Posts filed under ‘Indonesia’
Video Blog: Trek to Kanaan Village
Are microfinance institutions (MFIs) exploiting poor borrowers by charging the excessive interest rates? Some people think so, especially after the publicity around Andhra Pradesh in India. Despite recent events, there has always been a widespread agreement that most MFIs should operate sustainably, keeping costs as low as possible, and charging interest rates high enough to cover these costs. However, even in these instances, rates hover much higher than your typical commercial bank.
One of the leading factors attributing to high MFI interest rates is administration expense. The cost to process numerous tiny loans requires a lot more legwork that cannot sustainably offset by economies of scale. Also, MFIs often operate in remote or low population density areas, were simple contact with the borrower can turn into long journey. The video below depicts this through my trek out to Kanaan Village in West Timor, Indonesia. Enjoy!
Lisa Skowron is part of the Kiva Fellow’s 14th Class and is currently working with TLM in Kupang, West Timor, Indonesia.
Lasting Impressions of Microfinance
By Joanne Gan, KF12 (Indonesia) and KF13 (Philippines)
If you asked me what I have learned about microfinance during my Kiva Fellowship, I wouldn’t know where to start. I have learned that running a social business comes with its share of challenges. I have learned that technology will pave new ways for the future of microfinance. I have learned that the best microfinance organizations have their clients at the heart of all their activities. I could go on and on about my impressions of microfinance from the last six months…but in my final blog post, I will spare you. Instead, below I share with you my 5 favorite images (from the 1,667 photos I’ve taken here) of microfinance at work.
My Favorite Small Businesses in Bali
By Jerry Harter, KF13 Indonesia
During my three months in Bali, I gained an appreciation of people’s resourcefulness here. Typically, families have multiple streams of income. Various small enterprises are cobbled together, depending on the resources and demand in the area. Often some money can be made from the land, a little more is made from small-scale manufacturing, and perhaps some income is derived from providing services. For one reason or another, the following are some of my favorites.
Continue Reading 24 January 2011 at 23:05 Jerry Harter 2 comments
Ceremonies and Pigs in Bali
By Jerry Harter, KF13 Indonesia
Recently the Christian Church in Blimbingsari celebrated its 71th Anniversary. As with many important occasions in Bali, this called for the roasting of a pig and making satay. I had the privilege of attending this ceremony and enjoyed both an excellent meal and a wonderful example of community.
Continue Reading 17 January 2011 at 18:21 Jerry Harter 2 comments
Interest in Alleviating Poverty
By Jerry Harter, KF13 Indonesia
When I first heard that micro-finance institutions charge their clients interest on the money they lend – even the money that was provided interest-free from Kiva lenders – it really took me aback. It didn’t seem right, especially considering that the rate of interest can be upward of 35% apr. I first learned of this when I was applying to become a Kiva Fellow and felt a need to come to terms with it before committing to the program.
Continue Reading 18 December 2010 at 23:40 Jerry Harter 6 comments
Raising Pigs by a Beautiful Garden
By Jerry Harter, KF13 Indonesia
After weaving through a chaotic maze of trucks, cycles, and cars, I was relieved to leave the main highway and turn down a quiet lane of paddy fields and cucumber farms. We were on our way to visit the Taman Indah Group. It was time for the members to repay their first Kiva loan. It was an important occasion.
Continue Reading 21 November 2010 at 22:00 Jerry Harter 9 comments
Thanks Giving in Bali
By Jerry Harter, KF13 Indonesia
Because of its reputation as an important center for Balinese culture and arts, the town of Ubud in eastern Bali is a destination for most tourists who visit the island. Its magic and charm are legendary. Streets are lined with arts and crafts shops as well guest houses and restaurants catering to tourists. Taxis, motorbikes, and busses weave their way through the narrow main street of town. But amidst this overlay of intense tourist activity and modern technology there are gentle expressions of a traditional Balinese ritual.
