kiva loan to Guatemala.

I made a kiva loan today to Guatemala.
Mrs. Sebastiana resides in the small village of Nimasac Totonicapán and is married with six children. She has a small store of daily items, photocopy services, and the grinding of hominy. With the income she has generated she has fed her children and is a professional, enterprising person. She visits the office of Asdir to ask for a loan that she will invest in the purchase of daily consumed articles and paper for the photocopier as there is increasing demand for copies since there is a school near the store.

Blogging for Kiva

The purpose of my blog was to record my actions on what I did that was positive and made things better in the world. Many of my posts are about my donations to Kiva.org, because I think they are really going to change the world. I blog about it a lot, because kiva loans are easy to do. Its not a charity where your money gets donated and you're not really sure where it goes.

With Kiva, you get updates on where your money is. You even get it returned to you. The concept that you can significantly change people's lives by just lending them money is so powerful that it will resonate with a lot of people.

And that's what is happening. I have been with Kiva since December 2006, and there is still more lenders than loans. The people who run Kiva were surprised that the business model they envisioned didn't happen because they got so many lenders. I believe that people are fundamentally good. People are skeptical about giving away money, but not so much about lending it. And $25 isn't a large sum to many people in the developing world. For $25 they can feel good. good returns.

I set the spark for Kivafriends.org, because I knew there must be other people like me wanting to share the Kiva experience and talk amongst ourselves. I suggested it on the yahoo group, Joe ran away with the idea and set up the board, and its got thousands of members and has done incredibly productive things, including other charities, helping kiva and kiva fellows, putting out yearly calendars, and much more. I meet with kiva friends on the boards and in chat and in second life and on facebook, and have done lots of good work with them.

I really like the fact that there is all this transfer of monies from the developed world to the undeveloped world without big banks getting a cut. It still feels so grassroots.

I'm a narcissistic philanthropist. I like to lend to Julia's.

This blog post is part of Zemanta's "Blogging For a Cause" campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

Kiva Loans to Central America

I made a few Kiva loans today to Central America.
To Jose Roberto Cerritos in Honduras (Activity: General Store), Raul Enrique Tian Salvador in Guatemala (Activity: Clothing Sales), Delfina Paztrana Lopez in Honduras (Activity: Beauty Salon), Hector Otoniel Amezquita in Guatemala (Activity: Retail) and Julio Cesar Lazo Lopez in Nicaragua (Activity: Construction).

Travelling and Tired

I have been away in Canada for a few days, and haven't been blogging. But I'm still trying to do good!

Today I lent to a Julia in Peru -

Red hair

I felt compelled to lend to this person. I think it might be the hair colour. Also her name - Nancy. She is in Lima Peru. I hope I get to meet her some day.

kiva

I've been busy doing all the things I need to before I travel for a few days to Canada.

Today I made a loan to Ana Julia Zeledon Franco in Managua, Nicaragua.

kiva loan to Honduras

I made a loan today to Honduras, to Iris Wuvaldina Bustillo. She's in Danli and has a store.

Kiva loans with Kiva Credit

I made a few loans today using Kiva credit. One was to Francisco Ramon Velasquez Cubas in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Francisco has an upholstery workshop, located in the San Francisco neighborhood, a populous section of Comayaguela. I know where that is!

I also made a loan to Batzaya Lampirandorj in Tsetserleg, Arhangay, Mongolia, and to the TROPICAL Group in Boliva, and to the Benkadi (l’unité) Group in Mali
and to the The Good Friend Group in San Lorenzo, Honduras.

Lending to another Julia in Peru

I made a loan today to Julia in Ayacucho Peru. Julia appears to be very industrious.

Julia is a member of the Communal Bank Legión.
Julia is separated, 56 years old, and has 2 children. Julia sells a variety of clothing and shoes according to her clients’ orders; she sells to workers from various institutions, and also sells small items. In addition, Julia provides catering services for different events.
Julia needs a loan of 2550 PEN, money that will be invested in the purchase of shoes and clothing.
Julia dreams that her children’s ventures are successful, and that her last child finishes his studies.

Julia in Boliva

I made a loan today to Julia in Alto, Boliva for 14 months. She wants to borrow money for personal reasons, to work on her home. I'm glad I can help her and her family. I've borrowed money to own my home.

Its amazing, the MFI she is with has been on Kiva for 25 months and has a ZERO delinquency rate. Dr. Yunnis was right, the poor do pay back at greater frequencies than the rich.

Dream Act

I bought a few buttons today to support the Dream Act. This is the act that will let undocumented people who were brought into the USA as children, become citizens. We've already paid to educate them, so we might as well let them pay taxes! Lots of very bright talent going to waste. Please consider signing the petition and supporting the Dream Act.

