In search of Kiva’s highest microloan
15 October 2009 at 09:38 adamkb 14 comments
By Adam Kemmis Betty, KF9, Bolivia
Kiva’s website provides a wealth of statistics for curious lenders, but one unfortunate and disappointingly uncontroversial omission is the altitude at which the loan was disbursed. With the average borrower living at 4,150 m (13,615 ft) above sea level, I’d be willing to bet that Pro Mujer Bolivia would be a good place to start in any search for Kiva’s highest microloan (any challenges from Peru or Kyrgyzstan?).
On top of the world: El Alto, Bolivia
A very silly competition indeed, I hear you say. How wrong you’d be: in Bolivia, height matters. In La Paz, for example, the altitude at which someone lives is a pretty sure indication of their wealth. The rich have largely vacated the downtown altogether, opting to move to suburbs down the hill where the air is warmer and considerably more breathable. Perched on top of the canyon is El Alto, one of the poorest cities in the Americas and where Pro Mujer was born. Despite being only a few hundred miles from the Equator, average temperatures year-round hover around 40°F, a chilly proposition when you consider that central heating and insulated housing are unaffordable luxuries for most.
Giant slayers: Brazil were no match for the home side this weekend
For visitors to the city, height really matters, and not just because your toothpaste exits voluntary from its tube. Just ask the Brazilian football team: the five-time world champions limped home last weekend after suffering a 2-1 defeat to a jubilant and thoroughly acclimatised home side. After two weeks in La Paz as a Kiva Fellow at Pro Mujer, I still half-crawl into every meeting (which is inevitably on the top floor of the highest building in sight), gasping for air and water and marvelling at the relative composure of everyone else present. In fact, maybe looking for that highest loan isn’t such a good idea after all…
Bring up the average height of Kiva’s loans by clicking here to lend to a Pro Mujer borrower!
Entry filed under: All, Americas, Bolivia, KF9 (Kiva Fellows 9th Class), Pro Mujer Bolivia. Tags: Bolivia Microcredit, Kiva, Kiva Bolivia, Kiva Fellow in Bolivia, Kiva microfinance, kiva microloans, kiva.org, microfinance bolivia, microfinance la paz bolivia, microloan bolivia, www.kiva.org.
1. Davis | 19 May 2010 at 14:54
How early do you start holiday shopping?
2. Avani | 19 October 2009 at 13:25
AKB – I loved this post! I’ll be at sea level more than likely, in Kenya – maybe should start a parallel “Kiva’s lowest loan” contest?
3. Sierra Visher | 18 October 2009 at 09:58
It is high isn’t it! Right when you get used to La Paz you’re likely to move to Cocha or Santa Cruz and lose what you gained. Think of it this way- you are burning calories just sitting there.
I started running in the Zona Sur, and when I got back down to altitude, I felt like a freakin’ beast! I hope you experience the same over oxygenated blood that I did!
Good post!
4. Howard Zugman | 18 October 2009 at 03:48
Great post, Adam. I am continually amazed at how you fellows are able to continually add to our base of knowledge. Your altitude comments left me gasping for air. Take a deep breath and keep up the wonderful work.
5. slmeyer86 | 16 October 2009 at 02:09
great post adam! i thought i was in some mountains in sierra leone, but i’ve got nothing on you guys. i hang my head in shame at your altitude prowess…
6. ALEX | 15 October 2009 at 20:41
Simply wonderful how you incorporated locale into the post. I will have to give it a try upon arriving in Vietnam. And yes those Chiapas mountains can certainly make your head spin. Once spent something like 14 hours on an overnight bus from Chiapas to Veracruz. It was impossible to get sleep with the twists and turns.
7. Gemma | 15 October 2009 at 20:19
Adam, I hope you got to go to the Brazil-Bolivia game!
8. robpacker | 15 October 2009 at 19:43
Adam,
Kyrgyzstan accepts your challenge. Although KGZ currently wins on the country with highest point AND a current Kiva Fellow (Jengish Chokusu/Pik Pobedy at 7,439m), I have feeling you might win as anyone above 4,000m could well be living in an igloo.
Tajikistan could well be in the running too.
Rob
9. Julia Kastner | 15 October 2009 at 18:04
We’ve got some pretty high ones around Chiapas and Mexico City’s hills too! It’s a really good point – besides the altitude sickness, it also can make transportation tougher – some of our borrowers need to travel 1.5 hours around windy mountain roads just to get to a gas station!
10. Jan & John, KivaFriends | 15 October 2009 at 16:44
I never thought of the altitude. I just know most of the Kiva borrowers there wear woolen hats and have red wind chapped cheeks. Keep those loans coming, we’ll keep lending
jan
11. Bryan | 15 October 2009 at 16:43
Great post Adam! I’m currently at 3,259m (about 10,689ft) and I definitely get winded making it up to the second floor of my current MFI, props to you!
p.s. I think the competition has officially begun among the Andean fellows in search of the highest microloan (Kyrgystan’s in too).
12. Suzy Marinkovich | 15 October 2009 at 11:21
You write really well, making old grandma suzy proud. seriously i think you have some competition from borrowers at FINCA Peru!! I don’t even know how some of those places are habitable!
13. lethalsheethal | 15 October 2009 at 10:27
I love this analogy Adam! This makes me want to find Arariwa’s highest loan too.
Btw, I also still lose my breath walking up several steps in Cusco. I feel so out-of-shape and seriously empathize with those Brazilian futbolistas!
14. zalzally | 15 October 2009 at 10:27
La Paz is certainly the world’s highest capital, but the second highest is Quito, Ecuador where I’m currently stationed. Diamox has helped me acclimatize to the high altitude here, but from what Sheethal tells me from her first few days in Peru, cocoa tea works like a charm!