Author Archive
Kiva Fellows – Where Are they now? (Well one of them at least).
By Mary Riedel, KF9/10
One day in the beginning of my fellowship at Maxima (one of Kiva’s Microfinance Partner’s in Cambodia), a former Kiva Fellow, Amy Killian, stopped by. She had returned to Cambodia on a payroll!
The staff was so happy to see Amy. There were hugs and laughs and stories retold; I was happy to be a witness. Most importantly the reunion gave me hope. I was so inspired that Amy made it back, and I was dying to know how she did it. For most Kiva Fellows I think the number one question from our MFI’s is, “When are you coming back!” Personally, the question is so hard to answer because the reality is that Asia is really far away. I know I’ll be back, I just don’t know when.
Love and Limitations: Relationship Lessons from the Field
Me and my colleagues getting our nails done!
Admist the client visits, operational costing, and process mapping, Kiva Fellows get to take some pretty amazing weekend escursions. Some of these trips take us to beautiful mountains, crystal blue volcanic lakes and still others take us to places impossible to imagine, until we’re there.
While watching the “Road Less Traveled” on Nat Geo the other night, the host said something, “To me travel is about people from two cultures meeting, both experiencing something together, going away fundamanetally changed.” which made me stop and think if it was true for me.
..did she just say, “The “C” word?
Yes! And I’ll say again!
Consumption! Consumption! Consumption!
But don’t worry, I’m here to tell you that Consumption is not a dirty word!
Before I became a Kiva Fellow, I was a Kiva Lender, and whenever I saw a consumption loan, I admit, I “clicked” away. I judged these loans, labeled them, and stuck them in a box called, “Lame: borrowers lack initiative.” My thinking was, “Why don’t borrowers just concentrate on improving their business, and then they could save-up their profits for X.”
The problem: I was looking at micro-entrepreneurships from a developed world perspective.
So…
yesterday, while I was eating lunch…
Before I applied to the Kiva Fellowship. I had a very sexy image of microfinance -sitting at home reading the NYT, and leading my Kiva lending team. I never wondered, ” How does the actual money get there?” never thought about the locals in countries like Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Uganda, and Columbia who must deliver Kiva loans – the loan officers.
Today I am a grateful Kiva Fellow, working in the field with one of Kiva’s MFI (Microfinance) Field Partners in Cambodia who employ these loan officers. And now I think about these loan officers – a lot. They are rockstars whose living conditions are typically better than their clients but they also deal with the same corruption, disparity of income, lack of infrastructure, violence, political instability that fuels the existing poverty cycle and creates a growing need for Microfinance. I also think about Kiva’s Field Partner’s – a lot. Are you wondering exactly what/who a field partner is? In short, Kiva Field Partners are the pistons in Kiva’s engine – they transform combustion (internet lenders using Kiva’s Platform to loan money to the working poor) into motive power ( loan officers delivering your loan money to the working poor – after due dilegence – cash flow analysis, ability to repay, social standing in the community, etc).
Components of a typical, four stroke cycle, DOHC piston engine. (E) Exhaust camshaft, (I) Intake camshaft, (S) Spark plug, (V) Valves, (P) PISTON, (R) Connecting rod, (C) Crankshaft, (W) Water jacket for coolant flow.
On the flip side Kiva helps the MFI Partner’s engine run by providing o% interest loans (although the MFI Partner’s operating expenses due to increased labor in posting Kiva Loans etc. do rise as a result of the relationship) but the relationship also helps small Kiva Partners get more exposure and funding.
Learn more about how Microfinance works
So I guess I want you to know that Microfinance is not sexy (an image you may have nestled in your subconscious – like I did – it just does not do it justice ) and that today when I pick up my spoon at lunch I’ll be doing a little internal shout out to the loan officers who put their lives at risk everyday to help Kiva’s engine run. Oh, and one more thing the interesting project the microfinance clients are working on…it’s called “their life.” Sorry for being a little snarky- I just got that question so many times this week!!
Mary Riedel is currently doing her KF 10 placement at Maxima., one of Kiva’s Field Partners after spending time as a KF9 in the Philippines working with ASKI another Kiva Partner.
Maxima “works,” because Maxima WORKS!
Left to Right - Mr Rithy, Chief of Operations, Bony and Norm, housekeeping, and Ms. Sive Chheng, Deputy Operations Officer celebrate Maxima's 10th Birthday!
If you think YOU work hard (well, you probably do) but so does my MFI….
