Kiva | Loans that change lives

Apr 7, 2013 Global Update

Why? By Felipe Moreno

It is certainly a good question. One that we should always keep in mind as we advance in our life paths. Answering it accordingly should be enough to further one’s mission, or at least to keep oneself well motivated when the horizon does not look that clear. That mission is unique for every one of us and for my case in particular, a unique one in the field of microfinance.

In this regard, my life goal has been undoubtedly enriched by this fellowship in Kenya and by this incredible organization called Kiva. As a matter of fact, one of...

Apr 6, 2013 Vietnam

Communes, Women, and Microfinance By Jon Fung

Having spent my formative years in a moderately sheltered suburb, the first images that come to mind when I hear the word "commune" consist of a few dozen hippies living in the woods, probably sitting in drum circles, debating the evils of capitalism and how things should just be...like, freely shared amongst society, man. Also, drugs.

Jokes aside, the hippie subculture at...

Apr 6, 2013 Chile

Londres 38 By Esther R. Honig

49 years ago marks the anniversary of the original 9/11, when in 1973 the widely supported nationalist regime of Chilean President, Salvador Allende was overthrown by militant leader Augusto Pinochet.

...

Apr 5, 2013 Global Update

"Lives first, loans second. Always. The rest follows.” An interview with Bob Harris By Leo Della-Moretta

Bob in Cambodia

My favorite magazine in the world is Esquire magazine, primarily for the interviews that they publish. When I learned that Bob Harris was publishing a book on his experiences in micro-finance called “The International Bank of Bob,” I saw my chance. The challenges to getting a coherent interview to take place were many. 1: As much of a fan as I was of the “Esquire” style interviews, I am just that, a fan and not a journalist. 2:...

Apr 5, 2013

Young Kenyan Entrepreneurs at the Forefront of Tech Innovation By Katrina Shakarian

Young Kenyans are harnessing their country’s growing tech prowess to go into business for themselves. For example, Jamila Abbas and Susan Oguya, created a mobile application called M-Farm. The application allows Kenyan farmers to access real time market information, buy farm inputs from manufacturers and find buyers for their produce, all through SMS. Lorna Rutto started EcoPost, a company that turns plastic waste into durable fencing posts, an environmentally friendly alternative to timber. At Strathmore Univeristy, Kenya’s leading institution for...

Apr 4, 2013 India

Holi: Because one day, one name, and one way to celebrate aren’t enough By Stasi Baranoff

If you can't beat 'em....

This past weekend I celebrated Holi for the first time. Holi is known the world around as the Festival of Color for the rainbow of powders that can be seen on every person who sets foot outside their homes during the holiday. Leading up to Holi, I’ll admit I was pretty excited. It would be nice to see Imphal go a little crazy. I would ask my colleagues at WSDS what I should expect to see, imagining pure mayhem in a typically composed city (for India...

Mar 31, 2013 Kenya

On the Road in Kenya By Jada Tullos Anderson

Kiva borrowers, their bikes, and their loan officer, Carol, are ready to roll in Kenya. How did you get to work this morning? How will you get home tonight? How will you travel to see your family and friends this weekend? What was your answer? Most of us probably answer with a combination of car, plane, subway, train, bus, bicycle, or on foot. I’m sure there are a few interesting commutes involving horse rides and boats, but most of us come and go on a somewhat predetermined schedule on cars, trains and buses. Not so much in Kenya....

Mar 31, 2013 Mexico

Waste matter? There's no such thing By Paul Ricketts

"Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to disperse because we've been ignorant of their value." - R. Buckminister Fuller "No hay desechos, solo recursos" - Sistema Biobolsa slogan

Far from the towering skyscrapers and traffic-choked avenues of Mexico City's center and well beyond the stylishly furnished office spaces and hipster haunts of an emerging tech and...

Mar 29, 2013 Uganda

Uganda: Pearl of Africa & source of the Nile By Kathryn Krummel

This past weekend I discovered what Kampalans do to escape the hustle & bustle of the city….they go to Jinja! Like any cosmopolitan city it's typical for its residents to fly the coop for the weekend to popular, more relaxing destinations. Many people visit family outside the city or go on trips with friends to surrounding areas. Traffic jams are a daily headache for anyone living or working in Kampala and it’s not uncommon to sit in them for hours at a time, but they are especially bad on Fridays as endless streams of cars and buses pour out of Kampala. Jinja is...

Mar 28, 2013 Mongolia

A Glimpse of Microfinance and Urban Poverty in Ulaanbaatar By janeimai

Munkhbayar, the Kiva Coordinator, promoting Kiva loans at Transcapital

Last week I started visiting some of Kiva’s borrowers with Transcapital, one of Kiva’s field partners that I’m working with here in Mongolia. While it was really encouraging to see Transcapital’s enthusiasm for Kiva at the head office as well as its various branch offices around Ulaanbaatar (UB), the new insights I’ve gained on urban poverty—both from these visits as well as just day-to-day life here—have...

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