Archive for June, 2011
Communal banks? Why not just an individual loan?
by John Gwillim, KF 15, Chile
This is the question I asked myself as I arrived in May at Fondo Esperanza (FE). After spending 3 months working with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo (FMSD) in Barranquilla, Colombia as part of KF14, I saw first hand how successful individual loans could be in helping people start and grow their own businesses. FMSD had used group lending in the past (and still has a small number of group loans), but found individual loans worked better for their clientele. Fast forward to my arrival at FE in Santiago, Chile: FE dropped individual loans in favor of communal banks about 9 years ago and is just considering individual loans again. The difference in the methodology intrigued me, so I had to do some research and find out more.
Continue Reading 30 June 2011 at 15:09 JohnGwillim 1 comment
Migration and Microloans
By Kate Bennett (KF15), Ecuador
On Monday morning, long before the sun rose on Quito, Fundación Alternativa’s Business Manager, two Loan Officers and I embarked on an all-day journey to remote Chunchi, Ecuador. After the promised “three-and-a-half hour drive, at the most,” we arrived at our final destination another five hours later: a mountaintop with an incredible view of the sun high in the sky and clouds rolling by beneath us.
We met with a group of five Fundación Alternativa borrowers who are taking out a group loan to build a tourism center above Chunchi. These borrowers have made a long voyage to this hilltop as well- these five men, like myself, are from none other than New Jersey! At least, they lived there for a time and have since immigrated back to Ecuador to build the center, which will include a hotel, restaurant, and maybe one day, a spa.
Before you say it: five dudes from New Jersey building a spa? This does not sound like your typical Kiva loan, I know…
Continue Reading 29 June 2011 at 09:15 Kate Bennett 2 comments
Zulu Weddings
By Daniel Jung, KF15, South Africa
Kiva’s partner in South Africa, Women’s Development Businesses (WDB), serves rural women throughout the southern portion of Kwazulu-Natal. In this region, Zulus make up the strong majority of the population, particularly in rural areas outside of Durban and Richards Bay. One of the most popular methods for WDB’s clients to earn income is by using the loans to buy materials to make mats, clothes, and jewelry for traditional Zulu weddings.
Weddings in any culture are complex affairs filled with symbolic gestures and ornaments, and Zulu weddings are no different. I’ve not yet had the pleasure of attending a wedding in South Africa but two future brides-to-be, WDB’s Kiva coordinators Smah and Gnile, walked me through a typical Zulu wedding and explained the role of the mats, clothing, and jewelry. Learning about Zulu weddings has provided me with insight into the changing nature of Zulu culture, and I thought it would be a good thing to share on the Kiva Fellow’s Blog.
Updates from the Field: Roads, Remittances + the “Little Paris” of Togo
Last week our internationally-scattered Kiva Fellows introduced us to some of the men and women that compose the sixty countries in which Kiva works. From the woman in Cameroon who represents the strength of her nation; to the Phillipino men that must migrate from their country to make a living; to the young men and women of Uganda who show us a glimpse of raw entrepreneurialism and hope. We also see how a nation’s people are brought together, whether by a common and incredible credit culture in Nicaragua, or by the dream for Togolese roads to one day connect people, markets, and credit throughout the country. From roads to remittances, Fellows learn there is more to microfinance than world markets and interest rates, and that human factors are tipping the scales of success for microfinance in all corners of the world.
Continue Reading 27 June 2011 at 02:00 Kate Bennett 7 comments
Paving the Way to the Future (Part 2): Road Construction and Its Effects on Microfinance in Togo
By Kathrin Gerner, KF15, Togo
Lomé is under construction. In fact, all of Togo is under construction. This is what I heard when I first arrived in this small West African country two weeks ago. And it did not take me very long to find out what that meant.
Continue Reading 26 June 2011 at 02:00 Kathrin Gerner 15 comments
More than Microfinance: How BRAC Uganda Empowers Adolescents
By Michele Wehle, KF15, Uganda
A Bengali organization founded almost 40 years ago, BRAC is one of the largest NGO’s in the world. BRAC does tremendous work in and outside of Bangladesh, and has programs promoting economic development, health, education, gender justice – the list goes on. When I found out I would be working with BRAC this past April I was excited since it is such a pioneering organization, but I was also really looking forward to working with BRAC since I have a soft spot in my heart for Bangladesh. I had the chance to live in Bangladesh for four months last year as a social business intern at the Yunus Centre, and my time in the country was certainly life altering. Dhaka was not an easy place to live, the sheer number of people is overwhelming and unlike anything I have ever experienced (imagine fitting half the US population into Iowa). The Bengali hospitality and warmth made my time there special however. And truthfully, I couldn’t wait to show off the three Bengali phrases and five words I knew! Apart from my excitement, I realized I didn’t know much about BRAC and that I would have alot to accomplish once in Uganda.
