"To the western eye, this oversized hybrid shovel/axe may seem peculiar, but in the context of subsistence agriculture in the Highlands of Guatemala, the “azadon” or farming hoe is exactly the proper tool. Is micro-finance the proper tool to cultivate social and financial capital a post-conflict context?"
Jun 18, 2013
Guatemala
Swords to Plowshares: Is Micro-finance the proper tool for post-conflict zones?
The following blog post will discuss why micro-finance is distinctly...
Jun 15, 2013
Kenya, Mongolia, Paraguay
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There are many qualities of life that are universal, and one of those is the love of a father. Many Kiva borrowers take their loans not to earn money that directly benefits them, but that will directly benefit their children. They are infinitely proud of their little ones and take the greatest pleasure in seeing them suceed. Profits (and some loans) often are spent on more nutritious food or to pay school fees for their children. Providing the stepping stones for success built on a foundation of love is one of their greatest accomplisments.
We hope you enjoy these photos from the field of...
Jun 13, 2013
Global Update
A borrower in Iraq. We obscure the identities of many of our borrowers in conflict zones for their protection. Few people question the morality of micro-lending. But when it comes to making loans to borrowers in conflict zones, my first question is, "Is it moral?" More on this later. First, I think it's important for people to understand the realities of conflict zones. What is war? Aside from violence and destruction (which has a lengthy history of thought and regulation), war is defined by Clausewitz as “just an extension of...
Jun 8, 2013
Chile
A Kiva borrower in Talca, Chile
These days, Silicon Valley culture can be found many miles south of northern California. The fever around innovative startups has crossed the border, spreading to nearly every country in the Americas.
From Rio de Janeiro to Bogota, Latin American cities are trying to generate that startup environment that’s proven so effective at reinvigorating the business market and attracting foreign investors.
One of the first cities, with arguably the most interesting and innovative program so far, is Santiago. The government-led incubator, Start-...
Jun 6, 2013
Dominican Republic
by Rose Larsen | KF20 | Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic may be a small island nation in the Caribbean, but it has a quickly growing economy based on a shift from exports of sugar, coffee and tobacco to services like telecommunications and tourism.
However, according to a study done by the OECD in 2012, this economic growth has been limited by deficits in human capital – more specifically, the education levels of workers are insufficient.
This problem stems from the low quality of primary and secondary...
Jun 6, 2013
Global Update
Kiva Fellow and author Leo Della-Moretta in his former life. As a combat veteran, volunteering for Kiva in Ecuador is a dramatic shift from my previous professional experience. The driving factor for me to volunteer is the desire to help build something. All soldiers work and fight to protect their nations, their families, and their friends, but the reality is that we often do so by destroying people and things. In contrast, Kiva is an institution that is enabling people around the world to build their communities and improve their lives. It's also believed to...
Jun 5, 2013
Kenya
Kisumu Innovation Center Kenya (KICK) Trading’s mission is to revive community livelihood by connecting the Kenyan artisans to markets all over the world.
http://www.kicktrading.org/
We had the pleasure of visiting KICK a few weeks ago and getting a glimpse into this innovative organization using recycled materials around Lake Victoria to change the lives of local artisans.
KICK-star team who...
Jun 3, 2013
Kenya
Michael Nyangi is a brand new trustee with Kiva Zip through his organization Lomoro Microfinance. I had the pleasure of meeting Michael this past week and can say he is one of the most inspiring and impressive individuals I have ever met. His story is one of true leadership by example...
At the age of 21 Michael was walking through Kibera when he noticed two single, destitute women with babies and lent each $20. The next day he saw the impact that money had on them – each turned the money into a...
Jun 3, 2013
Uganda
As a Kiva Fellow, I have spent the last four months working with partner organizations in Kampala, Uganda. One of these partners is BRAC where we are developing and launching a new loan product for Kiva’s platform. BRAC Uganda currently offers two types of loans with funding from Kiva for its clients: traditional individual microfinance and the Empowerment and Livelihoods for Adolescents program.
Now BRAC is launching a new loan program as part of a larger multi-organization community-based initiative funded by USAID called “Community Connector”. The program brings...
Jun 2, 2013
Mongolia
A job that lets you travel across Mongolia… AND play table tennis while you wait at the airport?!
Here in Mongolia, my top priority with XacBank has been to complete borrower verifications (BVs)—visits to 10 randomly selected Kiva clients to ensure that everything in the field checks out with the information reported to Kiva’s San Francisco headquarters. As it happened, the borrowers in my sample were...