I sat still listening to Antonio. His words carefully descended his hand-written business plan. His dreams on paper. A sip from sugarcane sweetened, hand-squeezed limonada. The cool stainless steel cup set next to a dormant orchid, one of the countless pots lining the rim of Antonio's flowering patio. I shifted my weight on the make-shift hardwood bench to get a better view of the family dog frozen in a sun-soaked, belly-rub slumber. On turning the final page, I... Continue Reading >>
Stories tagged with KF22
Nov 11, 2013
Albania, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Haiti
As surprised as my family and friends were when I told them that I’m heading off to Kyrgyzstan, that’s about as surprised as my Kiva colleagues were when they found out that I’m also heading to Frankfurt, for a portion of my Kiva Fellowship.
At first pass, Germany doesn’t seem like a country that would fit with Kiva’s non-profit microfinance orientation and mission statement. Yet, in Frankfurt, one of the world’s prominent financial centres, an innovative start-up and recent Kiva Field Partner, Yunus Social Business (“YSB”), is pushing the envelope of social business investing,... Continue Reading >>
At first pass, Germany doesn’t seem like a country that would fit with Kiva’s non-profit microfinance orientation and mission statement. Yet, in Frankfurt, one of the world’s prominent financial centres, an innovative start-up and recent Kiva Field Partner, Yunus Social Business (“YSB”), is pushing the envelope of social business investing,... Continue Reading >>
Oct 10, 2013
Kyrgyzstan
Many questions came my way when I let my family, friends and colleagues know that I am packing my bags and heading off to Kyrgyzstan for a few months.
“I’m going to volunteer with Kiva in Kyrgyzstan and help the American University of Central Asia!”
“Wow! Great! Wait. What’s Kiva? Where’s Kyrgyzstan? What is an American university doing in Central Asia? There are a lot of holes in your story, is everything ok? Are you in trouble with the... Continue Reading >>
“I’m going to volunteer with Kiva in Kyrgyzstan and help the American University of Central Asia!”
“Wow! Great! Wait. What’s Kiva? Where’s Kyrgyzstan? What is an American university doing in Central Asia? There are a lot of holes in your story, is everything ok? Are you in trouble with the... Continue Reading >>