Kiva - Kiva Blog

Thank You for Celebrating Kiva's 4th Birthday at The Hub!

Nov 6, 2009

We want to send out a huge thank you to everyone who came out on Tuesday night to celebrate Kiva's 4th Birthday. The event was an incredible success! Over 700 people came out to toast Kiva and its 100 million milestone! A huge thank you to The Hub Bay Area and their co-presenters, GOOD Magazine and The David Brower Center!

We also want to invite you all to become a member of The Hub. Check out their brochure and their events calendar to learn more about who they are and what they do. As a member, you'll have the access to a dynamic co-working space, professional tools and services and an interactive events series. Network and collaborate with like-minded individuals, many of whom you met on Tuesday night!

Check Out Party Pictures!

We have some beautiful photos from the event . If you have any pictures you took at the party, please upload them to the flickr account!

Like the Music?

Baba Ken & the Afrobeat Connexion

Gaucho

Shovelman

Erin Brazill

Like the Food?

Cancun Sabor Mexicano

Cafe Gratitude

Razan Organic Kitchen

Like the Drinks?

We could not have pulled off this event without the generosity of our sponsors and musicians. Thank you so much!

-- posted by Chelsa Bocci at 03:11 pm PDT

Reminder: Educational Web Summit this Friday

Nov 4, 2009

We want to remind you that the first annual Educational Community Web Summit will be hosted by Campus Kiva and High School Kiva this Friday, November 6th. We are excited to announce that we will be joined by Kiva’s President, Premal Shah, and Jonathon Stalls, who will be walking over 2,000 miles in 2010 from Colorado to Maine in support of Kiva (that's right, think Forest Gump style)!

There will be a conference call portion of the summit, which will take place from 10:00am-11:30am PST, where speakers will be taking questions from the audience. Following the call, there will be a half hour series of videos submitted from chapters and microfinance partners.

In conjunction with the conference, Campus Kiva will be launching its brand new website, which will feature a discussion forum to continue the international educational dialogue about Kiva and microfinance.  The entire Kiva community is welcome to participate in order to learn more about Campus Kiva and High School Kiva.   It's also a great way to share more about Kiva with friends who aren't yet familiar, all are welcome to join!

RSVP is required to join the call. If you would like to participate please email Josephine D'Allant at Josephine@campuskiva.org and use the following call-in number to join the conference:

Dial In (U.S.): 866-740-1260

Dial In (Outside U.S.): +1 303-248-0285

Access Code: 6415483

We hope you will join us on November 6, but if you are unable to make it, we will be releasing a copy of it so stay tuned!

-- posted by Chelsa Bocci at 06:11 pm PDT

Join Kiva and Yoovolution in 3D!

Nov 2, 2009

We’re pleased to announce that Kiva’s President, Premal Shah, is teaming up with Yoovolution for a one-of-a kind event, the world’s largest professional and self development conference held entirely in a 3D virtual world. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of online interaction and networking.

And, you’re invited to be a part of it!

This first ever event is open to the entire Kiva community and is not to be missed. You are on the threshold of a new world of social networking where connection and learning are unparalleled, enjoy!

In conjunction with this upcoming incredible virtual event with over 33 world-class speakers called Yoovolution, Premal will be sharing his insights on the future of micro lending, where Kiva is today, and how YOU can make a huge difference in the world ... all in a brand new virtual 3D environment - so you can enjoy it all from the comfort of your own home!

Kiva is one of the chosen charities to benefit from this event, so if you join us, you’ll be contributing to Kiva’s efforts as well.

Register for your free account now by clicking here!

We look forward to seeing you in 3D!

-- posted by Chelsa Bocci at 04:11 pm PDT

Kiva Lenders surpass $100,000,000!

Oct 31, 2009

Around 2pm today (Happy Halloween for those in the U.S.), Kiva hit a major milestone:

$100,000,000
in loans raised

It's a wonderful accomplishment involving 584,189 Kiva Lenders in our first 4 years of operations. What's even more amazing to me is that it took over 1 year to raise our first $1 million . This year alone, we're on track to raise nearly $60 million. On behalf of the volunteers, staff, microfinance field partners and the entrepreneurs they serve -- thank you and congrats to Kiva Lenders for reaching this incredible milestone!