Continue Reading 24 June 2011 at 05:38 Michele Wehle 3 comments
A Different (Credit) Culture
By Casey Cline, KF 15, Nicaragua
Leaving behind a developed country that is still trying to deal with the effects of its credit-obsessed culture, I was very interested in seeing first-hand what type of relationship with credit I would find in the developing world. Most would agree that Nicaragua has a recent history marked by political instability, and partially as a result, has an economy that has experienced years of slow (and often negative) growth. As might be expected, the presence of microfinance here is essential to the stagnant economy, providing small business owners much needed capital to survive and ultimately thrive.
As a Kiva Fellow working with a well-established field partner, Fundación Leon, the experiences I was looking forward to most were being out in the field, meeting with entrepreneur borrowers and hearing their stories. I was fortunate to do just that on a recent trip to Chinandega and then further north to the Honduran border town, Somotillo. In all, I met with six clients of Fundación Leon (these are the borrowers of the loans made through the Kiva website). I reached several of these borrowers by traveling across fields, through woods, and over small tributaries on the back of a motorcycle.
A very appreciative Genara
The first entrepreneur I met, Genara, used her loan to buy a new motor for her family’s fishing boat (which is more like a rowboat with a motor). I didn’t understand why she was at home and not at the market selling her husband’s catches. What I learned was that she recently had an operation and was not able to leave the house. Amazingly, in anticipation of not being able to work for much of the month, Genara made her monthly payment in advance (no easy feat, when you’re earning barely enough to meet your daily living expenses).
Evert and his 'motivation'
Another Fundación Leon client, Evert, is one of the minority of men to whom this Kiva field partner lends. He is a young husband and father of a two-year old boy. Evert’s house was little more than a one-room cement structure with a small backyard of packed dirt. When I first arrived, he was out selling some of his goods (rice, beans, flour, etc.) in the market. I told his wife, who was caring for their son, that I would come back around lunchtime. When I returned and interrupted his lunch, Evert graciously explained how helpful his loan had been to help buy new grain products that he could then sell to his clients that he has diligently cultivated over the last five years. His primary focus is to grow his business in order to provide a better home for his family.
During these visits, I was struck by the different attitude towards credit when compared with many borrowers from a developed country like the United States. These loans are the lifeline of their family. Clearly neither Genara nor Evert are looking to leverage up to take an exotic vacation, purchase a second home, or buy the latest electronic gadget. Rather, for them credit is a means of survival. How is Genara going to put food on the table? And how can Evert keep the rain from leaking though his roof or provide shoes for his growing child? These entrepreneurs depend on your small loans to maintain and hopefully grow their businesses. When you ask each borrower about their dreams, it typically begins and ends with an earnest desire to improve the well-being of their family.
Additionally, the importance Nicaraguan entrepreneurs place on servicing their loans is remarkable. In many ways, I believe it is inherent in the culture here to pay one’s debts, as a matter of course. But, it is also quite practical. These borrowers realize that if they become delinquent or even worse, default, there’s a chance they will not be able to get another loan. If that were to happen, the ripple effect to the welfare of the family could be devastating. At least partially as a result, the historical default rate in Nicaragua for all the loans in Kiva’s portfolio is less than one-half percent. Compare this to borrowers in the developed world where default rates reached the high single digits (and beyond) for various loan types over the last several years.
Surely as my fellowship continues and I become more involved in the microfinance industry here, my views on Nicaraguan entrepreneur borrowers and their relationship with credit will continue to evolve and be shaped. Regardless of the differences I have noticed with the developed world, there is little doubt that the culture of credit in Nicaragua is one that is very much dependent on the microloans that each Kiva lender helps provide.
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Casey Cline is a Kiva Fellow (KF 15) working with Fundación Leon 2000 in Leon, Nicaragua. If you would like to learn more about Fundación Leon 2000, please visit its partner page. You can also show your support by joining the Fundación Leon 2000 lending team.
Long Distance Relationships: Remittances in the Philippines
By Allie Cook, KF15, Philippines
There are currently an estimated 10 million Filipinos currently working abroad, about one-tenth of the population. They are called Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs. OFWs generally see their families, including children, once a year. ASKI, the microfinance institution (MFI) where I am currently based, is working on an innovative initiative to support OFWs.
Continue Reading 21 June 2011 at 20:00 lettheadventurebegin 6 comments
Walking a Mile in Her Shoes
Actually, we trekked and climbed about 5 miles to visit Eunice’s farm, and our path was much easier than her typical route. Eunice is a GHAPE borrower and a farmer. She grows potatoes, corn, and beans. Then she sells the vegetables to people from her home. Traveling to the closest market in Belo would be much too far. I rode for 30 minutes on a motorbike to reach her village, and the 5 miles that we hiked together was only the portion of the trip (beyond the village) that was not passable by motorbike. When I announced at the borrower meeting that I wanted to see her farm, everyone warned me that it was very far away – a 3 hour climb. I knew her three hours would be a much faster pace than mine, but I also knew I needed to go.
