Author Archive
Providing More than Just Loans
By Lorena Gil, KF12, Fondo Esperanza – Chile
I have a love / hate relationship with credit and I doubt I am the only one. More than anything it’s what credit enables us to do that appeals to us as borrowers. It can be as simple as giving us the opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts for loved ones or as big as college loans or even a house. If those of us in developed countries cannot function without credit imagine those in impoverished communities.
Andrea (FE loan officer) facilitating a training session
Chile´s Bicentennial!
By Lorena Gil, KF12, Fondo Esperanza – Chile
On September 18th, Chile celebrates its bicentennial with a long four day weekend dedicated to asados (outdoor barbeques) and street fairs. For the past month everyone in Chile has anticipated and patiently waited for this weekend. Everywhere you look the Chileno pride is proudly displayed, cars and windows are adorned with the Chilean Flag.
Through the lens of Fondo Esperanza
By Lorena Gil, KF12, Fondo Esperanza – Chile
I was quite surprised when I arrived and turned on the television and saw a commercial of FE, how often do you see a commercial of an MFI? The commercial only runs during the campaign month, but FE works with radio stations year round.
Concrete Floors and the Digital Ceiling – Building MicroFinance Banking MIS in Chile
By Lorena Gil, KF12, Fondo Esperanza – Chile
I am not a computer wiz at all, so when Kiva asked the fellows heading to Latin America to conduct a survey of the Management Informational System (MIS) at our designated MFI placements I had no idea what to expect.
10,000 balloons soared into the sky
By Lorena Gil, KF12, Fondo Esperanza – Chile
On August 6th, over 10,000 balloons soared into the sky with the dreams of entrepreneurs from Fondo Esperanza. Fondo Esperanza is a non-profit foundation that supports entrepreneurship through the provision of credit and training to people living in vulnerable situations to improve their lives and their families.
Minister Felipe of Mideplan Chile visits Socias of Fondo Esperanza and reveals results of the national socio-economic survey
By Lorena Gil, Kiva Fellow/KF12, Fondo Esperanza – Chile
On my first official day at Fondo Esperanza I was quickly whisked to a press release event already underway at a local communal centre in Santiago, Chile, where socias (borrowers) of Fondo Esperanza conduct local weekly meetings.
The Ministry of Planning and Cooperation (Mideplan) of Chile chose this location to reveal the results of the national socio-economic survey (Casen 2009)