Continue Reading 21 November 2010 at 00:22 Jerry Harter Leave a comment
A Note from HQ
The email from Kiva HQ began something like this:
Dear Jerry – Could you drop whatever you’re doing…
Continue Reading 16 November 2010 at 18:45 Jerry Harter 5 comments
The Start of Something New: Expansion in Central Bali
By Joanne Gan, KF12, Indonesia
At the end of 2009, Koperasi Mitra Usaha Kecil (MUK) was a microfinance presence in West Bali, operating at its headquarters office in the village of Blimbingsari and a single branch in Melaya. As we approach the end of 2010, MUK’s footprint is steadily expanding…with a new branch office set to open soon in Baturiti.
Squirrel Hunting, Microfinance, and Community
By Joanne Gan, KF12, Indonesia
Through backyard jungles they traipse armed with bb guns and with dogs trailing behind. They bang large wooden hammers against coconut trees, climb up and down the trees, and position themselves to point and shoot. 14 men on a mission: to protect their village gardens from squirrels. While in some parts of the world, hunting squirrels (the adorable, furry friends from childhood cartoons) does not sound so appealing, but here in west Bali, squirrels are pests, feeding on the coconuts and cacao fruit – from which people here make a living.
Bali – An Island of Contrasts
By Joanne Gan, KF12, Indonesia
On an island paradise where surfers from around the world come to catch the best waves, and honeymooners flock, I knew that volunteering in Bali as a Kiva Fellow I would see distinct contrasts in the lives of the people on this island. The most interesting contrasts to me, however, have not been those between tourists and locals, nor between hotel owners in Kuta and farm workers in rural Bali – although these differences are indeed sharp. Instead, working at Kiva’s partner Mitra Usaha Kecil (MUK) over the last month, I have been intrigued by the disparities in income and living conditions by MUK borrowers.
Continue Reading 5 September 2010 at 19:14 jgannz 2 comments
Pig Breeding – Just One of My Jobs
By Joanne Gan, KF12, Indonesia
Growing up in New Zealand, where sheep abound and dairy is a vital part of the economy, I am ashamed to say that I know very little about farming. All that, however, has begun to change in the past couple of weeks, as I have started my Kiva Fellowship with Mitra Usaha Kecil (MUK), based in Bali Indonesia. At MUK most Kiva loans are taken out by groups of women who breed and raise pigs, and the organization has a seasoned vet on staff to provide advice for its clients.
The social impact of…pigs?
Yippie, there it is: one of the life-changing effects of microfinance- I found it on muddy paths behind Balinese houses…
Continue Reading 4 July 2010 at 17:00 Anna Antoni 7 comments
Religion in a developing country
“Religion must guard us against committing sins, but more often sins are committed in the name of religion”
Let’s take a look at the role of religion and spirituality in a developing country named Indonesia…
Continue Reading 22 June 2010 at 23:37 Anna Antoni 9 comments
The license to kill- similarities of being a doctor and a field officer / Die Lizenz zum töten- Gemeinsamkeiten einer Ärztin und eines field officers
Medicine and microfinance. The first impression might be that these disciplines only have the “M” in common. For comparing medicine with finance in general this may be true, but being a doctor and working as field officer for a microfinance institution has much more in common. Both professions have the licence to kill- in a more or less literal meaning…
Why do I come up with such a strange statement? Before giving an explanation, I have to give the background that brought me to comparing microfinance with my job when I return to Austria. I had a long talk with a field officer about a quite tragic story of a Kiva borrower. /
Medizin und Mikrofinanzierung. Auf den ersten Blick scheint die einzige Gemeinsamkeit das „M“ zu sein. Vergleicht man Medizin mit gewöhnlicher Ökonomie stimmt das wohl auch, aber der Job einer Ärztin und eines field officers einer Mikrofinanz Institution haben wesentlich mehr gemein. Beide Jobs haben die Lizenz zum töten- in einem mehr oder weniger wörtlichen Sinn…
Continue Reading 13 June 2010 at 23:53 Anna Antoni 3 comments
7 reasons to fall in love with not-perfect Indonesia/ 7 Gründe sich in das un-perfekte Indonesien zu verlieben
Negativity, discontentment, racism, catastrophy-focusing, no interest in strangers. All this I know very well from home in Vienna but in Indonesia you can find right the opposite in the national spirit.
