to you. Without ever having heard Kiva’s mission statement, they feel that they really are connecting to people through lending.
You, Mr/Ms Kiva Lender, inspire them as much as they inspire you.
Hard to believe but true.
Yesterday, I was asked a difficult question. A Kiva Borrower from Lima, asked me if she received her loan from a dog and a ghost. “A dog and a ghost?” I said, “No, of course not”. Then I looked at her profile. Her only two Kiva Lenders (it was a small loan) were pictures of someone’s pet dog and someone listed as anonymous with the default silhouette.
I explained that the dog was the Kiva Lender’s beloved pet (Kiva is easy to use and all but I don’t think we’re at the point when animals are signing up themselves) and that some people don’t want to have their picture and name online. I assured her that there were, in fact, real people funding her loan. She knew that, of course, but wanted to thank the people behind her loan and know who they were. Just as they know who she is. These two Kiva Lenders will receive the journal update about her progress with her beauty products business along with her thanks but she still doesn’t know who her mysterious supporters are. She wants to know them as much as they want to know her.
These two Kiva Lenders shouldn’t be singled out and I apologize for doing so. I actually removed the name Kiva Borrower from an earlier draft to protect her Kiva Lenders because it’s a story that could be applied to many. They aren’t alone out there. There are many Kiva Lenders who post pictures of pets, avatars, scenery, or nothing at all. They are, undeniably, well within their Kiva rights to do so. However, I ask these Kiva Lenders to think about the Kiva Borrower and that they want to connect with you as much as you do with them. It’s hard to connect with a default silhouette or the picture of a pet.
Be proud of lending on Kiva! Show the Kiva Borrowers who you are!
Rob Mittelman is a member of KF8 and will be working with Edaprospo in Lima, Peru for 10 weeks. Make a loan to one of Edaprospo’s clients on Kiva by following this link.
Entry filed under: Americas, EDAPROSPO, KF8 (Kiva Fellows 8th Class), Peru. Tags: KF8, Kiva, Kiva Fellows, Kiva Lenders, Peru, Rob Mittelman.
1. Kiva, Transparency and P2P Microlending « Kiva Stories from the Field | 11 November 2009 at 08:50
[...] pictures of their pets on their profiles, and my clients would have been offended by the idea of borrowing money from a dog, and (2) In the religious environment in which I was operating, I did not trust myself to be able [...]
2. The Lemonade Stand | Kiva, Transparency and P2P Microlending | 10 November 2009 at 13:10
[...] pictures of their pets on their profiles, and my clients would have been offended by the idea of borrowing money from a dog, and (3) In the religious environment in which I was operating, I did not trust myself to be able [...]
3. Sloane Berrent | 10 August 2009 at 01:52
Rob – Great post.
As a Kiva Fellow, I’m with you. It’s hard to show people profiles without their pictures because mainly the Borrowers DO want to see the faces and second I think it’s a sign of respect.
I didn’t know about the change in terms and conditions (thanks Kiva Friends you don’t miss a BEAT) and that certainly influences a lot of people.
I know Kiva reads all of these posts, and have a lot on their plate, but it really is an important topic and I hope the conversation continues and can be addressed (if not resolved).
Best,
Sloane, KF8
4. Tatiana | 9 August 2009 at 02:41
I agree completely with Wolfgang on this issue. Talk to kiva and get them to change.
5. Unilove | 8 August 2009 at 22:37
Thank you for your post outlining very valid concerns and observations. As a lender, I choose to show my eyes (the eyes are mirrors to one’s soul, after all) but I understand that some may object. I do not think that Kiva would do anything malicious, but some prefer lenders prefer more transparency or control.
Through discussion, there is enlightenment…
Unilove aka Lisa
Kiva Fellows fan
6. Wolfgang | 7 August 2009 at 12:29
John,
you wrote “Borrowers, however, agree to the same terms.”.
a) That is different from what Kiva is telling us (claiming there are only limited releases) when we (Kiva Friends) are asking whether there is a possibility to use borrower photos for a calendar to promote Kiva.
b) That doesn’t explain why Kiva needs these rights and forces lenders (or borrowers for that matter) to grant them.
It would be very easy for Kiva to limit the license regarding lender (and borrower) pictures to presenting them on the Kiva website and printouts and other reproductions thereof (as in Powerpoint presentations or Youtube videos), for the sole (non-commercial) purposes of running, advertising, promoting and reporting about Kiva, without the rights to modify (!) the pictures or take them out of context.
I know that for the very reasons Rob describes (nice blog entry, btw) I had a picture of myself up for almost a year, but with the new and limitless Terms of Use I reluctantly decided to take it down and replace it with something “neutral”. The moment Kiva decides to restrict this (frankly: ridiculous) license in a more sensible way, I will happily go back to a portrait or at least a photo with me in it.
Maybe you Kiva Fellows can use your back-channels to Kiva HQ to initiate such a change?
Best wishes,
Wolfgang.
7. cissydeluca | 6 August 2009 at 17:42
Great post, Rob!
I recently did a blog post with pictures of borrowers and their printed out profiles. I only wrote about their enthusiasm in learning more about Kiva and their lenders, but I wanted to address this subject too.
Thanks for having the courage and tact to approach the topic!
8. milena08 | 6 August 2009 at 07:12
Such a thoughtful post (and approach).
9. Suzy Marinkovich | 6 August 2009 at 05:41
Great post Rob!
10. John Briggs | 6 August 2009 at 03:10
Ian – I understand that concern. Borrowers, however, agree to the same terms.
That said, I have trust in Kiva that no inappropriate usage would ensue…
11. Ian | 6 August 2009 at 00:01
There’s one problem with requesting lenders to supply photos – Kiva has stated that if lenders upload pics of themselves onto the Kiva website, Kiva can use those pics for ANY purpose they like, with the user having absolutely no right to stop inappropriate usage.
12. John Briggs | 5 August 2009 at 21:44
I wholeheartedly agree on this Rob!
Working in Kenya as a Fellow, I’ve been warned by people at my MFI *against* bringing printouts of Kiva pages of borrowers to show those borrowers what their pages look like on Kiva, and what lenders funded their loan.
The main reason? Lenders who choose to use photos of animals or plants, images of avatars, or small children, to represent themselves. I’ve been told that if borrowers see that a “monkey” lent to them, for example, that it could provoke damaging superstition and/or negative rumors about the MFI and its funders such as Kiva.
I know lenders choose to use such images in a spirit of fun and expressive freedom, but the fact that they’re able to choose what image represents them stands in contrast to the choice and power that borrowers *do not* have: borrowers photos’ are taken by someone else, and then shared with the public on Kiva (unless the MFI elects not to do so for privacy or security reasons) in perpetuity. The asymmetry of power in the relationship bothers me, especially so when I’m in the field asking to take photos of borrowers.
So, in the spirit of truly connecting people through lending, I’ll also put my request to all Kiva lenders: please consider using a real photo of yourself for your lender profile, Kiva-funded borrowers would really appreciate it!
John Briggs
Kiva Fellow
Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET)
13. RaviG, Kiva Team LOTUS: Lend Out To Uplift Self-sufficiency | 5 August 2009 at 21:37
Rob,
Thanks for the eye-catching write-up from the borrower’s perspective. Very thoughtful of you to give the Kiva borrowers a color printout of their loan profile. Best wishes for the rest of your Fellowship.
Regards,
– ravi