Helping Julia's

I made a loan today to Julia in Lima Peru, she wants capital for her business. I made the loan through kiva.org

Let's Get Cookin!!! Donorchoose.org

I made a donation today through donorchoose.org that was selected by a few kivafriends. I want to support them, and of course they chose great projects.
I chose Lets's Get Cookin for my first support. This project will fund a microwave and supplies for 4th and 5th graders with disabilites to help teach them life skills. Like cooking.

US Postal Service Food Drive

I left a few cans in my mailbox today, to participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers and the U.S. Postal Service National Food Drive. Apparently they collected 73.1 million pounds of food last year. What a great drive. Big thanks to all our wonderful postal employees.

Supporting Julia in Peru

I popped into Kiva this morning to try to get in on a loan a friend is on (mentioned on facebook) and it was full, but I found a Julia in Peru to lend to.

Julia is feeding people in her home, and wants to start a small cafe. Kiva has helped her with money, as well as training. She's in Lima, so there is a chance I might make it to her cafe someday.

Cancer

Today I sponsored a friend in a Cancer Relay for Life Charity event.

I try to sponsor all my friends to encourage them, but today was meaningful because I had a few skin biopsies yesterday and am hoping they come back negative. So I'm sitting here with stitches and band-aids. I am a cancer survivor and have a family history of it and have the pale white skin/red hair risk factor. Cancer is especially meaningful to me.

I have a hunch that a cure for cancer might come from the Canadian Cancer Society. They might sponsor an innovative project with significant results. Feel free to donate through my friends page and we can see...

Afganistan Mother's Literacy Program

Taken from the email they want us to send our friends. They need 4 more people to donate TODAY to remain on Global Giving.

I just donated to this great project on GlobalGiving called '100 Mothers Literacy Program'. The best part is that you can pick exactly who and where you want to help. And with regular progress reports directly from the people working in the field, you can see exactly how much good you have helped accomplish. Spread the word, and join me in supporting this awesome cause.

Kiva

I made a kiva loan today and bought some gift certificates but there is a problem with payal. Not sure if its gone through. Must remember to check.

Southern Poverty Law Center

I'm making my yearly donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center because I like the work that they do. They keep a tab on hate crimes and hate groups. And they themselves are hated, I've received some of my rare hate comments about my donation to that group. Someday perhaps I'll talk about my strange hate comments.

Kiva

I made 2 loans today - to Juliana Ihuaku in Nigeria and to Jose Marcial Garcia in Honduras.

Any Soldier Raffle

I purchased a few tickets in the Anysoldier.com raffle. There are some wonderful things available. I hope I win! I think that ruby/diamond bracelet will look wonderful on my arm.

If I win the patriotic items I'm going to donate them to the VA volunteer group. They can do their own raffle or something.

Grocery store in Nigeria

I made a loan today to Juliana Bello in Lagos State, Nigeria for her grocery store.

Helping Julia's

Today I got to lend via Kiva.org to Julia Evardo in Talibon, Bohol, Philippines and to Julia Nisnisan in Southern Looc, Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, Philippines.

I always wonder if they see the lender sheets and notice we share a name.

kiva loans

My kiva loans - KIVA ROCKS!

	Loan Purchase of $25 to Anta DIA (business id=105698) Counted towards Barack Oblogger
	Loan Purchase of $25 to New Miracle Praise Ministry Primary School, Waterloo Group (business id=105989) Counted towards Barack Oblogger
	Loan Purchase of $25 to Rolando Pomicpic (business id=106125) Counted towards Barack Oblogger
	Loan Purchase of $25 to Eliseo Gerardo Tzul Tzul (business id=105495) Counted towards Barack Oblogger
	Loan Purchase of $25 to Rosa Micaela Ramos Chaclan (business id=105504) Counted towards Barack Oblogger
	Loan Purchase of $25 to Alba Luz Mendoza (business id=104844) Counted towards Barack Oblogger
	Loan Purchase of $25 to Francisco Aguero (business id=105475) Counted towards Barack Oblogger

Next Steps:

When the loan needs of each entrepreneur you have sponsored are met, you will receive an email containing the exact date the loan term is beginning. This may take a while after your individual loan transaction was made, as we may need to wait for other lenders to contribute before the total requested loan funding is raised. Generally speaking, loans begin at the beginning of each month.

During the Loan Term:

Throughout the course of the loan term, you will receive repayments from your sponsored business which you can retrieve, re-lend or donate. If, when you created your Kiva profile, you opted to receive updates about Kiva entrepreneurs, you may also receive periodic emails informing you on how things are going with your loan(s). Or, if you opted not to receive updates about Kiva entrepreneurs, you can always read the online journal for your business. If you change your mind about your current preferences, you may update your profile at any time on the Kiva website. We encourage you to post your own comments in response to the journal updates posted, as the partner representatives will be able to read and respond to these comments.

