Kiva Fellows Program

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The Kiva Fellows Blog allows Kiva Fellows the opportunity to share their experiences living and working abroad. You can view the full-length version here

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The power of your loan


Jul 2, 2009

By Drew Loizeaux, KF8 Philippines The last 4 months working as a Kiva Fellow have allowed me an up close look at many different sides of microfinance. It has been fascinating for me to see and made me look at the loans I make through Kiva in a different way. As Kiva Lenders, our money not only [...]

-- posted by Drew Loizeaux at Jul 2, 2009

You are in Mongolia… really?


Jul 1, 2009

Tamara Sanderson is a Kiva Fellow with Xacbank in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

-- posted by tamarasanderson at Jul 1, 2009

My Run-in with the Congolese Police


Jul 1, 2009

By John Soleanicov, KF8 DRC I could feel the beads of sweat rolling down my face.  Sitting in a makeshift police station under a tent, I was surrounded by three Congolese policemen and my accuser, a young man that could not have been past his mid twenties.  My crime: videotaping in public. As I was returning from [...]

-- posted by jsoleani at Jul 1, 2009

Kiva Fellows’ Blog Quarter 2 in Review


Jun 30, 2009

By Kiva Fellows Program Team Kiva’s launch in the United States on June 10th generated a huge amount of media attention for Kiva, and an equally-large number of hits for the Kiva Fellows Blog. Kudos goes to John Briggs KF8, currently on his second Kiva placement with KADET in Kenya, for his #1 in Q2 post [...]

-- posted by oliviacw at Jun 30, 2009

Micro-Universal Health Care


Jun 30, 2009

By Cynthia McMurry, KF8 Ecuador Time and cost are enormous disincentives for the working poor when it comes to getting medical treatment. Time spent visiting the doctor is time you’re not at work generating income, and money spent on these visits is money that could otherwise be spent on your children’s education or reinvested in your [...]

-- posted by cmcmurry at Jun 30, 2009

As the Microfinance Mundo Turns: The Best Nicaraguan Ice Cream


Jun 29, 2009

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Doña Cony's ice cream.

-- posted by suearthur at Jun 29, 2009

CCT’s First Kiva Loan


Jun 28, 2009

Last Tuesday was the first day of the Kiva Partnership with CCT, and my first day as a Kiva Fellow. The highlight of the day was posting CCT’s first borrower profiles on Kiva.org. Laughter filled the room as CCT workers took turns writing their first profiles. For CCT to move to the “Active” stage as soon as possible, and for entrepreneurs in the Philippines to get much-needed loans quickly, there’s no time to waste.

-- posted by Merrick Brown at Jun 28, 2009

Kiva Novela — “As the Microfinance Mundo Turns ” Episodio 2: Who is Doña Cony?


Jun 27, 2009

"As the Microfinance Mundo Turns" -- Episode 2 -- Purveyor of Nicaragua´s Best Ice Cream

-- posted by suearthur at Jun 27, 2009

What if microfinance really does work?


Jun 26, 2009

By Suzy Marinkovich, KF8 Peru As I sat this morning, drowning in over 50 borrower interviews I’d done that need to be typed and uploaded, I felt overwhelmed with bureaucracy.  Our Kiva Coordinator then walked in to let me know we had five more community bank meetings – FIVE – meaning I had a ton more [...]

-- posted by Suzy Marinkovich at Jun 26, 2009

The Dissemination of Technology, Development and Kiva


Jun 26, 2009

By Cameron Morris, KF8 – Mozambique During Kiva Fellows training we were tasked with putting Kiva’s Mission statement into our own words. This gave us the opportunity to critically think about Kiva’s mission and to highlight aspects of the mission that we thought most important. I placed emphasis on Kiva’s use of technology to meet its [...]

-- posted by morrisctm at Jun 26, 2009