The Top 7 reasons to fall in love with Indonesia (for me it was love at first sight) deserve attention, because Indonesia as biggest Muslim populated country which had to face terrorist acts in past years isn’t used to good publicity… /
Die Top 7 Gründe sich in Indonesien zu verlieben (für mich war es Liebe auf den ersten Blick) verdienen Aufmerksamkeit, denn Indonesien als größtes Muslimisch bevölkertes Land mit terroristischen Anschlägen in der nahen Vergangenheit steht selten im besten Rampenlicht…
Continue Reading 8 June 2010 at 22:51 Anna Antoni 10 comments
Transparency, transparency – also for borrowers?
In the long process of providing the information needed for receiving a loan through Kiva, transparency is of high priority but usually we talk about transparency for the lender. What about the borrower? Do they all know they are on the internet with a lot of personal information?
Continue Reading 2 June 2010 at 07:09 Anna Antoni 15 comments
Let’s talk about …
Sex. Ok, reproductive health. Let’s talk about reproductive health in a language you don’t speak. Ok, conversational, but far from professional. And now the setting: a women’s health training for clients from the Kiva field partner Koperasi Mitra Usaha Kecil (MUK) in a village in Bali, Indonesia.
When I REALLY realized this, I couldn’t help but wear a huge happy grin before I started…
I had the chance to actively take part in this stage of empowerment of entrepreneurs at MUK. Now I want to share my thoughts during preparations for this delicate training.
Continue Reading 20 May 2010 at 00:21 Anna Antoni 3 comments
The longest hour of my life- with Marilyn Monroe and 3 chickens
I was never as scared in my life as yesterday. I hesitated to write this blog entry, because I don’t want to give the impression that Kiva sends fellows into a dangerous environment. But we all chose to move to developing countries for at least 3 months – and security simply has a different meaning in industrialized northern countries…
Continue Reading 12 May 2010 at 06:44 Anna Antoni 2 comments
The biggest Muslim populated country, women and microfinance
Although women’s life in Indonesia is drastically different from what you see about Muslim women in media, the situation can still be described as- let’s call it- challenging…
Continue Reading 30 April 2010 at 04:49 Anna Antoni 4 comments
Kiva Fellowship Survival Guide
You’ve read all about what’s required to become a Kiva Fellow. Now here’s a look at what you need to actually survive a 12+ week placement*.
Continue Reading 27 April 2010 at 01:00 Nadia Anggraini 4 comments
A Microfinance Not-So-Success Story
Last night I lay in bed for almost an hour, unable to sleep. It wasn’t because I was getting eaten alive by the mosquito colony that seems to have taken up camp my room, nor was it because I wanted to follow in Bryan Goldfinger’s example and starting an insomniac-Kiva-Fellows tradition. I had visited a borrower today, and unlike past journal visits, I did not leave this one feeling inspired by the diligence and conscientiousness of the entrepreneur, or even introspective after witnessing the slow pace at which microfinance helping borrowers. Instead, the visit left me feeling somewhat troubled.
Continue Reading 5 April 2010 at 15:54 Nadia Anggraini 7 comments
Making microfinance work in cities
My butt (pardon the language) was hurting from hours of riding pillion on my MFI field officer’s motorbike, my lungs were working overtime to dispel toxic fumes emitted by the large trucks on the roads, and my heart was still recovering from multiple seizures from dodging kids, dogs, chicken and other random objects dashing across the streets. We were on hour four of a field visit, and we had visited a total of…three borrowers.
Continue Reading 19 March 2010 at 01:03 Nadia Anggraini 6 comments
Who are you and why do you want me to take pictures with my livestock?
You’re a pig farmer living in a village in West Bali. In the mornings you wake up, feed your pigs, get the children ready for school…the usual business. You’re just taking a break in the afternoon, right when the Balinese sun is at its hottest and people take shelter in the shade of their homes, when your loan officer comes zipping in on her motorbike. It’s not time for repayments, nor is it time for a group meeting with the other villagers who took a loan out with you, but you’re not surprised, as your loan officer often stops by for a chat when she’s in the area.