At the end of the Loan Term:

At the end of the loan term, you will receive a final email update with a summary of your sponsored business's overall performance and success in completing the loan repayment, as well as a complete list of options for you to retrieve, re-lend, or donate any repaid loan monies.

Please don't hesitate to contact us at any time at contactus@kiva.org

Thank you again for partnering with us!

Best Wishes, Kiva Staff

kiva loans

I made two kiva loans today, one to Abdou BA in THIES, Senegal. Couldn't resist his sewing machine and beautiful top.

I also made a loan to Ruth Urrutia de Campos in El Salvador. She wants more capital for her store.

kiva

I made a loan today to Emperatriz in Peru.

kiva

I made a Kiva loan today to Saidov Saiburkho. He is in Shahrituz, Tajikistan and needs capital for his carpet store. Wish I could buy a carpet from him! Perhaps some time in the future the kiva loan recipients will be selling online...

Since somebody asked, Kiva is an online company where people can lend (in increments of $25) to individuals in developing countries. These individuals are getting loans through a micro financing institutions, kiva works with these institutes. Micro financing is the concept of lending small amounts of money to people who usually don't have access to credit or financing. A really good book to read on this is 'Banker to the Poor' by Yunnis - the man who won a Noble prize for his microlending concept.

As someone who owns a successful small business I understand how important capital is. A lot of my businesses success has been because I have access to a lot of credit, I have seen other people not be able to succeed because they didn't have good credit (and therefore couldn't even get an account to be able to accept credit cards). My access to credit has allowed me to purchase in bulk and has gotten us through slow times. (In case you're confused - this business is not my main job (I'm a scientist), its a hobby business I own that my friends run, I started it to help friends work from home with their babies, and after 9 years we employed about 15 people part-time last year). Garb the World and Cloth4less.

Anyhow, the point I was making was that business really needs credit to grow, and the micro loans through Kiva are significantly changing a lot of lives. Often more people than the borrower are affected, as the extra monies from business go to educate children, etc.

Kiva allows you to LEND your money to these people, so you can get it back if you want. Most people just keep relending. A lot of my loans are from pay-backs.

Kiva loans to Mexico

I made a loan today to Julián Robledo López in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

The exterior of Julián Robledo’s house is not finished. He does not have the money to buy the material. He will take charge of making the improvement. He does the construction and repairs on his house. Julián is a family man. He has four minor children, and he would like to give them the best.

There is a theory called 'the broken glass' where neighbourhoods have less crime when there is less broken glass and graffiti around. I wonder if this loan to make the house look better will have effects like that.

Kiva

I made a loan today to the SIEMPRE AMIGAS Group in Bolivia. I just liked the picture.

Mongolia

I made a Kiva loan today to Gombodorj Dorjnamjaa today, to buy phone cards for his business. That's his wife pictures.

Their business started with 400,000 MNT (approximately $290) of capital. After a few successful years he has become an official distributor of phone cards for all four major domestic operators, and receives exclusive discount wholesale prices. Recently, he added two more domestic operators, G-Mobile and Mongolian Telecom Company. His business capital has increased to 1,500,000 MNT. (Which is about $1000 US.)

Gombodorj hopes to have his own shop to sell his phone cards, instead of renting a small stall at the local market. He requests a loan to purchase more phone cards for his business.

Earth Day

I made my yearly donation to the Union of Concerned Scientists today.

The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.

kiva

I made a loan today to Nizar in Lebanon.

Nizar is a 42 year old Man who lives in Saida, southern Lebanon. He has owned a phone shop for a year and a half. Nizar also sells recharge phone cards. He requests a loan of $2500 from Al Majmoua in order to purchase recharge cards. This is the first time Nizard has requested a loan.

Nizar is special in his work because he has competitive prices. His clients can be anybody. When Nizar first started his business, he didn’t face difficulties. In the future, he plans on expanding his business.

AIDS Walk

I sponsored a friend for 2009 AIDS walk. I must say I enjoy sponsoring friends for causes I believe in, it supports them and it helps the cause.

Our knowledge about the HIV virus and spread of AIDS has increased enormously over the last few years, thanks to the time and effort of the researchers, and people willing to raise money for the cause.

Kiva loans

I made 12 Kiva loans this morning, but can't find them! Most were to Honduras. But I also made a loan to Boris Gagelgantsev in the Ukraine 'cause I loved his picture.

Made a loan to Juliana Allan today, in Mwanza Tanzania.

Post Card to Iraq

I sent off a post card to a medical unit in Iraq. I often just go to anysoldier.org and send off letter, or packages.