[caption id="attachment_28169" align="aligncenter" width="819" caption="Faith and Eunice at her farm"]
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Continue Reading 21 June 2011 at 10:00 faithgarlington 3 comments
Paving the Way to the Future (Part 1): Bad Roads, Transportation Costs and Microfinance in Togo
By Kathrin Gerner, KF15, Togo
It becomes apparent with every new rainfall now that the rain season has started in Togo: Roads are the arteries that carry the lifeblood of the economy. They transport goods, employees and clients, and they provide shelf space for the countless street vendors.
Mostly unpaved, however, the roads of Lomé stand no chance in the face of torrential downpours. With few drains to take the water out of the city and the soil already saturated, they turn into a vast, difficult to navigate network of rivers and lakes. The otherwise vibrant Togolese capital comes to a halt and only starts back with a slow crawl when the rain subsides.
Continue Reading 20 June 2011 at 03:00 Kathrin Gerner 16 comments
Update from the Field: New Partners, Country-Specific Microfinance + Stories of a Kiva Fellowship
Compiled by Kathrin Gerner, KF15, Togo
This week, fellows located on three different continents were busy writing blogs to share their experiences. Learn what it takes to become a new Kiva partner in Ecuador, experience family-style microfinance in Lebanon, find out about a unique pig loan product in Indonesia, and get the inside scoop about being a Kiva fellow in Senegal.
Continue Reading 20 June 2011 at 02:00 Kathrin Gerner 6 comments
This. Is. Africa! Some stories of a Kiva Fellowship
Tim looks at some of the different aspects involved in being a Kiva Fellow, from meeting innovative borrowers to appearing on TV!
Pig Loans in Paradise: Microfinance for Livestock in West Bali, Indonesia
By Anne Conlin, KF15 Indonesia
When I told my family, friends, and prior employer that I would be spending my Kiva Fellowship in Bali, I got a lot of rolling eyes, good-natured ribbing, and questions about my surfing ability. Fair enough. Instead of working on my tan, I am working in Jembrana, Bali’s poorest and most sparsely populated kabupaten (regency), which is situated on the northwest corner of the island and five hours from the nearest tourist. Both nightclubs and surf shops – not to mention grocery stores, rentable housing, and taxis – are nowhere to be found.
Blimbingsari village church - the decorative style is Balinese, and the split gate is inspired by Hindu temples
Though 93% of Balinese practice Hinduism, my village, Blimbingsari, happens to be the one Protestant village in Bali (the other Christian village in Bali is the neighboring Catholic village of Palasari). Blimbingsari was founded in 1939 when Dutch colonists, worried that ardent Christian converts were creating tensions with Balinese Hindus, banished the island’s Christians to the uninhabited west of the island. In Blimbingsari, the gereja (church) is the physical and soul center of town: on a typical Sunday, 500 of the village’s 600 residents turn out for mass. Though Blimbingsari was formed by a group in exile, the residents – the children and grandchildren of village founders – remain proudly Balinese. Traditional Balinese garb is go-to attire for mass, and the church is built in the distinctive ornate style generally attributed to Balinese Hindu temples, the giant cross on top one notable exception.
The Blimbingsari-based MFI Mitra Usaha Kecil (MUK) is my host organization, and we open each day with hymns, bible study, and prayers for the success of MUK clients, programs, and partners (including Kiva!). Though a Christian organization, MUK has clients of all faiths, which reflects a “live and let live” attitude towards religion common among Indonesians, but which might run counter to many Americans’ opinions of Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
MUK was founded as a cooperative in 2008 and its member-borrowers receive 20% of profits as dividends at year-end. Without cliché, MUK operates like a family; the cooperative’s first board was made entirely of employees, most of who were raised in Blimbingsari and remain residents today. Because of cautious growth, small scale, and high social cohesion in the community, MUK exists in a rarified space among MFIs in that they have, to date, never collected collateral (some individual loans are collateralized, group loans are not). The cooperative structure has limited imperatives for growth and MUK operates without commercial funding.
Though Jembrana is remote, “access to finance” could hardly be termed “poor”. The explosion of retail banking and consumer credit that has resulted from Indonesia’s strong half decade of economic growth has brought national banks as well as several MFIs, cooperatives, and a government bank to the Jembrana area. These banks offer group and individual loans, but government loans involve endless bureaucratic hurdles, while some of the cooperatives collect 73% (APR, before fees) interest, and many require collateral. MUK offers both group and individual loans at comparatively low interest rates, but MUK’s true differentiation and value to the community is in specialized livestock loan products.
