Author Archive
The Little Things
By Andrea Ramirez, KF 16, El Salvador & Costa Rica.
I love double rainbows, too.
I love hot water.
I also love designated bus stops, and having lunch with co-workers..not at my desk.
I love the noise that the leaves of plantain trees make when the wind hits them.
I love having a garbage removal service..instead of having to burn the garbage to get rid of it.
I love the smile on a borrower´s face when they´re told their loan will be disbursed in a couple of days, or when I show them what their profile on Kiva.org looked like.
I love how the face of a borrower lights up when I ask about their business.
I love being trapped in a vehicle with a loan officer for hours, and learning why they took on the job in the first place – and why are they still at it.
I love talking to the head of a microfinance institution and poke at what the future looks like for their organization, what are their challenges, and trying to understand why things are the way they are.
It took me four months, probably 100 hrs on a bus, many dead bugs, and two countries to realize how much I love these and many other things.
In the process I´ve had to let go of many other things I also love. Little things like a dryer for my clothes, and big things like people and relationships. I am shocked by how quickly these last few months have gone by. More than anything, I am in owe of the people I´ve met and what I´ve leared from them. I am humbled and thankful for the experience I´ve had as a Kiva Fellow, and without a doubt this is the best thing I could have ever done. I know my work in El Salvador and Costa Rica is far from over, and that the relationships I´ve made in the region will last beyond my fellowship. I also thank you, the people who have supported the MFIs I´ve worked with (Fundacion Campo and Fundacion Mujer) by making loans to their clients on Kiva.
I love El Salvador!
..And the open skies in Costa Rica!
If there is anything that will always remain with me after this experience is the fact that we can all do something to help make the world a better place for those who have been less fortunate (and future generations). I don´t mean it in a paternalistic way, but really thinking about how we can do a little something to bridge the gap between what government and capitalism have accomplished so far, and what still needs to be done. I believe in paying it forward with more than good intentions. You don´t need to leave your home and your loved ones to volunteer abroad to do so (although if you can, and you find the right fit for you, do it!). You can, from the comfort of your home, make a $25 loan to a microentrepreneur anywhere in the world through Kiva, or give a Kiva giftcard to someone you love for the holidays. The impact of microloans and microfinance overall continues to be a controversial topic. And although I´ve confirmed that microfinance is not the panacea for inequality and poverty, I´ve also confirmed it can be a very efficient tool when paired with other mechanisms. Particularly, when paired with people with the undying desire to innovate for a better future. A future when the little things are available and enjoyable for most of the world.
Andrea was part of the awesome 16th class of Kiva Fellows working in El Salvador and Costa Rica. She is sad to leave Central America, and thankful to those who helped make her fellowship possible. Please support Kiva´s mission by making a loan on Kiva.org – it´s super easy!
Women of the Year
By Andrea Ramirez, KF16, Costa Rica.
Today I was a judge for the first time. I had the honor of being invited to represent Kiva as part of the jury for Fundación Mujer’s 8th annual Woman Entrepreneur Awards for 2011. Today was a day full of stories of strength and success, told by some of the bravest women I have ever met. I knew these women had to be pretty amazing, but my imagination wasn’t wild enough to have predicted the struggles that these women have and continue to face. If you’re looking for inspiration to start a new project, face a difficult situation, or just to get off the couch – keep reading.
In Sickness and in Health: An MFI’s commitment to its clients in times of need
By Andrea Ramirez, KF16 El Salvador.
El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala were hit recently by non-stop rain. Ten days of rain to be precise. Here in El Salvador the areas affected were mostly those close to rivers and the coast. In a country as small as El Salvador, that means pretty much 70 percent of the country was affected. Based on government estimates, El Salvador was the country that was hit the hardest. More than 55,000 people have been left out of their homes due to the floods, and 34 people died. The government still has no estimates of how much the reconstruction efforts will cost.
I am lucky to have been living in a city like San Miguel, where the water flows down the streets rather than getting stuck and into people’s houses. However, many of the communities that Fundacion Campo works with were not so lucky. As soon as the water started to rise in some of the communities that are known for having this type of issue with natural disasters, Fundacion Campo came up with a plan to help.
Part of Fundacion Campo's donations
First, Fundacion Campo’s employees wanted to contribute. So everyone donated what they could in terms of money, clothes, food, and other basic items that the communities told us they needed. Then, the management team decided to dedicate some of the institution’s resources to buy food in bulk, which would be delivered to three of the most hard-hit communities. These communities are usually out of the radar in terms of international aid. Fundacion Campo is considering other ways to help their clients too. They are looking into refinancing the loans of those affected by the floods (mostly fishermen and farmers). Some of their clients , such as fishermen, have been out of work for 16 days now, but will be able to go back to work later this week. Others, those who work the land, are out of work indefinitely as the soil and their crops have been completely flooded and ruined.
A loan officer from F. Campo unloading the goods to be donated
After unloading the two trucks full of food, we decided to really see what was the damage done by the rain. We embarked on a couple of canoes, and moved across the water - down what would’ve normally have been one of the main streets.
Makeshift dock at one of the communities served by Fundacion Campo
Flooded houses
To protect their belongings, people hung them from the ceilings of their homes
Andrea Ramirez is a Kiva Fellow serving in El Salvador with Fundacion Campo. Now more than ever, please consider supporting Fundacion Campo’s work by joining our lending team – or even better, make a loan to one of our awesome clients. Help Fundacion Campo help their clients get their life back after the floods.
I love saying ‘cachiporras’
By Andrea Ramirez, KF16, El Salvador.
Last Thursday, September 15th, we celebrated Independence day here in El Salvador. However, El Salvador was not alone in the celebrations as Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua also had their own festivities on that very same day. It was a colorful day, and I want to share a bit of the awesome show that I got to enjoy here in San Miguel.
It’s not just about the money
By Andrea Ramirez, KF16, El Salvador
In recent years the microfinance sector has been hit with harsh criticism about the real impact it has on improving the lives of the low-income clients it serves. If it is true that microfinance, including micro-credit, is not the panacea for poverty; it is also true that Microfinance Institutions (“MFIs”) don’t have an easy job. MFIs and their staff are, in my opinion, the true heroes. Their loan officers and administrative staff are those who are out there, day after day, meeting clients and trying to help them achieve their dreams – and yes, realizing dreams doesn’t come cheap. Although there are many great institutions providing more than microfinance services (often times called “microfinance +”), I have yet to come across an operating model as unique as that of Fundacion Campo (“FC”).
Everything is sweeter in El Salvador
By Andrea Ramirez, KF16, El Salvador
Pastries in Usulutan, near one of the offices of Fundacion Campo
During each of the meals I’ve had here in San Miguel thus far, I’ve noticed something fascinating: everything seems to be sweeter in El Salvador. I started noticing this during breakfast, when I tried the orange juice — which is so sweet that could be considered dessert. I can tell it is natural orange juice, but whether or not it has sugar added is yet to be determined. I also noticed that the chocolate flavored cereal that I usually eat at home, is particularly chocolat-ier. The coffee is not even bitter, so no need for sugar. The quantity of sweet breads and pastries available is astounding. They are incredibly addicting and can be found everywhere.
