Blog posts tagged with microfinance
Shell money is a traditional form of currency that was used in the Solomon Islands before bank notes were introduced. Some provinces still use shell money today, primarily for ceremonies, settling disputes, and bridal and land payments. It is beautifully crafted from seashells, often consisting of strings of differently colored shell-beads. Visit Kiva's Medium page to see how it's made!
Continue Reading >>
Martin comes to Kiva after 12 years with eBay, most recently as the Vice President and General Manager of eBay Advertising. At eBay, he worked to build and grow marketplace... Continue Reading >>
Amazing insider: Everyday life in Somalia.
Kiva’s loans come in all shapes, sizes and languages. Lucky for us, there’s a team of hard- working multilingual volunteers on Kiva’s Review and Translation (RTP) team who make it possible for us to get these loans onto the site!
... Continue Reading >>There are few things as universal as a mother’s love. Kiva loans support a hugely diverse range of borrowers, hailing from over 80 different countries, but one thing remains a constant: the touching stories we hear of mothers putting the well-being and education of their children above all else.
Although we all have plenty of reasons to call our mom or send her a card this Mother's Day, here are 3 women who will further inspire you:
Sento lives in Makeni City, Sierra Leone and sells local food, soft drinks, and condiments out of a small store on... Continue Reading >>
Zambia
Revolutionizing education in Zambia
Who are they?
iSchool Zambia is a social enterprise working to change the education system in Zambia. The company has copied the entire Zambian primary school curriculum (in English and the 7 local languages) on Android tablets they... Continue Reading >>
Photo by Flickr user Oliver Whiteside
On April 25, the most devastating earthquake to hit Nepal in 80 years claimed the lives of thousands of people and destroyed homes and cultural sites. The Kiva community’s thoughts are with the people of Nepal and all the families that have been affected by this tragedy.
Kiva reached out to our two partners in Nepal, Patan Business and Professional Women and SunFarmer, to express our support and check on the wellbeing of their staff and clients.
SunFarmer responded that their staff members... Continue Reading >>
Go green:
On April 24, 2013, more than 1,100 garment workers were killed and 2,500 were injured when the Rana Plaza factory building collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Even though there were fears the building would collapse, garment workers were pressured to remain at work under threat of 1 month’s lost pay.
The disaster in Dhaka brought new awareness about the terrible working conditions for garment workers. People were saddened and outraged, so in an effort to improve working conditions for garment workers and bring more transparency...
One of the easiest ways to improve travel photos is shooting in better light, and the best light is often in the hour after sunrise and before sunset. That’s because the light takes on a warm golden hue and hits the subject from the side instead of the top.
If...
Continue Reading >>Kiva and Dr. Bronner's, the family-owned company that makes the most popular brand of natural soap in North America, are kicking off an exciting new partnership called Seedlings for Small Farmers!
Starting April 23, Kiva will crowdfund 0% interest loans to support smallholder farmers in Ghana who grow certified organic and fair trade oil palm used in Dr. Bronner’s soap. And, for a limited time, Dr. Bronner's will match each loan made to these farmers.
Dr. Bronner's sister company, Serendipalm, manages the sourcing and supply of... Continue Reading >>
The students at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory are taking their education into their own hands. An avid group of Kiva supporters from the school are reaching out to Kiva borrowers in their hometown of San Francisco to learn more about the impact of microfinance.
Abi Basch is a social... Continue Reading >>
Mother of invention:
Bali may be best known for its crystal-clear waters, lush green hills and Hindu temples, but it’s also home to a rich artistic tradition with deep cultural roots. Bali’s many artisans are renowned for their craft, and...
Continue Reading >>Myrian knew she would be an artist from the moment her grandmother placed a cool, smooth lump of clay in her hands as a child.
“The first time I touched the clay I said that this is going to be my profession, I will be an artisan,” Myrian says. Read her full story at Kiva's Medium page> Continue Reading >>
Crédit Epargne Formation (CEFOR)
Madagascar
Supporting first-time borrowers and vulnerable populations in Madagascar
Who are they?