MUK’s most unique product is the Kelompok Babi or Pig Breeder Group. Across Bali, men support their families through farming, manual labor, small businesses, and other trades. In addition to participating in many of these productive activities alongside their husbands, many Balinese women supplement family income – under $1.25 PCI/day for many Jembrana families – by informally raising one or two pigs in their yard for sale to the local butcher. (Babi guling, or suckling pig, is a Balinese delicacy.) MUK identified that, with capital, these women could scale up their pig breeding activities and earn more money for their families.
A proud second loan client with her pig in its tidy cage
MUK’s Pig Breeder Group Loan Program forms groups of ten female neighbors, each of whom gets 1M IDR ($117 USD), lent at 18% interest (APR, ~34% after fees). Typically, women buy two piglets for around $60, and spend the rest of the money on pig food. They sell the pigs five months later to a butcher for around $190, yielding an excellent return and substantial increase in familial income over farming or running a kiosk. Unlike most microloans, which rely on a high-touch repayment schedule with group meetings every week, Pig Breeder clients have one repayment at the end of the six month term, only after they have sold their pigs. Most group members say they will use increased income to improve their houses, pay school fees, and buy motorbikes to use in their families’ businesses. Earnings, plus their next loan, also go towards buying more pigs. The hope is that after several loan cycles, women will be raising four or five pigs.
Given the return, why wouldn’t more banks and cooperatives in the area cater to this common productive activity? The amazingly low default rates seen in microfinance are often attributed, at least in part, to the high-touch microfinance practice of weekly repayment meetings. This repayment schedule clearly does not mesh with a livestock breeding cycle, in which clients make an upfront investment in the animals, but do not see returns for several months. Well, though no small business is a sure thing, livestock are especially risky because the asset can die, almost certainly resulting in default. Microfinance institutions are justifiably uneasy with lack of diversification in local rural economies, and subsequent lack of diversification in their portfolio, particularly when a large fraction of borrowers might be subject to covariant risks like drought or flood. Microfinance institutions generally look for years of experience in a given business as a mark of credit-worthiness, so MUK’s clients could be seen as a risky proposition because they have not formally raised pigs before. Though livestock and crop insurance – a topic beginning to garner interest in the microfinance community – is not feasible for MUK, they have come up with some innovative services to ensure the continued health of the groups’ pigs and – by extension – MUK’s loans.
First, though MUK’s Pig Breeder clients do not repay until the end of the loan, check-ins do ensure funds are not diverted: field officers visit clients one month after disbursement to ensure they have bought pigs, and one month before repayment, to ensure that pigs are healthy. In addition, there are monthly meetings at which members discuss progress and add small amounts of $1-2 to voluntary savings accounts. Though all MUK clients receive training on household budgeting, training women in more professional pig raising methods is the primary goal of Pig Breeder Group wrap-around services and the way MUK ensures clients will be successful. Before joining the program (and usually through her first loan cycle) a woman might allow her pig free roam of the yard and feed it banana-tree-stalk pulp. Conversely, in her second or third loan, the woman might build a metal or bamboo cage for her pig and feed it more modern animal feed. If the former sounds like a recipe for organic, premium priced, free-range pork, think again. Un-caged, the pigs can wander around, eat garbage, and become sick; moreover, their banana tree diet is low in nutrients and will limit the size of the pigs. Pigs are less likely to live to sale, and also less profitable when sold using this more primitive methodology.
A prize sow, some healthy piglets, successful second loan clients, KF Anne chats with a client
Therefore, to foster a change in method, MUK’s staff veterinarian visits villages and gathers borrowing groups together for training. Rapid change in generations old practices is not the goal; the aim is gradual behavioral modification over the course of multiple loan cycles. As an additional “insurance policy”, if a pig gets sick, the vet makes house (or sty) calls with vitamins and medicine. No client in the program has ever lost a pig.
MUK’s Kelompok Babi program is an example of the power of microfinance to not only deliver loans to the underserved, but to also meet clients where they are with pragmatically designed products. This program – and, I am sure, innovative programs at many Kiva partners – delivers a product that is highly tailored to the productive activities of the community, and supports clients, loan cycle after loan cycle, in their success.
To learn more about Mitra Usaha Kecil, please visit MUK’s Kiva Partner Page or join the MUK Lending Team to support some great women (and great pigs).
In addition to a second loan, successful group members are eligible for participation in MUK’s pilot BioGas program – BIRU – which will be the subject of a future post.
For more information, please visit Microfinance Gateway’s Rural and Agricultural Finance library.
Micro-finance Family Style
By Heba Gamal - KF15, Lebanon
“It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” – Gibran Khalil Gibran, The Prophet
Having grown up in Egypt, I know that family is an important part of daily life in the Middle East. So, when it came to my Kiva Fellowship – I knew that in Lebanon I was going to be well-fed, watched over and taken care of. What I didn’t know is how this family-style love I was too familiar with was going to translate into the workings of micro-finance in Lebanon.
