We are all Kiva partners (Somos Todos Socios de Kiva)
13 October 2009
By Sheethal Shobowale, KF9, Peru
Wordreference translates the Spanish word socio as member or partner.
Yesterday, on my first day as a Kiva Fellow at Asociación Arariwa, I got to see my first group loan disbursement. Raquel (the Kiva coordinator at Arariwa) described the borrowers as Nuestros Socios (our members). In a group loan at Arariwa, the borrowers are Socios del banco. A lender who joins the Kiva community can also be called a Socio de Kiva. I translate Kiva’s partner MFIs as Socios de Kiva (Kiva partners) and I describe myself as Socio de Kiva (Kiva Fellow). And one more: here’s a past blog post by another Kiva Fellow, Michelle, about Socios Dinámicos.
Of course we all have other names -
- Institución de Microfinanzas – Microfinance Institution: Asociación Arariwa
Institución de Microfinanzas - Microfinance Institution: Asociación Arariwa
- Prestamista – Lender: Kiva Lending Team Amigos de Asociación Arariwa
Prestamista - Lender: Kiva Lending Team Amigos de Asociación Arariwa
- Prestatario – borrower: Ayda from Asociación Arariwa, Cusco, Peru
Prestatario - borrower: Ayda from Asociación Arariwa, Cusco, Peru
- Voluntario – Volunteer: “Lethal” Sheethal Shobowale, Kiva Fellow, KF9, Peru
Voluntario - Volunteer: "Lethal" Sheethal Shobowale, Kiva Fellow, KF9, Peru
but I really like the idea that we are all socios (partners or members) of Kiva, of microfinance and in alleviating poverty. And going back to Kiva’s mission, Connecting People through Lending to Alleviate Poverty, being connected as socios seems to make sense to me.
Please consider becoming a Socio of Asociación Arariwa by lending to Arariwa borrowers and joining our Kiva lending team – Amigos/Amigas de Arariwa!
Sheethal Shobowale is currently serving as a Kiva Fellow with Asociación Arariwa in Cusco, Peru.
Entry Filed under: Asociación Arariwa, KF9 (Kiva Fellows 9th Class), Peru. Tags: Asociación Arariwa, Kiva, Kiva borrowers, Kiva Lenders, kiva.org, kivafellows, Sheethal Shobowale, Socios de Kiva.
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1. Jeremy Lapedis | 13 October 2009 at 10:11
Sheethal,
I really like the idea that we are all socios as well. I always find it interesting the concepts and ideas that we can uncover by simply looking at translations and uses of words in other languages cultures. It really makes you think how much we have learn from every single culture.
2. Bryan | 13 October 2009 at 16:37
I like the thought process here, “Lethal.” Cant wait to here more!
3. Max Koltuv | 14 October 2009 at 04:18
This is super cool. I am excited to get to follow your experience there. Keep up the great work!
Max
4. Mitchell Teplitsky | 14 October 2009 at 06:38
Very inspiring! I can’t wait to get back to Peru myself (nov 26). And about those $125 /month apartments…you maybe have started a mass exodus from NYC to Cusco. Not that Cusco needs more foreigners buying real estate) that’s like the price of a cocktail here.
Mitch
5. Thomas Gold | 14 October 2009 at 08:20
Hi Sheetal!
I like the word socio! That’s what is used too for Kiva and for the borrowers respect my MFI in the DR
Be well!
6. Suzy Marinkovich | 14 October 2009 at 09:00
What a creative blog post, I love it!!
7. Gemma | 14 October 2009 at 20:28
Hi Sheethal, cool post, I like it!
8. lethalsheethal | 14 October 2009 at 21:34
Thanks for your kind words! I am learning so much from my colleagues at Arariwa and the experience (well 3 days worth so far) has been great.
So many stories of socios to tell, so little time!
9. Avani | 19 October 2009 at 14:16
Sheetal, always connecting the dots. Lovely post!