Crédit Epargne Formation is a microfinance organization that targets first-time borrowers and impoverished families in the Analmanga region of Madagascar. The organization has developed a social categorization ranking in order to reach the most vulnerable groups. They also provide... Continue Reading >>
Coffee break:
So what can you expect from this new loan finding experience?
Loans are grouped into categories: In the new design we now prominently feature categories such as... Continue Reading >>
Toya is a dreamer from Pittsburgh, Pa. The images are from Leah Loves That Photography. Leah Johns is a close friend of Toya’s.
A wig can be just a fashion statement to some people, but for others it’s a lifeline to normalcy and a form of protection from life’s struggles.
Toya’s wig shop in the East End of Pittsburgh is cozy and lovely. Her journey to starting this business has deep roots — she remembers helping her mother sweep...
Kiva Fellow Semone Aye, Myanmar:
Catfish noodle soup? Yes please! Mohinga is a staple in Burmese cuisine, and what many Burmese would call "comfort food." Each region of Myanmar has its own variation of the recipe. #myanmar #chili... Continue Reading >>
Mukula has an eye for vibrant colors, and she puts it to good use in her sari-weaving business. Spools of ruby red, deep turquoise and sapphire blue are all on deck for the week’s work.
Mukula processes the raw materials and yarn for the saris. She can also weave on one of the 3 hand looms she owns, but these days she has help for that. With the support of a Kiva loan of $570, Mukula has grown her business to the point that she employs 2...
Continue Reading >>
For years, Ki has been defined by the struggles that surrounded her.
Dropout. As a child, she had to skip school for many years as she worked at her family’s grocery store in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Refugee. When civil war broke out, she and her family found refuge on a relative’s farm in a rural area.
It wasn’t over. In the middle of a night in 1979, Ki was forced to flee from that temporary...
Continue Reading >>American ingenuity:
Pages
Blog posts tagged with microfinance
Shell money is a traditional form of currency that was used in the Solomon Islands before bank notes were introduced. Some provinces still use shell money today, primarily for ceremonies, settling disputes, and bridal and land payments. It is beautifully crafted from seashells, often consisting of strings of differently colored shell-beads. Visit Kiva's Medium page to see how it's made!
Continue Reading >>
Martin comes to Kiva after 12 years with eBay, most recently as the Vice President and General Manager of eBay Advertising. At eBay, he worked to build and grow marketplace... Continue Reading >>
Amazing insider: Everyday life in Somalia.
Kiva’s loans come in all shapes, sizes and languages. Lucky for us, there’s a team of hard- working multilingual volunteers on Kiva’s Review and Translation (RTP) team who make it possible for us to get these loans onto the site!
... Continue Reading >>There are few things as universal as a mother’s love. Kiva loans support a hugely diverse range of borrowers, hailing from over 80 different countries, but one thing remains a constant: the touching stories we hear of mothers putting the well-being and education of their children above all else.
Although we all have plenty of reasons to call our mom or send her a card this Mother's Day, here are 3 women who will further inspire you:
Sento lives in Makeni City, Sierra Leone and sells local food, soft drinks, and condiments out of a small store on... Continue Reading >>
Zambia
Revolutionizing education in Zambia
Who are they?
iSchool Zambia is a social enterprise working to change the education system in Zambia. The company has copied the entire Zambian primary school curriculum (in English and the 7 local languages) on Android tablets they... Continue Reading >>
Photo by Flickr user Oliver Whiteside
On April 25, the most devastating earthquake to hit Nepal in 80 years claimed the lives of thousands of people and destroyed homes and cultural sites. The Kiva community’s thoughts are with the people of Nepal and all the families that have been affected by this tragedy.
Kiva reached out to our two partners in Nepal, Patan Business and Professional Women and SunFarmer, to express our support and check on the wellbeing of their staff and clients.