Novica

I bought a purse today at NOVICA.COM. Novica's mission is:

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.

We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together.

NOVICA. The World is Your Market.

Here are the artisans whose lives have been changed and their stories.

Novica has some of the most beautiful jewelry you can imagine. Its very unique. And you get a signed note from the artisan, and it really changes their lives. And the prices are incredible. Significantly cheaper than hand-made items you would find here. Win-win situation. And you get pretty, shiny things.

oxfam

I renewed my membership in Oxfam today. Oxfam was one of the first non-profits I ever became active with - in college I helped with tables and events. I learned how dedicated people could make a difference.

I also wrote a check to my federal and state governments today for taxes. I hope it goes to make the world better. I'm afraid a lot of it goes for horrible things like bombs and tanks and guns. Things that don't really add to the value of the world.

Honduras

I made a loan today to Rosa Amelia Gutierrez in Choluteca, Honduras.

Rosa Gutierrez has made a living renting out apartments to help maintain herself and her widowed daughter for a long time now. She gets up very early to tidy the apartments and the backyard. She also likes to raise hens and grow plants; there is a good deal of greenery in her apartments. She is a very humble individual and her tenants hold her in high esteem, as she is attentive to their needs. She has it in mind to build and refurbish some run-down apartments, for which she is requesting a loan.

Kiva loans to Honduras

I made two kiva loans today to Honduras - Yamileth Argentina Ramirez Borjas and to van Arnulfo Mejia Yanes in Teguigalpa.

Kiva loans in Moldova

I made a loan today to Eugenia Ogarcova in Ungheni, Moldova. I saw the picture and had to make the loan. I feel a strong connection with Moldovians, I think it is because they physically resemble my family. I am half Hungarian. I've been to the villages and towns my grandparents came from, and I am grateful that they made the trip. My grandfather came by himself at 14. I have cousins in Hungary about my age, and so I have an idea of what my life would have been like had my family stayed. Very different. I would be asking for Kiva loans, instead of giving them.

I feel blessed to be here, and I try to share my fortunes in life.

kiva

Delia CamotaI finished my grant proposal. And made a loan to Delia in the Philipines.

kiva and grant writing

My grant proposal is almost done.

In the mean time I made a loan to Julia Fanola Champi in ANTA, Peru.

Julia Fanola Champi lives in an agricultural area in the Municipality of Anta, about an hour outside of the city of Cusco. She has five children, four of whom are also members of the San Pedro de Katañiray Village Bank. Julia and some of her children live in a lovely yellow home with two cows painted on the front, a means to alert passers-by of the milk-selling business she runs from her home. Julia has several cows, which usually yield anywhere from ten to fifteen liters of milk per day. She then sells the milk to an intermediary for 80 centimos (~US 26 cents) per liter. The intermediary then takes the milk to the city of Cusco, where it is resold for 1 nuevo sol (~US 30 cents) per liter. Julia is requesting a loan of 3,000 nuevos soles in order to help her sons buy a station wagon to use as a taxi. Her two sons currently share a car, which they take turns driving to and around the city of Cusco. They have some money saved, but need another 3,000 nuevos soles to buy a second car. With two taxis, they can work simultaneously and earn twice as much as they currently do. They will also be able to rent out one of the cars to other drivers as an additional source of income.

kiva loan to scientist!

A friend showed me a great Kiva loan for me - to a researcher! Hugo Samudio in Paraguay. Hugo has a business as a researcher. He researches all kinds of Paraguayan topics and sells the information to various businesses. I also made a loan to Juliana Anamoah in Cape Coast, Ghana.

And I'm going to take a few hours away from my grant proposal writing to attend a Tai Chi class.

kiva

I made to loans to Julia today, to Julia in Lima, Peru who is a tailor, and to Julia in Bolivia for her general store.


I wonder how many Julia's I've loaned to.

chocolate bunnies and grant proposals.

I have been really busy working on a few grant proposals for the new stimulus package -the National Institute of Health was given money to help scientists with research. That's my real job - trying to find genes for diseases. Its expensive so I write a lot of grant proposals.

The other day I gave a chocolate bunny to a homeless person. I had run down to the drug store to pick up a prescription for a housemate that gets home after the store closes, and decided to reward myself with a chocolate bunny. I saw the homeless man outside, and bought him one. He was a bit surprised when I gave it to him and wished him a Happy Easter. I also gave him a $20 bill, so he wouldn't feel he was given chocolate when needed food. I realize he probably spent the money on booze. I also realize that I would probably be a drunk if I lived on the streets too. I try to make sure most of the funds I have to help homelessness goes directly to programs that help get people off the street, but its hard to not help the people I see.

If I get my research funded I will be able to find genes for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and help some of the homeless or at least stop so many vets from hitting the streets.