Crossing Borders
18 October 2009 at 04:51 moshawaf 21 comments
By Mohammed Al-Shawaf, KF9 Palestine
Veer Right to Cross Into Israel/Palestine
I’ve discovered the best time to reflect: It’s in between the second and third rounds of interrogation at the Israeli side of the King Hussein Bridge border after fielding the same question over and over–”So…why are you here?”
I first recalled how eerily similar these questions were to the first time I told my father that I wanted to be a Kiva Fellow in Palestine:
“You want to go to Palestine?”
“What’s Kiva?”
“All out of your own pocket?”
“Can I see your bank card?
To my father’s credit, he was a bit less incredulous and did refrain from asking that last question, but you get the idea.My thoughts then moved to a conversation I had with my Aunt Thabia the night before. I had been staying with family in Amman, Jordan for the past two days, getting my bearings before beginning my trek across the Jordanian-Israeli border and into Ramallah. Before I left Berkeley, CA, some of my friends gave me going-away gifts in the form of Kiva gift cards (a virtuous trend I will likely reciprocate ad infinitum). My aunt knew very little about what Kiva was and how it worked, so I thought it would be great to get on the website and have her make a loan with me.
When my aunt lived in Baghdad, Iraq, she was herself a small entrepreneur, selling hand-knit clothing under the label “Only 1 by Al-Shawaf.” As such, she instructed me to look for loans that were fundraising in the clothing industry.
In between the page loads, I explained Kiva’s basic model: Socially-minded investors making small loans directly to entrepreneurs wanting to expand their businesses. We read the borrower profile of Hamze, a 20 year old owner of a clothing store and the breadwinner for his entire family. At this point my Aunt Thabia, Kiva’s latest, biggest fan, told me that what Kiva was doing was very “Islamic.”
My aunt might be right, but Kiva is certainly no more “Islamic” than it is “Jewish,” evidenced (through a quick scan on the Kiva website) of the 18 Jewish-inspired Kiva lending teams. And what Kiva is doing is certainly “Christian,” the best example of this being “Kiva Christians,” the second-largest lending team on Kiva with 2,830 members and over $650,000 in loans. The only lending team larger: “Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and the Non-Religious.”
For the next ten weeks, I will be living and working in a land that is holy to three of the major religions of the world. The conversation with my aunt reminded me of what makes Kiva such a special organization: its mission crosses all borders, its impact crosses all faiths, and its adage is proven time and time again: “lending is connecting.”
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Join the lending team Palestine and keep proving the adage that “lending is connecting.”
Mohammed Al-Shawaf is serving as a Kiva Fellow with Ryada and FATEN, two new field partners based in Ramallah (West Bank).
Follow Mohammed’s experiences in Palestine on Twitter @moshawaf
Entry filed under: All, blogsherpa, KF9 (Kiva Fellows 9th Class), Middle East & North Africa (MENA). Tags: blogsherpa, KF9, Kiva, Kiva Fellows, Mohammed Al-Shawaf, Palestine.
1. Jo Mackness | 28 October 2009 at 10:26
Mo! You make me so proud–what a privilege to have had such a thoughtful, inspiring and positive social action-oriented individual in my class! Thanks for being in touch. Prof Mackness
2. Patrick | 25 October 2009 at 22:13
Mo,
Your diving into the deep end makes me really happy and proud to call you my friend. I really can’t express how proud and humbled I am by knowing you.
3. Rebecca Corey | 21 October 2009 at 05:37
I love this post, Mo! Hope your experience is great, and I can’t wait to hear more about it. I’ve struggled a bit here in Tanzania with being asked my religion over and over. It’s often the first question I’m asked, and sometimes makes me very uncomfortable in that context. I really appreciate your notice of how Kiva’s mission crosses all borders, physical, religious, and otherwise. Thanks!
4. Roxanne | 19 October 2009 at 23:30
Fantastic first post, Mo.
Dave said it best above, you’re an inspiration. I look forward to following your experiences as you get into the details of microfinance in a complex region.
5. Dave | 19 October 2009 at 21:18
Incredible post Mo. Beautiful. Glad to see you have arrived and are already seeing the full picture of why you work matters such a great deal in the midst of what must be intense changes. I wouldn’t be surprised if “Only 1 by Al Shawaf” reemerged on the global scene
Your vision for the region and for the world is one where borders are crossed and bridges are built. This is not empty idealistic talk – you are getting into the messy details, across differences, and setting the example of a world unified by care for one another and the universal draw toward justice.
Your story, the story that you are authoring, and your courage is inspiriing to me and many more. Keep it up my friend. In the words of Seamus Heaney, may “hope and history rhyme” through your work. So proud to call you a friend and partner in crime.
6. Avani | 19 October 2009 at 13:03
Alhumdulliah! Watching you Mo! You’re a star. I am so excited to continue to read, watch and otherwise living vicariously through you. You’re awesome.
7. Howard Zugman | 19 October 2009 at 12:17
Thanx for doing your (our?) good deeds in an area of the world that sorely needs them. (From another Cal grad but alas ’62).
8. Julie | 19 October 2009 at 07:46
awesome post Mo, especially last three paragraphs… it actually made me want to cry a little
good luck and travel safely!!
9. Thomas Gold | 19 October 2009 at 07:24
Hi Mo!
Glad to hear you made it to Ramallah!
Looking forward to hearing more about you as a fellow there.
Be well!
10. slmeyer86 | 19 October 2009 at 03:02
mo. wow. glad to hear you made it across okay, and only had to sit through 3 rounds of interrogation:) have a fantastic journey, and keep the updates coming!!!
steph
11. katiekiva7 | 19 October 2009 at 00:57
Very thoughtful post! Well said.
12. Sufian & Ban | 18 October 2009 at 23:24
Hammidu courageous that you made the trip interrogation part of living in the middle east drink your tea and save us some we are ready to help Kiva.
13. Vic | 18 October 2009 at 20:15
I’m going to show your blog to people in China saying;”This guy lived downstairs of me. ”
Great job!
14. Gemma | 18 October 2009 at 20:14
Hi Mo, I was so excited to see your post up and hear that you were on your way. Very a propos introduction for where you are!
15. Kelly McKinnon | 18 October 2009 at 19:00
I’m so glad to hear that you arrived! Beautiful beginning.
16. Jane | 18 October 2009 at 18:05
glad you made it across!
17. Eva, KF9 | 18 October 2009 at 17:03
Great post Mo! I miss our conversations but am excited to read more about your upcoming adventures
Enjoy and take care!
18. Sierra Visher | 18 October 2009 at 09:52
I totally agree! Isn’t looking at lending teams fun? I look forward to more of your posts!
Sierra
KF6
19. MK Murlas | 18 October 2009 at 09:38
Mo – this is going to be so great to keep up with you and your adventures. It makes me smile to know that Cal grads are out there making a difference…not because you are a Cal grad but because you are a global citizen.
Remember when you get frustrated to learn as much as possible so that you can grow and share with others.
Sending my best and remember you will always have a place to crash in Berkeley.
20. Mickey | 18 October 2009 at 07:38
Hi Mo! Great to hear you made it to your destination and all’s well. I’ll be looking forward to reading about all your adventures as they arise! Good luck!
21. Jan & John, KivaFriends | 18 October 2009 at 06:30
We will look to the day when borders are just lines drawn on a piece of paper. Lending around the world is one small step to making our world a more friendly place. Stay well in your Fellowship, jan