I am a Kiva Fellow currently volunteering with one of Kiva’s Micorfinance Partner’s, Maxima, in Cambodia. MAXIMA MIKROHERANHVATHO CO., LTD was founded in March 2000 by a group of friends experienced in financial services. They began their micro credit operations in Koh Dach commune, Kandal province, also known as Silk Island. Last Monday March 8th 2010, International Women’s Day, Maxima – 50 employees strong, celebrated it’s 10th Birthday. For an organization who helps a substantial amount of women (63%) gain access to credit and employs 17 women (34%) (*including 4 female credit officers) it was a fitting day for a birthday celebration. As the Deputy Chief Officer, Ms Sive Chheng, blew out the candles and wished to be standing in the same spot in 20, 30, and 40 years!
*The job of credit officer is usually reserved for men due to the risk involved.
Kiva Fellowship Sparks Self Awareness
Looking at my feet reminds me to, "Be Here Now" (Ram DaSs 1971)
As a Kiva Fellow, working in the field, life is often very exciting. There’s a funny thing about excitement though, sometimes it’s fueled by sheer joy and sometimes by total fear (otherwise known as anxiety!) It doesn’t seem to matter though what direction the catalyst is coming from, when I get excited I get, “all sorts of crazy” in my brain, thoughts fly left and right from one thing to another quickly and randomly. From one minute to the next I’m thinking about “minimum wage laws in Cambodia, how wonderful the frangipanis are here, my taxes, where I’ll be this time next year, genocide, mosquitoes – I wonder if the doxycycline really works, I wonder where I put that camera cord?” It’s like a losing game of Tetris sometimes, the music starts to go faster and faster and the pieces are just barely sliding into place as I try to stay present on what I am actually doing. Essentially my brain moves faster than my body and the result …well…here’s what happens…
Do you need more fun in your life?
I am not sure if it is an East Coast thing or a Catholic school thing but when I was in grammar school I loved field day. In kid language Field Day = “No more classes, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks.”A day full of watermelon to eat and games to play – a clear demarkation that summer and weeks of PLAYTIME were on the way – This was only the beginning!
Candy, where’s my skirt?
Mary Riedel KF 9 Philippines
Last month I picked up my clothes from the Washeteria. I was psyched, walking home with that, “I have clean clothes to wear,” feeling (you know the one). I got home, opened the cube shaped bag, it smelled so nice, even my underwear were folded! “What can I wear tomorrow?”
I stumbled upon a long blue, polyester skirt. “Hmmm, this definitely doesn’t look like mine,” (although having worn uniforms for 12 years I did
feel a slight connection.)
Quickly I worried, “If I have someone else things I wonder if someone has anything of mine.” I looked, my black skirt was missing.
Dancing like we just don’t care – Happy New Years from KF9
Mary Riedel, KF9, Philippines
It’s that day of the year when we look forward with hope as we let go of last year’s demons and angels; as they say, “let go or get dragged!” So we put on those funny hats, blow those horns, and dance like we just don’t care!
To inspire you this New Years I’ve collected some dance footage of Kiva Fellows bustin’ a move in the field at their respective Kiva Field Partners (Microfinance Institutes). Each fellow recalls feeling a little trepidatious at getting out on the dance floor, but all seem to recount the story with a smile. If the US Post Office unofficial motto pledges that “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Then the Kiva Fellow unofficial motto might be something like, “neither typhoon, nor malaria, nor diarrhea, nor subzero temperatures, nor mouthfuls of exhaust, nor embarrassing dance exhibitions stays these fellows from tenaciously completing their appointed deliverables.
So when your out celebrating tonight if you feel like you’ve got lead in your feet or you catch a glimpse of yourself dancing in a reflection just remember the following 5 clips and keep on movin! If the Kiva fellows can do it…so can you! (more…)
Client Christmas Video
Mary Riedel KF9, Philippines
I’m writing a blog post and posting this video because
- It makes me laugh
- I’m behind!
- Right now it feels like that’s all I can do. Why? Well since you asked…lemme tell you…
An overtired and ill (I still don’t know what I have, feels like more than a normal flu though) Kiva Fellow spilled an entire mug of coffee on her computer last week. I know it’s just a computer but when it’s a lifeline to your friends and family it feels like loosing a small pet (like maybe a parakeet). On the bright side I did back-up all my files last week (which almost feels like flossing doesn’t it?) on a cool new external hard drive I purchased from the Apple when I was in the US. So I can’t be mad at myself for being irresponsible and not following through – at least I have my data – theoretically ( What I didn’t know is the drive can only be read by a Mac and there are none in sight.) Eventually it will work out but I’m a little bummed….
