This week I had the opportunity to travel to Musoma, a small town on Lake Victoria in Northern Tanzania, to visit a branch office of Tujijenge, one of Kiva’s Field Partners. I quickly fell in love with the laid-back people and atmosphere – a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of Dar es Salaam. Maybe it’s the perfect weather or the fresh local food, but the people in Musoma are always smiling. And Bertha, a Kiva borrower, is no exception. Bertha’s loan group, Vumilia, was having their monthly meeting to collect repayments, and I was lucky enough to join them. As I greeted Bertha, her... Continue Reading >>
Natalie grew up on a farm in rural Wisconsin and, despite her love for cheese and the Packers, has always had the desire to travel and experience new cultures. While studying abroad in Lima, Peru, Natalie volunteered at a local children’s hospital, participating in activities with children to help them grow physically and emotionally. After graduating from UW-Madison with a BBA and a Masters in Accounting, Natalie moved to NYC and began work with PricewaterhouseCoopers, delivering assurance services to private company clients. While at PwC, Natalie did a rotation with the firm’s Corporate Responsibility group where she helped drive forward PwC’s environmental sustainability initiatives. Natalie also had the opportunity to travel to Belize to teach financial literacy to students in Belize City as part of PwC’s ‘Earn Your Future’ initiative. During her various trips abroad, Natalie has encountered an abundance of incredibly talented, creative, and hard working individuals with big dreams but little money, which has sparked her passion for international development and microfinance. Natalie is incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to pursue her passions while supporting Kiva’s mission in Tanzania!
Fellows Blog Posts by Natalie Russell
Mar 26, 2015
Tanzania
This week I had the opportunity to travel to Musoma, a small town on Lake Victoria in Northern Tanzania, to visit a branch office of Tujijenge, one of Kiva’s Field Partners. I quickly fell in love with the laid-back people and atmosphere – a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of Dar es Salaam. Maybe it’s the perfect weather or the fresh local food, but the people in Musoma are always smiling. And Bertha, a Kiva borrower, is no exception. Bertha’s loan group, Vumilia, was having their monthly meeting to collect repayments, and I was lucky enough to join them. As I greeted Bertha, her... Continue Reading >>
This week I had the opportunity to travel to Musoma, a small town on Lake Victoria in Northern Tanzania, to visit a branch office of Tujijenge, one of Kiva’s Field Partners. I quickly fell in love with the laid-back people and atmosphere – a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of Dar es Salaam. Maybe it’s the perfect weather or the fresh local food, but the people in Musoma are always smiling. And Bertha, a Kiva borrower, is no exception. Bertha’s loan group, Vumilia, was having their monthly meeting to collect repayments, and I was lucky enough to join them. As I greeted Bertha, her... Continue Reading >>