Al Majmoua's Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon
When I arrived at Al Majmoua‘s Headquarters in the heart of Beirut, I was met by the head of Human Resources and Business Development, Alia. After a thorough 2-hour overview and introduction to Al Majmoua; one of my first questions to Alia was how long she’s been with the organization (followed, of course, by where the best place for lunch around was). The answer was: “10 years!” The idea of someone being in one organization for that long caught me by surprise, but it wasn’t until I started meeting other Al Majmoua team members that I started realizing that there’s something that keeps people here this long. Dr. Youssef, Al Majmoua’s executive director, has been with the organization for more than 11 years. Nadine, Al Majmoua’s Kiva Coordinator and Research & Development Assistant has been with the organization for more than 9 years. She’s done everything from being a Loan Analyst to Internal Auditing to HR and now Kiva. Nadine even left Al Majmoua for a year, but quickly found herself back at Al Majmoua.
This sense of familial love and belonging isn’t just apparent by the number of years people have been here; it’s in their attitude! In a country such as Lebanon, where sectarianism has had a long and tragic impact on the people and the country – it’s refreshing and inspiring to watch a network of ~170 employees all over Lebanon maintaining a family style work environment.
On my first field visit at the Beirut Branch, the Branch Supervisor, Diala, sat me down for a thorough introduction of the branch operations and procedure. During our conversation she said something that stuck with me: “Everyone at Al Majmoua behaves as if this is their home.” Later that day, I was introduced to Ismail, an Al Majmoua Loan Analyst. He was going to be my guide for the day. The plan was to go meet 2 new borrowers and check on a couple of existing Kiva borrowers.
Ismail's "Motto"
I had been carefully asked and semi-warned the day before by Nadine that I will be joining Ismail on his scooter or as the Lebanese call it “Motto”. Ismail was zooming through the Palestinian refugee camps and neighborhoods only like a local from the area would. Micro-finance is highly dependent on social relationships and reputation within the community. Ismail is a local; when he walks the streets of Beirut’s suburbs and refugee camps people know him as their neighbor. During our field visits, we ran into his father-in-law and cousin separately.
When Al Majmoua first started in the late 1990′s half of its staff was made up of former borrowers. Now with ~170 employees and 14 branches across Lebanon, Al Majmoua still tires to keep the family connections strong. Today, roughly 30% of the loan analysts are former Al Majmoua borrowers themselves or are friends and/or relatives of current borrowers. Utilizing SMS technology, Al Majmoua’s HR team sends out job vacancy ads to their pool of borrowers to get referrals and applicants. This sense of “community first” extends to the interactions between borrowers themselves and how they view Al Majmoua.
Father & Son Al Majmoua Borrowers - Beirut, Lebanon
In “relationship-driven cultures”, like Lebanon, personal relationships are built on the basis of social interactions especially within the family and community. My first stop with Ismail was a new female borrower, Nadia; she heard about Al Majmoua through her sister-in-law who is on her 3rd loan cycle. Next we stopped to check up on longtime Al Majmoua borrower Mohamed and his son, Salah, a recent Al Majmoua borrower as well. During our visit, borrowers greeted Ismail and I like family. Often inviting us into their homes or businesses for an afternoon drink or snack. They often asked Ismail if he had received a call from a friend or a relative that they had recommended Al Majmoua to. Word-of-Mouth seems to be the organization’s strongest and most effective marketing tool.
Besides being well-fed and taken care of as part of the family, I’m thrilled to be a temporary family member of an organization that stays true to itself and its community!
New Partnerships in the Middle of the World, Part II
By Megan Bond, KF15 Ecuador
I arrived in Ecuador at night, took a two-and-a-half hour taxi ride to my hotel, and fell asleep in unfamiliar surroundings. It was dark and I saw nearly nothing of the country I would be living and working in for the next several months except for streetlights, headlights, and the many Chevron signs that guided the journey through the mountains. It was not until the next morning when I opened my hotel window in the strong daylight of 7 am along the equator that I caught my first real glimpse of Ecuador: the sunlit rooftops of the city of Ibarra and the Imbabura Volcano draped in smoky clouds rising to a dramatic point above the city. My first glimpse of Ecuador was more brilliant than I could have expected. In reality, I was not sure what to expect about this new country and this new role as a Kiva Fellow as I first arrived. My mental images of Ecuador and my conceptions of FODEMI, the new partner I would help initiate to Kiva, were cloudy at best, overcast with excited uncertainty. My true experience here in Ecuador as a Kiva Fellow began that morning I first saw Imbabura Volcano rising above the city and my real-life experiences continue to unfold in my everyday experiences as a Kiva Fellow in Ecuador.
