Archive for February, 2010
Surviving Gaza: Tunnels, a Fiat and 375,000 Sheets of Paper
I had heard that more than half of Gaza’s population lived under the poverty line (http://bit.ly/4mI5EU). I knew that since Hamas’ rise to power in Gaza–and its expulsion of its secular rival and the presiding party in the West Bank, Fatah–Israel had enacted a military blockade, allowing only “basic humanitarian supplies”(http://bit.ly/4lihuc) into the 25 mile coastal strip. I had even read a few articles about underground tunnels dug between Gaza and its Egyptian border which are being used to transport all “non-emergency” goods—from TVs to live sheep—into Gaza for a steep price (http://bit.ly/6rV8cx).
Continue Reading 3 February 2010 at 09:19 moshawaf 3 comments
Microfinance Summer Camp
I’m Leah, a Kiva Fellow about to serve in Zaporozhye, Ukraine with Kiva’s field partner HOPE Ukraine/Nadiya. These are questions I get all the time:
So, you’re moving to Ukraine? [Feel free to substitute Liberia, Mongolia, or some otherwise traditionally undesirable living environment where Kiva works.] Do you know its -32F in Ukraine right now? Yes.
Continue Reading 3 February 2010 at 07:23 leahespicea 7 comments
Kiva Animal Kingdom
At microfinance institution Asociación Arariwa in Cusco, Peru, and now working with Emprender in La Paz, Bolivia, I have met a ton of animals. Being an animal lover and from New York where I rarely see live animals walking around (unless the occasional stray cat or rat or cockroach counts), seeing animals as part of my daily life is a pleasure.
Continue Reading 2 February 2010 at 06:07 lethalsheethal 6 comments
Mass Weddings for the Poor
By Josh Weinstein, KF9 Philippines
The happy couple.
This Kiva Fellows job is unique, in that it offers an endless supply of intellectual stimulation and satisfaction. Every day, I learn something new about something interesting. For the time being, what interests me most is microfinance. My knowledge of microfinance prior to working with Kiva could be described as purely academic. Experiencing it firsthand has been rewarding. In particular, I like understanding the details of execution, the challenges faced by the institution, and generally how a microfinance institution works. The amount of information to digest is enormous, so I try to focus on understanding a few NWTF (Negros Women for Tomorrow) programs that I think are in my wheelhouse. The downside of that approach is that I end up overlooking many fascinating and unambiguously positive programs.
The other day my coworkers were telling me about the upcoming Foundation day at one of the branches. Every year, each branch that meets a certain threshold of repayment and performance can have a Foundation Day party, which has upwards of 2,000 attendees (mostly clients). I was supposed to go to one in Cauyauan on Saturday, but I got food poisoning the day before and was bedridden. At some of the Foundation Day celebrations, NWTF holds something called a mass wedding. This is one of those programs that I find really interesting for different reasons. Let me explain why. (more…)
San Frantastic, time to get real
The best part about leaving a place is that it generally means you will be arriving somewhere new. You’re sad. You’re excited. You’re a whole bunch of simultaneous emotions. I want to write this, my first Kiva Fellow’s Blog, while these emotions are still fresh;
while the bitter sweet sound of karaoke is still ringing in my ears;
while the last shot of the night is still processing;
and while the memory of 30 smiling fellows is firmly imprinted in my mind.
First let me tell you why I am excited
1) I am about to embark on a three month fellowship for an organisation called Kiva. They’re excited about the concept of microfinance. We all know that excitement is contagious. If you want to get excited too then skip to The Kiva website.