-- posted by Premal at 05:10 pm PDT

We want you! Kiva is hiring!

Oct 30, 2009

Thanks to the support of our lenders, funders and Field Partners, Kiva continues to grow. If you want to be part of Kiva and help us along our mission to alleviate poverty through lending, then consider applying for one of the positions open at Kiva here.

Already have a job? Are you in school? Maybe you want to help out on the side? Kiva relies on hundreds of volunteers to help us fulfill our mission. Learn about our open volunteer opportunities here.

-- posted by Gerard Niemira at 03:10 pm PDT

News from Samoa: Update from the Field

Oct 30, 2009

On September 29, 2009, an 8.3-magnitude earthquake caused a tsunami that claimed 184 lives in the Pacific Islands of Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga. It was the deadliest disaster in the history of Samoa – a country with a population of 188,000 – and a date that Samoans say “will live in the heart of Samoa forever.” Many of you have emailed Kiva, concerned about the particular person you have lent to. Please know it was very touching for those here in Samoa. It has been heartwarming and comforting to see so much support.

As a Kiva Fellow with South Pacific Business Development (SPBD), Kiva’s Field Partner serving entrepreneurs in Samoa, I have seen first-hand SPBD’s non-stop work since the disaster to

assess the extent of the tsunami’s damage and to organize both a short- and long-term aid effort for tsunami victims. It has been hectic to continue normal operations while conducting an emergency relief effort, but I can proudly say that SPBD has been one of the leaders of a group of international organizations brought together by the United Nations to head the aid effort in Samoa. Here is an update from the ground:

The Aftermath

Fortunately, none of SPBD’s borrowers have lost

their lives. Out of over 5,000 borrowers, 143 have lost their homes and businesses and an unfortunate few have lost multiple family members. Children and the elderly, the most vulnerable demographic, made up a large part of the death toll. The tsunami’s effects on Samoa’s infrastructure and economy are still unraveling. In one village, women report that their bakery sales have decreased by 20% because the school where they usually sold their goods is temporarily closed. Shop owners have seen their consumer base disappear along with tourism.

The businesses affected most by the tsunami are plantations, shops, and fishing operations. Beachfront plantations were reduced to brown reeds and others located further inland were damaged by salt water. Demolished tourist shops have only the concrete foundation remaining. Those who fished for a livelihood have seen their nets washed away and their canoes broken.

The silver lining in the wake of all this destruction is that it was limited. The tsunami hit the touristy southeast coast of Samoa and spared Apia, the capital. At 7 a.m., when the disaster struck, most Samoans were awake and in the middle of morning chores. Uninhabited islands and reefs shielded some villages from the full brunt of the wave. Overall, less than 5% of SPBD’s portfolio was affected by the tsunami.

In the week following the tsunami, I traveled to the villages where SPBD’s borrowers were affected. The stories of survival and loss are incredible. One woman recalled how she woke up surrounded by water and grabbed a wooden panel to float to safety. She did not feel the earthquake when it struck. Another woman told of holding on to a doorknob while gushing water pushed her off her feet. The force of the wave ripped some people’s clothes off. Most Samoans, however, were able to run uphill to safety, only to watch helplessly as the water swept their belongings out to sea. Most of the Samoans I met are still in shock. They say little, which is unusual for a culture famed for long speeches!

Below are a couple of stories from SPBD women that I had the opportunity to speak with:

Fiataua Loto

Fiataua Loto is a pretty 31-year-old whose house on Manono Island was located a few feet from the shoreline. Before the tsunami, her house was an idyllic spot, with the Pacific as a backyard. She had just used her second loan from SPBD to renovate her house. But now, her home is reduced to rubble and her fishing nets and canoes have also been washed away.

Fishing was Fiataua’s main source of income. Fishing three times a week typically allowed Fiataua to save 100 talas per week. She now estimates that it will cost 20,000 talas to rebuild her house. Though Fiataua has experienced a heavy loss, her spirit remains strong. “I’m angry at the wave, sad that I lost my house, but thankful that I have my three children and family. I won’t forget what happened, but it isn’t going to change the way I live.”

Ruta Sao

Ruta Sao lives in Saleapaga, a coastal village that was decimated by the tsunami. Thirteen of SPBD’s borrowers in Saleapaga have lost their homes. The village can now be found interspersed among the bushy outgrowth in the hills, where some of it was cleared for plantations. Sadly, Ruta lost four of her children during the tsunami, but her two remaining children can still be seen playing in the sun.