Continue Reading 14 June 2011 at 10:00 Megan Bond 11 comments
What Does it Take to be Kiva Field Partner: New Partnerships in the Middle of the World, Part I
Of the seven-step process to becoming a Kiva Field Partner, the last step is easily the most exciting. It signifies a new opportunity for Kiva lenders and borrowers, a meaningful development for Kiva, and a promising culmination of work for a potential partner. Before I arrived in Quito, Ecuador two weeks ago, my in-country partner Fundación Alternativa had completed steps one through six of the process. And as I stepped off the plane at Mariscal Sucre International Airport on May 30th, Fundación Alternativa imperceptibly passed from step six to step seven: when Field Partners enter the Pilot Phase, and Kiva sends you a frighteningly enthusiastic Kiva Fellow to get you started.
Continue Reading 13 June 2011 at 15:50 Kate Bennett 3 comments
Updates from the Field: Mosquito Nets, Rock Climbing + Clearing the Air
Compiled by Kate Bennett, KF15, Ecuador
The former Prosecutor's office, burnt out in April 2010's political upheaval in Kyrgyzstan
Kiva’s Field Partners are spread far and wide, from Nicaragua to Nepal, Afghanistan to America. As we lend $25 to a borrower in a distant land, we try to imagine what his or her life is like. This is one of Kiva’s greatest successes, in fact: it gives us a glimpse into the life of another person in a country we’re unfamiliar with. But no amount of transparency on the Kiva website, nor pouring over newspapers or guidebooks, can ever really illustrate the human condition in a foreign country. Misinterpretations, factual inaccuracies, and complete delusions abound. And we Fellows are just as hapless of victims as anyone else. This week in the field three Fellows clear up some common misconceptions and share some real life insights on the day-to-day in an oft-misrepresented country or culture.
Kyrgyzstan – Five Reasons Why I Am Not As Brave As You Might Think
Country: Kyrgyzstan / Fellow: Miranda Phua (KF15)
From talking dogs to civic engagement, Miranda walks us through life in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan- and it’s not what the travel websites have led us to believe.
Hijabs Included: Strong Women Working for Microfinance in Jordan
Country: Jordan / Fellow: Amy Kyleen Lute (KF15)
Amy Kyleen introduces us to two of the many strong women in Jordan and shows us that Hijabs or no, women are fending for themselves just fine.
Mosquito Nets: Subjective Risk.
Country: Sierra Leone / Fellow: Eric Rindal (KF15)
Eric “lifts his mosquito net” and realizes that life- and poverty- in Sierra Leone is much more than living with hunger.
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Updates from the past month:
Instability, Trust, + A New Home
Unsung Heroes, Community Alliances + and Mission Statements Made Reality
Personal Connections, Supply and Demand + A Culinary Excursion
Farewells, Mistaken Identities + Micro-Microfinance
Earth Day, Celebrations + Exceeding Expectations
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Plus more pictures from the past week:
Kyrgyzstan (Miranda Phau)
Sierra Leone (Eric Rindal)
Jordan (Amy Kyleen Lute)
Kyrgyzstan – Five Reasons Why I Am Not As Brave As You Might Think
By Miranda Phua, KF15 – Bai Tushum & Partners, Kyrgyzstan
“Sorry, you’re moving to Fishcake?”
To my family and friends (and possibly many of you) Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan is a mystery. Actually, until a couple of months ago, it was to me, too.
Despite its noticeably disproportionate consonant to vowel ratio, Kyrgyzstan has never really been a lead actor on the world stage. My knowledge was limited to discerning that the country was a former Soviet state perched somewhere near China and Afghanistan.
So, when Kiva advised that I would be calling Kyrgyzstan my home for the next four months, I started my research by heading to the Australian Government’s travel website.
“Kyrgyzstan – Reconsider Your Need To Travel.”
Fantastic! Kyrgyzstan had been ordained with a four out of five star danger rating – on par with only 18 other countries in the world. Were I to believe what I was reading, riots and covert terrorist operations would be part of daily proceedings, with the smell of revolution and escalating ethnic tensions permeating the air.
So mustering every ounce of courage I could find, I prepared for this intrepid part of the world, armed with nothing but a noble cause.
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Having been in the country for three weeks, unfortunately, I must fess up – I am not nearly as brave as you might think. I’ve not had to don gas masks or weave my way through riot police – in fact, I’ve not been called upon to bumble my way through a single heroic antic.
Wondering why Australia’s Cross of Valour won’t be coming my way any time soon? Let me share a few of Bishkek’s serendipitous delights and home truths. (more…)
Hijabs Included: Strong Women Working for Microfinance in Jordan
By Amy Kyleen Lute – KF15, Jordan
“I just don’t like how they treat women over there,” said the large man who sat next to me on the airplane on my return home after Kiva Fellows training in San Francisco and before leaving for my field placement in Amman, Jordan. His sentiment is a common one expressed by Americans when speaking about the Middle East. Sometimes I nod and don’t get into it, other times I say something along the lines of, “That hasn’t been my experience but from talking to other women who have spent time in the Middle East, it really differs by person.”
