Updates from the Field: Loan Sharks, Snapshots + “the Country with a Smile”
29 August 2011 at 02:00 Kate Bennett 8 comments
Compiled by Kate Bennett, KF15, Ecuador
by John Gwillim, Colombia
Each Kiva borrower enjoys his or her own borrower profile page. We’ve all seen these pages: they acquaint us with the borrower’s story, plans for the future, country, and a photo in their business or home. Borrower profiles present us with a clear snapshot of the ebbs and flows of a borrower’s life. But how can we begin to flesh out what’s beyond the edges of the screen? On the Fellow’s blog, of course!
This week Kiva Fellows bring us a little closer to our borrowers. We try to walk in the shoes of those living under a dollar a day in Nicaragua. We learn about the power of accredited microfinance institutions for the average Ecuadorian. We get a glimpse (and a sample!) of traditional El Salvadorian fare. We marvel at brilliant images of borrowers in their element in Chile and Colombia. And finally we depart Latin America for Senegal, where a Latin phrase can teach us about entrepreneurs the world over: they can, because they think they can. And they do, just as soon as they have the capital to do it.
One Dollar Per Day, A Beginner’s Guide (Part 2)
Country: Nicaragua / Fellow: Jason Jones, KF15
This is the second post from Jason in a two-part series, which discusses the reality of living under a dollar a day in Managua, Nicaragua. Jason breaks down a few of the many challenges of living below the poverty line, including its impact on education, access to transportation and clothing oneself, and just what an average day of work might look like.
Top 10: My Favorite Borrower Photos from Chile and Colombia
Country: Chile and Colombia / Fellow: John Gwillim, KF14 & KF15
During his two fellowship placements with Kiva, John has met with hundreds of borrowers in Chile and Colombia. But as he finishes up his second placement, John shares his top ten favorite photographs from the field.
Loan Sharks, Microloans and the Highest Interest Rates Around (they aren’t on Kiva)
Country: Ecuador / Fellow: Kate Bennett, KF15 & KF16
On a routine borrower visit, Kate’s interview with Marcia reveals the harsh alternative to lending from groups like Kiva’s Field Partners. When accredited microfinance institutions are unable to reach borrowers (or the other way around), entrepreneurs must turn to loan sharks, high interest rates, and the very real dangers of illegal lending.
Possunt Quia Posse Videntur
Country: Senegal / Fellow: Tim Young, KF15
As Tim wraps up three months’ work in Senegal, he continues to be amazed by the innovation, enthusasim, and pertinacity of Kiva borrowers. They can because they think they can, they just need to capital to get there.
Everything is Sweeter in El Salvador
Country: El Salvador / Fellow: Andrea Ramirez, KF16
Andrea touches down in El Salvador to begin her fellowship with Kiva and introduces us to one of the most gratifying aspects of working in “the country with a smile”- the food!
* * *
Updates from the past month:
Cooking Classes, Autarky + Social Performance
Motorcycles, Ramadan + A Dollar a Day
Working Animals, Green Microfinance + The Ends of the Earth
Poverty Assessments, Bush Taxis + Meeting “My” Borrower
Externalities, New Faces + Loans that Change Lives
* * *
Plus more pictures (and videos!) from the past week:
by John Gwillim, Colombia
by John Gwillim, Chile
by John Gwillim, Colombia
by Tim Young, Senegal
Entry filed under: Anti-Poverty Focus, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Innovation, KF14 (Kiva Fellows 14th Class), KF15 (Kiva Fellows 15th Class), Nicaragua, Senegal, Social Performance. Tags: Anti-Poverty Focus, blogsherpa, innovation, social performance.
1. Questions from the Field: Why Do We Lend, What’s a Kiva Fellowship + How does Microfinance Supports Green & Agricultural Development? « Kiva Stories from the Field | 21 November 2011 at 13:22
[...] Updates from the past month: New Products in Microfinance, Over-Indebtedness + Transparency Starting Capital, Development Levels + Adventurous Borrower Visits Going Pilot to Active, Meeting Borrowers + Technology and Social Performance Costs of Kiva, Donkey Shares + the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns Loan Sharks, Snapshots + “the Country with a Smile” [...]
2. Updates from the Field: Kiva-style Microfinance, Reggaeton + a Journey though the Commercial Jungle « Kiva Stories from the Field | 17 October 2011 at 02:01
[...] Loan Use, Agriculture Loans + Stuff Kiva Fellows Like Starting Capital, Development Levels + Adventurous Borrower Visits Going Pilot to Active, Meeting Borrowers + Technology and Social Performance Costs of Kiva, Donkey Shares + the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns Loan Sharks, Snapshots + “the Country with a Smile” [...]
3. Update from the Field: Loan Use, Agriculture Loans + Stuff Kiva Fellows Like « Kiva Stories from the Field | 10 October 2011 at 02:01
[...] and Social Performance Costs of Kiva, Donkey Shares + the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns Loan Sharks, Snapshots + “the Country with a Smile” Motorcycles, Ramadan + A Dollar a Day [...]
4. Update from the Field: Starting Capital, Development Levels + Adventurous Borrower Visits « Kiva Stories from the Field | 26 September 2011 at 05:01
[...] and Social Performance Costs of Kiva, Donkey Shares + the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns Loan Sharks, Snapshots + “the Country with a Smile” Motorcycles, Ramadan + A Dollar a Day Working Animals, Green Microfinance + The Ends of the Earth [...]
5. Update from the Field: Going Pilot to Active, Meeting Borrowers + Technology and Social Performance « Kiva Stories from the Field | 19 September 2011 at 01:35
[...] Updates from the past month: Costs of Kiva, Donkey Shares + the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns Loan Sharks, Snapshots + “the Country with a Smile” Update from the Field: Motorcycles, Ramadan + A Dollar a Day Working Animals, Green Microfinance + [...]
6. [In the news] Power rate increases to hit women the hardest, group says – www.sunstar.com.ph | Human Rights Online Philippines | 7 September 2011 at 02:14
[...] Updates from the Field: Loan Sharks, Snapshots + “the Country with a Smile” (fellowsblog.kiva.org) [...]
7. Updates from the Field: Costs, Donkey Shares + the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns « Kiva Stories from the Field | 5 September 2011 at 08:00
[...] Loan Sharks, Snapshots + “the Country with a Smile” Cooking Classes, Autarky + Social Performance Motorcycles, Ramadan + A Dollar a Day Working Animals, Green Microfinance + The Ends of the Earth Poverty Assessments, Bush Taxis + Meeting “My” Borrower [...]
8. iujk | 29 August 2011 at 02:30
But how can we begin to flesh out what’s beyond the edges of the screen?
http://travelguideshops.com