Ruta has set up a makeshift shelter (a tarp held up by wooden poles) next to her plantation, a quarter of a mile away from the other plantations. Due to her shelter’s distance away from the beach, Ruta was unable to receive relief aid until two days after the tsunami struck Samoa. It was only after driving around and asking villagers that we were able to find her. Amazingly, Ruta was ready to make her weekly loan repayment to SPBD. She now plans to rebuild her home inland away from the beach.

Help is On the Way

On October 9 and 10, SPBD distributed an aid package to each of the borrowers who had lost a home or business to the tsunami. Each package contained basic items such as water, tinned fish, rice, toiletries, buckets, tableware, mosquito coils, and a bush knife (the most popular item!) along with 150 Tala (spending power of approximately $75 in the U.S.) to buy other necessities. Each aid package totaled 400 talas, more than a month’s salary for underprivileged Samoans. The women were all very excited and appreciative for this assistance.

In the next several weeks, SPBD will roll out a larger relief effort for all of the victims of the tsunami. They have committed over 100,000 talas to this initiative and have brought in two consultants to help with the relief projects. In addition to offering each of the 143 affected clients an additional 1,000 tala loan, SPBD will be experimenting with a cash-for-work program that will hire tsunami victims in community clean-up and reconstruction projects. Not only will this initiative put money into the pockets of those who have lost their homes and businesses, but it will also pump back money into the local community.

Samoa will recover from the tsunami. Plantations can be replanted and regrown in 6 months. A fale – the typical Samoan home – can be rebuilt in days, though Samoans will probably want to use sturdier materials in the reconstruction of their houses. Most of the tourist resorts have announced plans to rebuild. However, it remains to be seen when the tourism industry – which accounts for about 25% of Samoa’s gross domestic product – will come back. The prime minister has pledged that Samoans will never forget what has happened and will learn the lessons of the tsunami.

In the upcoming weeks, I will try to speak with each affected Kiva borrower and share their stories. Out of the 143 SPBD borrowers affected, 36 are currently on Kiva and 42 others have previously been posted on Kiva (as of October 14).

Listed below are the women with active loans on Kiva:

	Name	Status
1	Silia Oa	No House
2	Nora Taleni	No House
3	Koreti Potoi	No House
4	Alofa Saupo	No House
5	Solema Ese	No House
6	Kalameli Tiligo	No House
7	Salaevalu Matila	No House
8	Kiona Levasa Pela	No House
9	Soonalote Tuigamala	No House
10	Satelite Falanaipupu	No House
11	Mamaioa Nuuali	No House
12	Mu Pato	No House
13	Samalaulu Vaa	No House
14	Maseiga Iosua	No House
15	Laumoe Seuala	No House, Badly Injured
16	Talaleu Toafa	No House
17	Sosefina Taupega	No House
18	Tae Pologa	No House
19	Sefau Kaisa	No House
20	Makerita Tootoo	No House, No Business
21	Iemaima Peni	No House, No Business
22	Loimata Ioapo	No House, Lost tourist fale, but still has plantation
23	Ato Ailaulau	No House, No Business
24	Iloa Tovia	No House
25	Soo Lefale	No House
26	Lemapu Fialua	No House
27	Veronika Silipa	No House
28	Soo Perise Maulolo	No House
29	Faalaeiau Tauailoto	No House
30	Folole Tanuvasa Lefao	No House, No Business
31	Pele Faasisila	No House
32	Suati Lima	No House
33	Otilia Ulu	No House
34	Elena Pasina	Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost
35	Iuni Siaosi	No Fishing Boat
36	Olataga Faapito	No House

Listed below are the women with loans that have ended on Kiva:

	Name	Status
1	Iloga Niko	No House
2	Siulepa Sakalaia	No House
3	Tauala Feagai Sale	No House
4	Meleseke Tagaloa	Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost
5	Vaioalisi Faaiuga	No House, No Fishing Boat
6	Fiataua Loto	No House, No Fishing Boat
7	Faanimo Togitasi	No House
8	Fofoa Meleisea	No House
9	Maota Asasa	No House
10	Falanika Nuu	No House, No Business
11	Noela Alataua	No House
12	Vitolina Fiaaiti	No House
13	Mele Popea	No House
14	Alataua Mefi	No House
15	Faisealofa Puletiuatoa	No House
16	Faia Muavae	No House
17	Lematea Anapu	Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost
18	Pua Laga	No House, No Fishing Boat
19	Talita Alaivaa Foleni	No House
20	Talaleu Maota	No House
21	Tivalo Vaa	No House
22	Faletaulupe Lui Paulo	No House
23	Nina Pati	No Business
24	Patisepa Neli	Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost
25	Seutaatia Unasa	Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost
26	Talele Mua	Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost
27	Potoae Unasa	Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost
28	Tuli Faia	No House, No Business
29	Olovesi Tafeaga	No House
30	Pogisa Frazer	No House
31	Palolo Mainuuoti	No House
32	Sieraseta Fiu	No House
33	Ana Samoa	No House
34	Alofa Fili	No House
35	Faalua Pata	No House
36	Fofoa Gasolo	No House
37	Moegau Soamauli	Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost
38	Akenese Pauli Afoa	No House
39	Pepe Levaai	No House
40	Seaga Faatoe	No House
41	Amia Suafai	No House, No Business
42	Toeafe Tiatia	No House

For SPBD’s perspective on the tsunami and its relief efforts, see the blog of Greg Casagrande, the founder of SPBD, on MercyCorps here.

You can join SPBD’s lending team on Kiva here.

Kiva plans to post some of the 1,000-tala calamity loans for tsunami victims on its website here. Please check back at a later date to help fund these and other new loans for borrowers in Samoa.

Also, check out Agnes Chu's latest post on the Kiva Fellows Blog here.

- Agnes Chu is a Kiva Fellow who arrived (safely) in Samoa on September 30, the day after a tsunami devastated the area, for a 3 month assignment with Kiva Field Partner South Pacific Business Development (SPBD).

-- posted by Gerard Niemira at 01:10 pm PDT

Vote for Matt as HuffPost's Ultimate Game Changer!

Oct 30, 2009

Matt Flannery is currently sitting at #3 in the running for Huffington Post's Ultimate Game Changer! Vote for him now and lets help raise more awareness about Kiva's impact around the globe.

It's only one step to vote, click here.

-- posted by Chelsa Bocci at 10:10 am PDT

First Annual Educational Community Web Summit

Oct 29, 2009

We are pleased to announce that on November 6th, 2009, Campus Kiva and High School Kiva will be pairing up to host the first annual Educational Community Web Summit. In addition to fantastic live guest speakers, including Kiva’s President, Premal Shah, and Jonathon Stalls, who is walking from Denver to Maine to support Kiva, we will be hearing from high school and college Kiva chapters nation-wide and microfinance partners in the field. Together, the entire Kiva community will learn about the roles and achievements of clubs and individuals from around the world.

In conjunction with the conference, Campus Kiva will be launching its brand new website, which will feature a discussion forum to continue the international educational dialogue about Kiva and microfinance.

The entire Kiva community is welcome to participate in order to learn more about Campus Kiva and High School Kiva.

RSVP is required to join the call. If you would like to participate please contact Josephine D'Allant at Josephine@campuskiva.org for the call in number.

For questions or further information, or if your chapter would like to submit a video to be included in the conference, please contact Josephine D’Allant at Josephine@campuskiva.org.

We hope you will join us on November 6th!

-- posted by Chelsa Bocci at 05:10 pm PDT

Release Notes for 10/27/09

Oct 29, 2009

Here's what's new in the current release of Kiva!

Lots and lots of back-end fixes
Small gift certificate fixes
New Help Center email form/topics
Removed videos from the popularity sort algorithm
Withdrawal system improvements

-- posted by Gerard Niemira at 01:10 pm PDT

November's Community Conference Call

Oct 28, 2009

Please tune into our next community conference call!

When: The call is scheduled for Tuesday, November 24th at 1 pm US Pacific time

Dial in US: 866-740-1260 Access Code: 6415483

Dial in (Outside US): +1 303-248-0285 Access Code: 6415483

We hope to hear you on the line!