Although there are certainly issues, as there are in the United States and many parts of the world, surrounding women and their place in country, companies, relationships, and family, I prefer to tell stories that provide an alternate perspective to the continuous media coverage of Arab, and more specifically Muslim, women’s oppression and abuse in the region.
Every Sunday through Thursday (the regular work week in the Arab world since Friday is the celebrated holy day), I come to work in a taxi to the office of National Microfinance Bank, a Kiva Field Partner in Jordan, located on the outskirts of Amman. After I walk in and greet the receptionist – “Sabah al khair” – I go to my desk situated in a room with two other women, Maha and Tamara.
Maha is responsible for Kiva procedures at the bank: making sure the loan officers give her appropriate, clear pictures and truthful, interesting information about the clients that are to be posted in Kiva’s website (to view the products of her labor go to:http://www.kiva.org/lend?partner_id=185). She also is in charge of the bank’s call center, fielding comments from clients all over the country. Efficient and gleeful, she is great at what she does. (Keep in mind I am slightly biased; her family had me over for “wara’ dual’i” – stuffed grape leaves – and they were amazing!)
If you a veteran Kiva lender, you may have stumbled across (as my mom and I did when deciding who to lend to for her Mother’s Day present, a Kiva gift certificate:http://www.kiva.org/gifts) a Kiva borrower, usually a woman, who has chosen not to be pictured citing cultural preferences. Maha and I have been trying to think of other ways to connect the women borrowers to the Kiva community. After I suggested a potential sound bite, she laughed and said, “The loan officers will think I am crazy!” Explaining in more detail she told me these women usually fall into different categories. Some just don’t like to have their picture taken (maybe they haven’t gone to the salon recently), some don’t want to have it taken for religious reasons and some women’s families do not agree with them having their pictures taken. Maha on the other hand, “loves getting her picture taken,” she says, verified by her Facebook, glamour shot.
The other woman I share the office with is Tamara. Having gone to the US for high school and university, Tamara knows quite well the ways of the West. In charge of marketing for the bank, she was quiet my few days here until we went to the field with a few other employees earlier this week. On our way – imagine 5 people stuffed in a car driving all around Jordan to branch offices in Mufraq and Irbid eating falafel sandwiches – Tamara almost immediately got into a discussion with one of the men about the situation of women in Jordan, their choice to veil, and their authority in relationships. As I frantically tried to keep up with the Arabic, especially given the sensitive subject matter, she occasionally threw me a phrase or sentence in English to summarize. Though the two were disagreeing strongly with each other, Tamara felt no need to be act subdued or cover her opinions. Her ability to articulate and deliver her ideas to, at least one, non-receptive audience member (The other man in the car had very different beliefs than the one who was arguing with her) was impressive. That strength and enthusiasm only continued to grow in my eyes throughout the day as she took me aside during one of the meetings with the branch managers to discuss my thoughts on employee services, branding and marketing strategies, and a new idea she has to create an online market for goods made by NMB clients. Clearly very invested and talented, she contributes in her honesty and skill to the workings and success of the bank.
As just two examples (of, admittedly, not the most average Jordanian women), it is very clear to me in my limited time spent at NMB that women are valued in their work and their persons. Whether it is in briefing a male branch manager of a conservative area on a new program the bank is implemented and dealing with his discontent surrounding the new policy, or in maintaining relationships with the rest of the office staff including all levels of management and service, these women have skill and creativity, responsibility and dedication. They are valued for their contributions and personalities in this professional community.
As I was setting up my meeting with the Risk Manager of the bank for Sunday morning to discuss progress and future plans, he looked at Maha and me and said, “Our first priority is to make sure Maha is happy. This is the most important thing.” The three of us laughed and he left with a smile on his face.
Maha, Tamara and I went to the climbing gym this weekend. Talk about strong!
Making Our Way Up the Wall!
For more information on National Microfinance Bank please visit:http://www.kiva.org/partners/185.
Mosquito Nets: Subjective Risk.
By Eric Rindal – KF15 – Sierra Leone
Mosquito nets are an essential part of most, if not all, Kiva Fellows’ experience. From Senegal, to Ecuador, to the Philippians, we all need them; in fact, it would be crazy to sleep without one. I find my faith in these perforated cocoons may actually be deeper and extend further than I thought.
My “mosquito net” used to drape well beyond the four corners of my bed, delicately hanging both as a distance and a shield from poverty. This physical distance fostered a mental distance such that I could safely experience poverty through published journals or between the covers of a book. But it was time. I was determined to come to Sierra Leone and understand poverty and microfinance firsthand. Thus I took a risk and crawled from underneath my net. (more…)
Update from the Field: Instability, Trust + A New Home
Compiled by Kathrin Gerner, KF15, Togo
This week, the fellows continue to get their bearings in the field. Learn about the importance of trust in Cameroon, find out how political instability affects businesses and microfinance in Uganda, and take a trip to a fellow’s country mountain home in Cameroon.
