Thursday, December 09, 2010

Empowering women through reading

I just made a donation to help female literacy. They are trying to raise $4,000 by Dec 22nd for 5 new Girls Learning Centers.

They provide mentorship, health & safety information and a safe space for self-expression. LitWorld Girls Clubs for literacy create a network of girls worldwide using literacy for power and social action, and girls use their newfound skills to convey issues of health, information, safety and inspiration to other young women in their community.

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Kiva loan


Just made a Kiva loan to Gantumur in Mongolia.

Gantumur Tsolmon is 45 years old and lives with his wife and three children in a house in the Selenge province of Mongolia. His oldest daughter and son both attend university, and his youngest son attends a local high school. Gantumur's wife helps him with his business. He operates a vegetable trading business, where he plants and grows a variety of vegetables on his own three hectare field to sell to dealers in the local markets.

He also owns a bee farm, which consists of 19 beehives. During winter months, he keeps his bees in a special cellar, and in May he travels through the countryside to pasture his bees. When he has gone to migrate his bees, his children and wife are responsible for growing the vegetables. He started his vegetable planting business in 1992, and has since built a stable operation. Since 1998, he has been producing honey.

During the past 12 years he has gained a lot of agricultural experience and knowledge of both his businesses. The family sells their seeds and honey during the warm months. They pickle their vegetables and sell those during the winter months. All family members are very hardworking people. Gantumur is a modest and experienced business man and says, "we work very hard during all warm months." He is requesting a 3,500,000 MNT loan to purchase a large amount of seeds while the price for such products is cheap.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Days without posts

Sorry about not posting, my life has been consumed with too many things that need higher attention - my research career, and getting the hobby businesses big enough to provide health care and money to people who need it - including my financial partner who just lost their job again. I lost 1/2 of my salary funding and have bureaucracy holding the rest of it back for a few months (or less we could hope). But I"m not complaining, I'm still affording my house and lifestyle and donating what I can. I'm just not having time to blog about it.
But some noteworthy things -
Twice now in the last month I've been asked by someone to put some gas into their car- at the gas station. They were obviously living in it an on hard times, and both seemed really shameful in even having to ask. And they might have only asked because I happened to be talking to them, I make a point of acknowledging people in public like that. Its good to feel part of community, and it can totally change someone's day or point of view. just to do small talk amongst all of us. But yah, now there seems to be people who are pretty desperate. Hard times in the USA. I keep doing what I can. Even if I'm not so good at blogging about it.

Sunday, November 07, 2010

Picking Olives


I went and picked olives at Cal Tech on Friday. I figured I would give them the hour I usually spend on exercise and another I could spare. And I found out why olive oil is so expensive. Its really hard work picking olives!
The school started the program a few years ago to pick the olives from all the trees and turn it into olive oil and sell it to raise money for student activities.

Picking olives is also a dirty job.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Kiva loan


Just made a kiva loan to Armenia.

Artur Sargsyan is single and currently lives with his mother, brother, and sister-in-law. After having served in the Army, Artur needed to find his way in life, to make a stable living, to have his own place, and plan for a family. He decided to import elegant ladies clothing from the US. He is renting a shop in “Hayastan” trade center and has long-standing customers, offering them both good service and quality clothing. Artur has applied for a loan to purchase new inventory and expand his business.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Long Way Home

A friend of mine posted about his friend who is helping out in Guatemala, so I donated to the project and am promoting the idea.

Here's a video

Mateo Paneitz went to Comalapa, Guatemala, in 2003 as a Peace Corps volunteer. Peneitz's desire to help this impoverished, predominantly Mayan community didn't end with his tour though. He sold his car in the USA to raise funds to found the non-profit Long Way Home to create better employment and education opportunities in Comalapa. A popular park has already been created, but the goal now is to create a mixed academic and vocational school.

The construction of the school is part of the solution - it.s built from recycled waste such as car tyres and bottles. With mountains of waste available for re-use, the project is already providing training and employment.


Please vote for the project here (for free) to help him win $20,000 for the project.
And you can donate directly to them here.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Kiva lending


Was out of town attending a few science conferences, trying to make the world better by figuring out how to best find genes to cure diseases.

Today I made a Kiva loan to Rafaela de los Ángeles Salgado Hurtado, a teacher in Nicaragua looking to make her home better.


Saturday, October 02, 2010

Helping friends


I sponsored a friend for AIDS walk. I was her first sponsor, so if you want to help out and surprise her, please do. She's a nice kid who can't always afford to feed herself, and likes to help others.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Just made 47 Kiva loans

Had a bit of Kiva credit, just made 47 Kiva loans. It was fun clicking on everyone.

Your Receipt
Loan
Saad
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
Loan
Sok Mao
$50.00
Loan
Stephen
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
Loan
Mirtha
$25.00
$25.00
Loan
Edward
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
Loan
Gladiz
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
$50.00