-- posted by Gerard Niemira at 04:10 pm PDT

Kiva Holiday Gift Certificates: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Oct 28, 2009

Kiva Gift Certificates are a fantastically innovative gift idea for the holidays. It's super easy to order personal Kiva Gift Certificates on our website by clicking here.

In addition to personal gift certificates, we're excited to announce the launch of Kiva Holiday Gift Certificates for companies. This new offering streamlines large gift certificate orders for companies, and is geared towards bulk gift order purchases of 500+ certificates. We expect demand to be high for Kiva gift certificates this year. With holiday festivities just around the corner, the sooner you get your order in the better!

To order personal gift certificates, sign up here.
To sign up for bulk gift orders for 500+ gift certificates, please email giftprogram@kiva.org.

Why You'll Love our Kiva Holiday Gift Certificate Program

- It’s easy!

- It engages friends, family, colleagues, employees and customers in a fun & exciting new way to make a difference.

- It’s innovative! Kiva loans amplify giving beyond the holidays, beyond borders, and beyond traditional holiday gifts.

- It builds community! You can personalize gift certificates and create a Kiva Lending Team to track your group's collective impact.

Why Your Gift Recipient Will Love A Kiva Gift Certificate

- Choice – Recipients choose where their lending goes.

- Convenience – Recipients simply redeem the certificate at Kiva.org

- High Impact – When loans are repaid, the funds can be used to reloan to a new entrepreneur.

- Warm Fuzzies – It feels great to help others!

-- posted by Chelsa Bocci at 01:10 pm PDT

Welcome, Fundación D-MIRO!

Oct 27, 2009

Please join the Latin American portfolio team in welcoming another partner to the Kiva platform, the Fundación D-MIRO. D-MIRO works in the marginalized areas in and around Guayaquil, providing credit in the ever-expanding slums of Ecuador's 2nd largest city.

To learn more about the great work they do, visit their field partner page, and also check out this blog written by Kiva Fellow Kimia Rafaat.

Happy Lending!

-- posted by Michelle Kreger at 03:10 pm PDT

Join Kiva Lender in Helping the Philippines

Oct 26, 2009

Hello Kiva Community --

I was alerted by this great initiative started by Kiva Lender Peter to help the Philippines - for every comment posted on his blogspot, he will lend $5 to a microfinance entrepreuenr in the Philippines via Kiva. As such, I wanted to invite everyone to visit his blogspot here and leave a comment before his October 31st deadline.

Thank you so much for your support of the Philippines during this time of recovery!

Darren Miao
Senior Portfolio Manager - Asia Pacific Region

-- posted by Darren Miao at 11:10 am PDT

Loans in Ica!

Oct 23, 2009

Please join the portfolio team in welcoming Kiva's newest partner, the Caja Rural Señor de Luren, to the Kiva platform! Based in Ica, Peru, this new partner operates in a region whose infrastructure and economic foundations were largely destroyed after a major earthquake shook the region in August 2007. They are serving an area of great economic need with credit and savings services as residents look to rebuild their lives, homes and economic livelihoods.

Caja Luren will be using their Kiva funding to pass on added savings to their borrowers in the form of reduced interest rates. To read more about their great work, and also their plans for their Kiva borrowers, check out this blog post written by Kiva Fellow Josh Wilcox.

Click here to see all fundraising loans from this new partner.

Welcome to the Kiva family, Caja Rural Señor de Luren!

-- posted by Michelle Kreger at 03:10 pm PDT

Kiva Community Conference Call Roundup October 2009

Oct 21, 2009

Here's our recording of the last Kiva Community Conference Call from October 20, 2009. Thanks to all who could attend!

-- posted by Gerard Niemira at 01:10 pm PDT

Kiva Blog

Thank You for Celebrating Kiva's 4th Birthday at The Hub!

Reminder: Educational Web Summit this Friday

Join Kiva and Yoovolution in 3D!

Kiva Lenders surpass $100,000,000!

We want you! Kiva is hiring!

News from Samoa: Update from the Field

Vote for Matt as HuffPost's Ultimate Game Changer!

First Annual Educational Community Web Summit

Release Notes for 10/27/09

November's Community Conference Call

Kiva Holiday Gift Certificates: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Welcome, Fundación D-MIRO!

Join Kiva Lender in Helping the Philippines

Loans in Ica!

Kiva Community Conference Call Roundup October 2009

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