So, why am I so tired? Well, I am recovering from a week of travel and ASKI Buklods (A Christmas party and combined Annual Update). I was honored to be invited to attend one of the weeklong (yes one of them!) celebrations with ASKI senior management, board members and clients.
There were over 5000 clients at one party, and about 1500 at each of the other two – it was intense!
It was especially great to see some spiritual principles at work during the holiday season
Love - Clients interacting with each other (watch the video)
Hope – The Department of Trade speaking about national programs ASKI will be helping clients access in 2010
Service - Elections taking place for MBA Coordinator (This is an opportunity for a client to help provide fellow clients with access to insurance as part of their MBA program– Mutual Benefit Association)
Joy – Games, Prizes, and Dancing.
- Hula hoop relay (hysterical)
- Let’s make a deal (Is it Door #1 or Door #2? In this game winning livestock is actually a good thing!)
- A version of 25,000 pyramid (if the client did not guess correctly– the loan officer would get goo poured over him!
- Hip Hip Hooray (kind of like Simon Says).
And of course there was dancing and despite the fact that the rules said “you must dance to Christmas music” of course the Filipinos still found a way to get “Nobody, Nobody but you in there.”
Check out this Video on Vimeo…(Youtube is blocked at my “office”). You can hear the number 1 song in the Philippines too (Nobody, but you!)
ASKI Borrowers Dancing up a Storm from Mary Riedel on Vimeo.
I feel so honored to be working with a Kiva’s Microfinance Partners who is so innovative in their approach to servicing their clients. Although, with 1500 – 5000 clients at a party not everyone can win, or even play! There were some sad faces but ASKI took note and is always looking for ways to help more people. The annual gathering/parties (Buklods) actually developed as a scaleable way to honor the invitations of all clients who traditionally invite ASKI executives/management to their homes during the holiday season to say thank you! ASKI has about 42,360 active borrowers – Now that would really be tiring!!
Mary Riedel is a Kiva Fellow volunteering with ASKI Kiva’s Microfinance Partner’s in the Philippines.
“Tis the season”….Filipino Style
Mary Riedel KF9, Philippines
Filipino Parols/Christmas Lanterns outside the NE Pacific Mall
…”Tis the season,” and, “twas the season” from the moment I arrived in the Philippines on October 3rd – a Kiva Fellow bound for Kiva’s Microfinance Partner ASKI. (Microfinance field partners, are a critical link in connecting Kiva lenders with Kiva borrowers. Check out this rad video to learn more about the process). The Christmas Season starts sometime in September and lasts though the middle of January. I distinctly remember my first encounter with Christmas the weekend after I arrived in Cabanatuan City, PI. I was lured into a day spa by ambiant music and reclining chairs. I decided to get a facial, and was totally relaxed. Then all of the sudden about a 1/4 of the way through my delicious experience, the music changed to the “All Christmas Music, All the time” station….45 minutes of fa-la-la was intense…. So my initial “black and white” plan of totally ignoring Christmas this year, while out in the field volunteering as a Kiva Fellow, seemed unlikely.
So I’ve been trying to create a new Christmas, a sort of Gray Christmas. (That actually sounds pretty dismal. Alright how about a turquoise Christmas, not green and not blue – somewhere in the middle of the two on the color wheel). With my new outlook in mind yesterday I said hello to Christmas and went Christmas shopping. (Scrapping my initial plan to just buy gifts for my family online, which felt cold (kind of blue:-) and disconnected for me). Oddly enough my first stop was at ASKI in Cabanatuan City where I “work.” As it turns out ASKI operates a merchant store called, “ASKI Marketing Cooperative,” where they sell some products their borrowers make (some of them are Kiva borrowers but not all – in order to remain solvent only 1/3 of MFI clients/borrowers can be funded by Kiva ). The products range from traditional clothing, shoes, arts and crafts, food, stationary, handbags an so on.
(more…)
“Ok. Next question…”
Laughing with Myrna Data, a Kiva Borrower
Mary Riedel, KF9, Philippines
“…What do you think your biggest challenge will be if you become a Kiva Fellow?”
