It’s a Whole New World…
10 February 2010 at 06:39 kf10kevin 15 comments
So imagine your first week as a Kiva Fellow placed at a microfinance institution in Nairobi, Kenya. Think about what the place may look like, how the people will greet you, and the overall atmosphere of the office. Now scrap all that, because my first few days at Juhudi Kilimo have been so far above and beyond anything I could have imagined.
The real inspiration for this blog is my new co-worker Steve, the office DJ at Juhudi Kilimo who plays music all day to keep everyone relaxed and at ease. Now I was expecting some local artists and maybe some popular American Top 40 type songs that are played all over Kenya, but no, that would be too normal. Instead, Steve has serenaded us with a Disney classic, “It’s a Whole New World,” REPEATEDLY, during the past few days.
Now I’m sure people here with kids have seen Aladdin, and for those of you in your 20s and 30s, please don’t pretend you don’t know the words.
A whole new world,
A hundred thousand things to see
I can’t go back to where I used to be
A whole new world,
With new horizons to pursue
No one to tell us no,
Or where to go
Or say we’re only dreaming
A whole new world,
That’s where we’ll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me
Juhudi Kilimo staff at main office.
So Juhudi Kilimo is a very small and young organization, with fewer than 40 staff members spread across the country. They have very good leadership and plans in place to scale their operations to reach thousands more individuals in Kenya. The staff is young, hard working, and from what I can tell so far are very dedicated to this organization. Most of them have strong financial backgrounds and have many of the tools necessary to succeed in microfinance.
Like my new friend Steve sings along every day…”It’s a whole new world”…and I have all the confidence in the world that Juhudi Kilimo will succeed with their work and through their partnership with Kiva. This organization is still in its infancy, working hard to spread microloans to rural areas around Kenya, and I am just lucky to be here to watch them grow. There’s a new horizon here to pursue, and if Juhudi Kilimo and other microfinance organizations help in alleviating poverty, it truly can be a whole new world.
Kevin Chaissan is a member of the 10th class of Kiva Fellows, stationed in Nairobi, Kenya. He is working at Juhudi Kilimo, seeking to move the new Field Partner from Pilot to Active stage in order to increase their funding on Kiva and maximize their impact on poor, rural farmers across Kenya looking to gain access to capital.
Entry filed under: Africa, blogsherpa, Kenya, KF10 (Kiva Fellows 10th Class). Tags: blogsherpa, cows, Juhudi Kilimo, Kenya, Kiva, Kiva Fellows, microfinance, Nairobi.
1. Steve | 1 March 2010 at 03:43
Yes indeed. What a whole new world it has been for our rural smallholder farmers…having a dairy cow to nourish the family units and some liitle surplus to sell and get out of the vicious circle of glaring porvety… KIVA with great guys like Kevin, David Kitusa, Rachel Brooks,Ben Elberger have touched lives in Kenya right from our young staff to our clients trough the intermediation and facilitating micro loans from KIVA donors and investors….Forever grateful for the new horizons we see and pursue each day..kudos Kevin ..hope the rural Kenya with big the 5 (Lions,Elephants, Rhinos, Buffalos) have not scared you thus so far..
2. markaz18 | 17 February 2010 at 10:32
Your post made me smile. These young volunteers in Kenya really are creating a whole new world. The song is perfect! I loved the ‘new horizons’ part because it made me remember Mr. Yunus’s vision of being in a world where people don’t know the meaning of poverty
3. Dennis | 14 February 2010 at 15:24
Hey Kev great first post! Maybe you should add “writer” to your resume. Keep us in the loop bud.
4. Stephanie | 14 February 2010 at 10:20
Kevin great post! What a great start to your fellowship!
Congratulations!
Steph
5. Christina Reyes | 12 February 2010 at 02:31
Thanks for the post Kevin. I am a sucker for Disney tunes. Happy to hear you are doing well in Kenya.
6. MICHAEL PECE | 11 February 2010 at 12:19
I hope your next post will focus on the “Circle of Life”
If I were to donate to someone specifically attached to your program, where on the website does it have your managed “lenders” listed.
7. Bryce | 11 February 2010 at 12:14
very much the template for a good blog post. start with an event or situation and tie it together.
tell your DJ to stay away from The Girl All the Bad Guys Want
8. leahespicea | 11 February 2010 at 11:07
Great post, Kev. And you look so professional – you sure do clean up nice.
9. kf10kevin | 11 February 2010 at 06:55
Herren,
I’m assuming you mean Juhudi Kilimo and not Kiva? You should follow the link to their partner page and visit their website, http://www.juhudikilimo.com, for more information, as I am not really the best contact person. If you send someone there an email I’m sure they can point you in the right direction or give you more information.
10. herren tim adebayo | 11 February 2010 at 01:51
i wanna know more about your program and will like to relate with ur people thru mail
11. Nat | 10 February 2010 at 22:27
Glad you are having a good first week at Juhudi. We are all looking forward to working with you. You should have been here for Steve’s Lion King and Titanic soundtrack phases…
12. marydear | 10 February 2010 at 19:57
omg – I love it….great post.
thanks for sharing Kevin
13. Vishnu | 10 February 2010 at 15:13
Great tune. Ask Steve to add Wonderwall to your playlist. Stay cool Kev. PS. I’m trying to hook you up with some friends in Nairobi
14. Kati Mayfield | 10 February 2010 at 13:23
awesome, Kevin! this is, indeed, “a thrilling chase”!
15. plis more information in españis | 10 February 2010 at 08:23
is verri importat the information in españis no more inglis sorri for may escrituri.