SunFarmer responded that their staff members... Continue Reading >>
Go green:
On April 24, 2013, more than 1,100 garment workers were killed and 2,500 were injured when the Rana Plaza factory building collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Even though there were fears the building would collapse, garment workers were pressured to remain at work under threat of 1 month’s lost pay.
The disaster in Dhaka brought new awareness about the terrible working conditions for garment workers. People were saddened and outraged, so in an effort to improve working conditions for garment workers and bring more transparency...
One of the easiest ways to improve travel photos is shooting in better light, and the best light is often in the hour after sunrise and before sunset. That’s because the light takes on a warm golden hue and hits the subject from the side instead of the top.
If...
Continue Reading >>Kiva and Dr. Bronner's, the family-owned company that makes the most popular brand of natural soap in North America, are kicking off an exciting new partnership called Seedlings for Small Farmers!
Starting April 23, Kiva will crowdfund 0% interest loans to support smallholder farmers in Ghana who grow certified organic and fair trade oil palm used in Dr. Bronner’s soap. And, for a limited time, Dr. Bronner's will match each loan made to these farmers.
Dr. Bronner's sister company, Serendipalm, manages the sourcing and supply of... Continue Reading >>
The students at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory are taking their education into their own hands. An avid group of Kiva supporters from the school are reaching out to Kiva borrowers in their hometown of San Francisco to learn more about the impact of microfinance.
Abi Basch is a social... Continue Reading >>
Mother of invention:
Bali may be best known for its crystal-clear waters, lush green hills and Hindu temples, but it’s also home to a rich artistic tradition with deep cultural roots. Bali’s many artisans are renowned for their craft, and...
Continue Reading >>Myrian knew she would be an artist from the moment her grandmother placed a cool, smooth lump of clay in her hands as a child.
“The first time I touched the clay I said that this is going to be my profession, I will be an artisan,” Myrian says. Read her full story at Kiva's Medium page> Continue Reading >>
Crédit Epargne Formation (CEFOR)
Madagascar
Supporting first-time borrowers and vulnerable populations in Madagascar
Who are they?
Crédit Epargne Formation is a microfinance organization that targets first-time borrowers and impoverished families in the Analmanga region of Madagascar. The organization has developed a social categorization ranking in order to reach the most vulnerable groups. They also provide... Continue Reading >>
Coffee break:
So what can you expect from this new loan finding experience?
Loans are grouped into categories: In the new design we now prominently feature categories such as... Continue Reading >>
Toya is a dreamer from Pittsburgh, Pa. The images are from Leah Loves That Photography. Leah Johns is a close friend of Toya’s.
A wig can be just a fashion statement to some people, but for others it’s a lifeline to normalcy and a form of protection from life’s struggles.
Toya’s wig shop in the East End of Pittsburgh is cozy and lovely. Her journey to starting this business has deep roots — she remembers helping her mother sweep...
Kiva Fellow Semone Aye, Myanmar:
Catfish noodle soup? Yes please! Mohinga is a staple in Burmese cuisine, and what many Burmese would call "comfort food." Each region of Myanmar has its own variation of the recipe. #myanmar #chili... Continue Reading >>
Mukula has an eye for vibrant colors, and she puts it to good use in her sari-weaving business. Spools of ruby red, deep turquoise and sapphire blue are all on deck for the week’s work.
Mukula processes the raw materials and yarn for the saris. She can also weave on one of the 3 hand looms she owns, but these days she has help for that. With the support of a Kiva loan of $570, Mukula has grown her business to the point that she employs 2...
Continue Reading >>
For years, Ki has been defined by the struggles that surrounded her.
Dropout. As a child, she had to skip school for many years as she worked at her family’s grocery store in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Refugee. When civil war broke out, she and her family found refuge on a relative’s farm in a rural area.
It wasn’t over. In the middle of a night in 1979, Ki was forced to flee from that temporary...
Continue Reading >>American ingenuity: