“We have very productive land here. We just need enough water to grow our crops” Irene said repeatedly as we were taking a tour of her farm in Kalamba, Kenya. Irene and her family’s primary business is managing their three-acre farm that sits in Makueni County in central Kenya. On their land, Irene grows a variety of crops including peas, tomatoes, maize and mangos. While the family has had several successful months of higher than average yields, Irene expressed her anxiety of having enough water in the coming months as we toured her farm. Irene’s concerns were not unique. I also visited... Continue Reading >>
Stories tagged with water
Jul 7, 2016
Kenya
The majority of Kenyans in rural areas are completely reliant on natural sources for all of their water needs; this includes bathing, washing clothes, cooking, and drinking. Unfortunately, these sources of water are in no way purified or fit for human consumption. Therefore, before it can be consumed, the water must be boiled to kill bacteria. This is an arduous process that not only requires time and money, but also has a lasting environmental impact – as coal is the source of heat for heating the water. Enter Evidence Action – a Kiva partner with a solution that addresses all three issues... Continue Reading >>
Jul 7, 2016
Indonesia
Tangerang is a large satellite city on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia. It is a beautiful place - very green and lush, with several rivers winding through its many rural villages. I spent 3 weeks working with KSPPS BMI, one of Kiva’s microfinance partners that operates in the region.
During my time there, I quickly realized that the river was the center of life for thousands of people in Tangerang. On several hour-long drives I would stare out the window... Continue Reading >>
During my time there, I quickly realized that the river was the center of life for thousands of people in Tangerang. On several hour-long drives I would stare out the window... Continue Reading >>
May 5, 2015
Bolivia
When you think of Kiva and microfinance in general, you might picture individual entrepreneurs improving their businesses or families accessing credit for pressing everyday needs. While these types of loans are very important, one of the things that sets Kiva apart from other microfinance organizations its dedication to supporting innovation to discover new, high impact loan products. In my fellowship with Kiva Partner CIDRE in Cochabamba, Bolivia I was lucky enough to see one such innovative loan in action.
Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and like... Continue Reading >>
Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and like... Continue Reading >>
Apr 4, 2015
India
Who likes laundry day? Not me. Doing laundry can be a hassle, but eventually it becomes unavoidable. After wearing the same clothes for far too long, this week it was time for me to break out the buckets.
Doing laundry in Imphal has taught me the value of something very basic, water. Here, water does not come to your sink through municipal pipes. When we turn on the faucet, the water that comes gushing out is simply rainwater that has... Continue Reading >>
Who likes laundry day? Not me. Doing laundry can be a hassle, but eventually it becomes unavoidable. After wearing the same clothes for far too long, this week it was time for me to break out the buckets.
Doing laundry in Imphal has taught me the value of something very basic, water. Here, water does not come to your sink through municipal pipes. When we turn on the faucet, the water that comes gushing out is simply rainwater that has... Continue Reading >>