“You Are Welcome”
14 October 2009
By: Jed Goldstein (KF9, Uganda)
Hi my name is Jed Goldstein and this is my first blog post as a Kiva Fellow. I arrived in Uganda 4 days ago on Saturday afternoon and began work with Pearl Microfinance on Monday. So far I have felt incredibly “welcome.” I surround “welcome” with quotation marks because meeting someone new and introducing yourself in Uganda is a serious act not to be taken lightly.
The first phase of introduction requires a firm handshake and a level of prolonged eye contact. If you are strong enough to make it through the mini staring contest a local Ugandan will offer his/her name followed by the patient, but strong declaration that “you are welcome.” So, considering I have met more Ugandans than I can remember in the past couple of days, I say with confidence that I feel extremely “welcome.”
One of my first tasks as a Kiva Fellow was to deliver a bunch of electronic equipment to local MFI’s. I think in total I transported from the U.S. 16 digital cameras and 2 laptop computers to Kampala with me. Yesterday I began making the delivery rounds and could not believe the warm receptions I received. All of the MFI employees were so grateful to be receiving items that will facilitate their connection with Kiva and better allow them to post business profiles on the website.
While it was great to be treated as mini celebrity when I was delivering the items, my coworker here at Pearl said something very interesting to me as I handed her four cameras. She remarked, “You guys are doing everything— Giving us the food then feeding us.” This statement captured my attention, so I recorded it in my notebook and thought about what exactly she meant for a while. My conclusions (they may be wrong of course) are as follows:
Here in Uganda where 50% of the population lives on less than $1.25 per day, nothing is given and life is a constant struggle to survive. Gifts here are not given or received in vain, but they are appreciated to a level and extent that is hard for me, and I believe many of my fellow Americans, to fully understand. The reason I write of this is to remind Kiva lenders, just how grateful the entrepreneurs, not just in Uganda, but around the world are for their loans. These loans in many cases serve to make that “constant struggle” just a little bit easier.
If you would like to lend to a pearl borrower please follow this link: PEARL’s KIVA PAGE
Entry Filed under: All, KF9 (Kiva Fellows 9th Class), PEARL Microfinance, Uganda. .
13 Comments Add your own
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
RSS - Posts
1. Greg | 14 October 2009 at 07:51
Thanks Jeb,
It is blogs like yours that keep me lending!
Greg
2. Howard Zugman | 14 October 2009 at 08:44
Hi Jeb,
Thanks for being our ‘eyes and ears on the ground”. And I’m so glad that you are having such a positive start.
3. Jan & John, KivaFriends | 14 October 2009 at 14:07
Sometimes the people most grateful are also the ones who fail to notice how much they themselves give day to day to the ones around them. I think everyone at an MFI deserves a huge thank you from all of us sitting comfortably here at home. Thanks, jan
4. stephanie | 15 October 2009 at 00:43
Jed –
Thanks so much for all the deliveries! You deserve the thanks and the welcome – its not easy to pack for a fellowship specially with all those extra items!
Thanks for all your doing!
Steph
5. Deborah | 15 October 2009 at 03:47
Hi Jed:
What a great idea to start this blog. I am sorry that we missed you before you left for this exciting journey but feel so lucky to be able to check in and hear your voice now through your writing and keep in touch with you while you are there. What a gift for us all: this amazing energy created by family and our larger family-community when they are connecting.
6. JenGong | 15 October 2009 at 03:48
Nice post… I never knew about the handshakes, and whether its the same here in Tanzania, so I just tried it out with a credit officer coming in from the field… You are right… eye contact is prolonged! Handshake is interesting here… but I’ll write that in my post (uhh. which will come soon?)
Anyways, looking sharp in that photo
much kiva love,
Jen
7. uncle Kenny | 15 October 2009 at 05:21
Jed,
Great blog! I’m so proud of you and what a wonderful cause… Keep up the good work.
Uncle Kenny
8. marydear | 19 October 2009 at 02:51
Fantastic Photo!!!! Looks liek your hand is going to be really strong by the time you get back!
9. Katie | 19 October 2009 at 04:56
Jeff! Hi, and welcome to Uganda! I’m with a small HIV/AIDS awareness educational organization in Mukono (Beacono of Hope Uganda) and we are interested in becoming an entrepreneur with Pearl. How do we apply through Kiva? Or does the bank itself decide who to take on as members?
Thanks
Katie
10. jbgold28 | 19 November 2009 at 05:18
Hey Katie,
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. The bank decides who to take on as clients. I believe that there is a branch in Mukono you could visit for more info. Let me know how it goes.
Best,
Jed
11. Avani | 19 October 2009 at 14:28
Jed- I feel like I was in the room with you when you took that picture. I am so glad you are feeling welcome @ Pearl!
12. Auntie Debby | 22 October 2009 at 06:25
Wow! Jed I am so proud to be your aunt. This is wonderful work you are doing and you are really helping to “heal the world” by your work.
13. Grace | 6 November 2009 at 08:52
Hey Jed,
Nice to read this wonderful blog. True, we are grateful for all we get from U as a fellow and the Kiva Family at large. Did not realise that my statement had ’struck’ but true you are grate and i am blessed to be working with you. Let me hope “Bitambula”.