Continue Reading 6 June 2011 at 02:00 Kathrin Gerner 3 comments
Instability and Microfinance in Kampala
By Michele Wehle, KF15, Uganda
Pearl Microfinance Ltd. "...a choice to success"
I am beginning to feel as if I’m getting a handle on life as a mzungu (foreigner) in my second week as a Kiva Fellow in Kampala. Despite my luggage being lost and having to wear my clothes inside out my first full day in the country, I was excited to start work at Pearl Microfinance Limited. Pearl has been a Kiva partner for almost four years, and does wonderful work with more than 16,000 borrowers throughout Uganda. In fact, Pearl is Kiva’s Partner of the Month for June! No surprise here as Pearl’s staff is a committed and hardworking bunch, and I am very honored to be part of the team. My first day at work started off as I envisioned, and included many warm introductions and to-do lists. When lunch time rolled around, I was treated to my first Ugandan meal of fish in groundnut stew, matooke (mashed bananas similar to plantains), and greens. The food was delicious and the portions monstrous. It quickly dawned on me that intense food comas and weight gain would be in my future if I did not take all necessary precautions.
As my first day of work as a Kiva Fellow was coming to an end, I suddenly heard a loud commotion coming from the street. Extremely curious, I joined several of my colleagues at the window (probably not recommended) and saw that the street right outside of Pearl was completely filled with people shouting and yelling. I wasn’t sure if there was an accident or a mutiny, but my colleagues informed me that people were protesting rising fuel and food prices. Note: Fuel prices have risen more than 50% in the past few months. I asked if protests happened often and in this location, and to my delight I was told yes, this does happen often! In fact many of the government protests over the recent February elections took place in this very location. Apparently many “idle” people frequent this area of Kampala, which brews the perfect opportunity for voicing discontent over government politics and policy. I found myself captivated by this turn of events, but obliged when my responsible Kiva Coordinator named Grace requested that I leave the area before things got worse. What, banish an innocent Kiva Fellow to the rioutous street you ask? Rest assured readers. Both Grace and another dedicated Pearl employee named Richard ensured that I secured a safe and fairly priced boda boda ride, think motorcycle, back to my guesthouse. As I sped away from the commotion, I saw large blue tanks holding the Ugandan police traveling in the opposite direction.
Me, Richard, and Grace at Pearl Microfinance HQ
One would think that as an expat living in Uganda for the first time, make that an expat living and setting foot in Africa for the first time, I would have some trepidation reporting to my second day of work given the circumstances. Despite being utterly exhausted I looked forward to day two at Pearl. I went to work refreshed after a good night sleep and Tuesday started off similarly to Monday. At lunch over another plate of matooke and too many starches to name, I asked Grace if the protests affected the businesses of Pearl’s borrowers. As it turns out, many borrowers with businesses in the area found themselves needing to close shop temporarily due to the instability. This naturally affected borrower’s cash flows and abilities to make timely loan repayments. I reflected on this and added political and economic instability to my mental checklist of why interest rates at MFI’s are higher than some would like. Other items on my mental checklist include transportation costs to obscure field locations, mother nature, and the lack of collateral (to name a few).
My week at Pearl continued with more memorable experiences. One of my favorites was being stuck in a torrential rainstorm enroute to a borrower meeting outside of Kampala with my Field Support Specialist, his Field Support Manager, and a Pearl credit officer. The journey from Pearl went something like this: shared taxi ride to taxi park, traffic, second shared taxi, more traffic, torrential downpour, 30 minute wait under awning of a hair salon in the village, and alas – borrower meeting! If visiting borrowers in Kampala can have this many obstacles, how many more will I face when I trek to rural Uganda? Stay tuned.
In short, my first week as a Kiva Fellow was filled with much excitement, learning, weight gain, understanding, and appreciation. Nothing quite caps off a good first week as a second commotion from the street however. This time the noise wasn’t due to rising fuel prices. When I asked what the commotion was about a colleague responded, “don’t worry, they are just killing a thief!”. I think my time here will be quite an adventure.
Uganda Police Tank
Michele Wehle is a Kiva Fellow working in Kampala, Uganda with Pearl Microfinance Limited and BRAC Uganda. Want to help Pearl Microfinance and BRAC Uganda reach more borrowers? Become a member of their lending teams here: Friends of Pearl Microfinance Limited and Friends of BRAC Uganda.
My Country Mountain Home by Faith Garlington, KF15, Cameroon
Hiking in the chilly mountain atmosphere fills me with nostalgia for the sounds and smells of home – wood-burning fires, soft rain, gentle streams, and incredibly lush vegetation. My co-worker and new friend Princewill has even heard of Dolly Parton, which inspired the blog title because Miranda, another co-worker and budding friendship, was joking about hosting us in her country mountain home. And yet, here I am in a new place on “the other side of the world.”
Continue Reading 4 June 2011 at 05:48 faithgarlington 1 comment