I heard this question twice during my interview process with Kiva. On both occasions I was sitting at my kitchen table in San Francisco, working from home (experiencing some cabin fever), and planing to meet up with friends later in the day. My answer was, “Feeling disconnected from friends and family.” And yes, some days staying connected has been a bit of challenge, looking at the clock wishing it was telling me a different story, jumping to Skype and hoping to to see little green dots. For the most part though, communication has been good, it just takes more planning and acceptance.
So that’s not my biggest challenge… (more…)
Seriously? Another Typhoon?
Tracking "Ramil" - Northern Luzon, Philippines
By Mary Riedel, KF9, Philippines
This is how my morning started…woke up around 5 am – packed and ready to go – off on my first trip to meet the Kiva borrowers after 2 weeks in the Philippines! Started humming a little tune to myself…”I’m on my way, I don’t know where I’m going, I’m on my way, taking my time but I don’t know where….( shout out to Simon and Garfunkel)” (more…)
Tagalog, Ten Borrowers/Day, and Trepidation
Tricycle w/ Kiva Water Bottle - OK I'm totally obsessed with Tricycles. I kind of want to buy one. Sorry, but this won't be the last one you see in my posts. I just can't help myself!
Mary Riedel, KF9, Philippines
It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m sitting in a coffee shop in Cabanataun City, Philippines trying to drown out the music, “How do I live without you…” with Fiona Apple via itunes, and getting ready for a big week. I’m coaxing my internet connection like a dying plant. Do I get up and use the new phrase I just learned, “Hindi WiFi Pwede” (the Wifi is not working). For those of you who know Spanish, you’ll notice that pwede in Tagalog is similar to the meaning of puede (and it’s pronounced almost the same). Tagalog also known as Filipino is the official language here. It is fascinating language supplemented with tons of Spanish, Chinese, and English words, acronyms (CR- Comfort Room- is the restroom) and other slang words scattered throughout– then throw in phonetic text messaging and it’s like a crossword puzzle with an infinite number of Across and Down clues, again totally fascinating. For example, my co-workers tell me that “lamesa” is the word for table – so to say “the table” you would say “ang lamesa” of course I’m told by my Filipino teacher that you can also just say “ang mesa” and take out the “la” left in from the Shh’panish word for “the.” Every word seems to have a story to learn, just like all of the borrowers on Kiva.
So back to planning for my week ahead… (more…)
“After the storms, a new morning comes.”
The rain has stopped! Umbrella and tricycle outside ASKI!
Mary Riedel, KF9, Philippines
I’m sitting in Cabanatuan City, Philippines on the island of Luzon, which is one of the main islands in the Philippines (a nation composed of over 7000 islands). My name is Mary Riedel and it’s Day 5 of my Kiva Fellowship at Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (ASKI) (a partner in development). ASKI has been an MFI Partner with Kiva for 10 months and I am the third fellow to be on the ground here with Adam Preston fellow #4. They have over 2000 Kiva Entrprenuers and have raised a little over 400K on Kiva.
It’s weird to be so close to the recent devasation of Ketsana (Ondoy – local name) and Parma (Pepang – local name) and still feel somewhat removed from it all, apart from the rain of course and carrying “payong ko” (my umbrella). However, it has touched the lives of many employees here and all of the Kiva clients/borrowers at ASKI who live in Region II (Northern Luzon) where there was serious damage from Parma. This region was chosen to be “Kiva Country,” (as the ASKIANS call it) because it is the most remote and under-served area in the ASKI portfolio.
Kiva Fellows Training KF9 – Flip Camera Mystery
By: Mary Riedel, KF9 Philippines
Hi, My name is Mary Riedel and I’m a Kiva Fellow in training! I leave for Cabanatuan City, Philippines within days (pending successful Kiva Fellows graduation of course)! I should be packing my apartment up in San Francisco as I write this but I’ve started playing with some video editing software and can’t stop! I’m trying to learn how to create some cool videos for the Kiva Fellows Blog. This is pretty new for me so I hope you’ll hang with me and my rookie video posts – hopefully you can watch them get better and better while I am out in the field.
Here’s a little footage from the Kiva Fellows Training KF9 happening this week in San Francisco. In this clip we (“Anne Hector KF9, Kenya” “Mary Riedel KF9, Philippines” “Mohammed Al-shawaf KF9, Palestine” “Sheethal Shobowale KF9, Peru” “Adam Preston KF9, Philippines” and “Hanna Azemati KF9, Kenya”) are learning the ropes on using a Flip cam from Teresa Dunbar KF Alumni.