Continue Reading 11 March 2010 at 04:24 Nadia Anggraini 9 comments
Religious Tradition or Financial Burden?
As you drive through the small village of Blimbingsari in northwest Bali, you immediately notice two things; the first is that this is a Christian village, of note because Bali is 94% Hindu, 5% Muslim and only 1% Christian. In fact, this is the largest Christian community in Bali. The second thing you notice is that the homes in Blimbingsari appear to be in much better condition than those of neighboring villages. They are all brick or cement, have ceramic-tile roofs and attractive paint-jobs, and many even have flower gardens in front, while those in adjacent villages often have mud floors and are of thatch construction in various states of disrepair.
On a recent visit to the branch office of Koperasi Mitra Usaha Kecil, I asked Kiva Coordinator Pak Zeruya Lesmana why the difference between housing in Blimbingsari and the neighboring villages was so dramatic.
Kiva is no island
Last week I received a call from an American woman who has been working in the eco-tourism industry in Indonesia for the past 3 years. Her company offers tourists an opportunity to visit rural islands not far from Singapore and contribute to service projects in the region. She was interested in setting up a microfinance program of some sort to support the villagers near her operation, so she reached out to me, in part, to learn how she could partner with Kiva.
Little Boxes Made of Ticky-Tacky
In 1962, the folk artist Malvina Reynolds wrote a song to describe the suburban development she saw in the communities south of San Francisco. While the hills of San Francisco are about as far away from the hills of Bali, Indonesia, as can be—both literally and metaphorically—these lyrics popped in to my head while driving my motorbike to visit Kiva borrowers last week.
Bali—Trouble in Paradise
By Nick Lewis, KF10 Indonesia
Ok FREEZE. What’s the first image that pops into your head when I say…….Bali.
Chances are it has very little to do with poverty and almost certainly has nothing to do with microfinance or the Kiva Fellows program. In fact, it probably doesn’t even have much to do with local Indonesians. When most people think about the “island of the gods”, as it is known in Indonesia, they picture honeymooners sipping exotic drinks while relaxing on pristine beaches, verdant rice terraces, or world-class surfers tackling some of the most famous breaks in existence. While Bali certainly deserves a place on a list of the world’s most beautiful locales, there is trouble in paradise.
Kiva, Transparency and P2P Microlending
by Zev Lowe, KF8 Indonesia
I never knew when I signed up to represent Kiva for 10 weeks in Indonesia that I was also signing myself up for a much longer-term commitment as a Kiva Ambassador. But all jesting aside, as someone who has gone behind the curtain and seen the inner workings of Kiva and one of their MFI field partners, here’s my own personal opinion (not endorsed in any way by Kiva) on whether or not Kiva is actually peer-to-peer microlending.
Continue Reading 11 November 2009 at 08:50 zevlowe 9 comments
Spreading the Kiva love…
by Cissy DeLuca, KF8, Indonesia
This past week is my last week working at TLM in West Timor. TLM is also partnered with Opportunity International (OI) Australia, which is their primary source of funding. To promote this relationship, TLM often hosts “Insight Trips,” which allow supporters of OI to pay a fee to visit a partner MFI of their choice. These trips promote donor understanding and create the potential for them to further contribute to the work of the MFI.
TLM staff members introducing the Australian guests to a client
Eight Australians arrived this past Monday to be toured around to visit clients, see the office, meet the staff and gain an insider perspective on microfinance and TLM. Upon hearing I was working on behalf of Kiva, an instant fan club materialized right before my eyes. They wanted to know everything they possibly could about Kiva and their partnership with TLM. Some had heard of it, while others had not. This resulted in me hosting an impromptu training session at my desk on how to use the Kiva website. One of the Australians had even googled “TLM” and “Microfinance” prior to the trip and stumbled upon the fellows blog and a video I had made! He had known of the existence of a “Cissy” at TLM before he even arrived… I am a minor celebrity!
