The Top 10: My favorite borrower photos from Colombia and Chile
23 August 2011 at 11:39 JohnGwillim 7 comments
Kiva Fellows come from a vast variety of backgrounds, both in regards to their professional experience and hobbies. When the Kiva Fellows Program Team is trying to decide where to send people they evaluate what MFIs would benefit most from that fellow’s individual experience and skills, and also what special projects they can work on to benefit Kiva’s mission and/or the MFI. As part of my fellowship I was asked to help add to Kiva’s library of borrower images, which are used for marketing and communications purposes by Kiva. With camera in hand I have set out to take some simple portraits of clients in their homes and businesses. Here are 10 of my favorite from both Chile and Colombia, hope you enjoy them!

Magalis sells products she imports from Venezuela as well as meat and fish from her home in Cartagena, Colombia

Jóse runs a store selling a variety of food products from his location in the Lo Espejo neighborhood of Santiago, Chile

Juana sells mops and brooms that are made in her home from a variety of locations around Barranquilla, Colombia

Shani sells a variety of artisan products, some decorated for Barranquilla's famous carnival, in Barranquilla, Colombia
John Gwillim is part of KF15, serving with Fondo Esperanza in Santiago, Chile. He also worked with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo as part of KF14 in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Entry filed under: blogsherpa, Chile, Colombia, Fondo Esperanza, Fundación Mario Santo Domingo (FMSD), KF14 (Kiva Fellows 14th Class), KF15 (Kiva Fellows 15th Class). Tags: blogsherpa, Chile, Colombia, Kiva Fellows, kiva.org, microfinance, photography.








1. The Musings of a Sponge | 4 September 2011 at 22:32
Hi John, I am a new fellow in Manila at CCT. Just perusing blogs to help formulate my thoughts and came across this gem. Such beautiful images. Thank you for posting.
2. Gavin | 4 September 2011 at 16:50
Amazing – thanks for sharing.
3. Meg Wolfe-Roberts | 4 September 2011 at 10:13
Nice!
I just translated a loan description for a woman in Columbia, a widow with three children who took over her husband’s automotive business after he died. Love this image, too: http://www.kiva.org/img/w610h450/856367.jpg
4. Updates from the Field: Loan Sharks, Snapshots + “the Country with a Smile” « Kiva Stories from the Field | 29 August 2011 at 02:02
[...] Top 10: My Favorite Borrower Photos from Chile and Colombia Country: Chile and Colombia / Fellow: John Gwillim, KF14 & KF15 [...]
5. Karen Buxton | 26 August 2011 at 13:26
Amazing photos!
6. cpettersen | 23 August 2011 at 14:03
Beautiful, hope these have releases and are part of the calendar photos
Charmaine
7. Kate Bennett | 23 August 2011 at 12:36
These photos are beautiful John, keep that camera in hand!