kiva

This DloHaiti’s second loan on Kiva after successfully paying back in full a USD50k loan.

Problem

Over 50% of Haitian lack access to clean water and nutritious options. With cholera prevalent and health care inaccessible for many, water-borne diseases are a major cause of death in the country. See DloHaiti video

Solution & Impact

DloHaiti addresses this gap using solar-powered, community-scale water treatment facilities that are managed and operated by members of the community. Despite being 1/3 the price of market alternatives, all costs of water production are covered by the sales.

DloHaiti works with local retailers (lead picture) and distributors to ensure that convenient and affordable access to clean water and powdered milk is reaching more people. By coupling the milk with clean water, DloHaiti can improve nutrition at low cost through its distribution network. Its impactful because milk is not available or affordable to poor consumers. This ensures that the operation is economically sustainable and that the community-based entrepreneurs have strong incentives to continue providing clean water and powder milk. To-date DloHaiti has impacted the lives of 40,000 Haitians.

Loan Use

This loan will expand the water distribution by financing upfront costs like reusable jugs and also providing powdered milk. USD40k will be used to expand access to clean water and USD60k will be used to purchase the powdered milk to meet demand.

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This loan is special because:

It expands distribution of clean water in regions across Haiti that would otherwise be unable to access it

kiva

Claudine is 40 years old. She is married with two children, 12 and 10 years old. Her household consists of five people. Claudine lives in a rural area near the other members of Kabere 16 Group. Claudine is unemployed, but her family income comes from her husband, who works in the sector. 

Claudine says she is choosing to lease a cook stove from Inyenyeri because she wants to save money on fuel used for cooking, and she also appreciates that it cooks cleanly. 

She currently uses charcoal for cooking. It is more expensive than using Inyenyeri’s fuel pellets, and the smoke causes black pots, ruined clothing, and sooty walls and ceiling. 

Claudine plans to use the money she saves on fuel to resume her chicken farming business.

In addition to the opportunities for improving the family’s livelihood that drew Claudine to the new stove, Inyenyeri’s Stove + Fuel system also provides a number of other valuable benefits: improved health outcomes through a substantial reduction of household air pollution, less environmental degradation related to the current unsustainable use of biomass for cooking, and mitigation of climate change through reduction of CO2 and black soot carbon emissions.

In this group: Epiphanie, Jean Claude, Evariste, Gaudence, Angelique, Claudine, Fidele, Francine, Contantine, Hamidou

kiva loan to business that makes stoves that charge and light off the grid

This is a loan to a business to provide more product.

Nearly half the world's population still cooks on open smoky fires, causing over four million respiratory-related deaths annually—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. They also emit more black carbon, the second-greatest contributor to climate change, than all of the world's cars and trucks.

Solution

BioLite designs and manufactures personal-scale energy appliances that enable users to cook, charge, and light their lives off the grid. BioLite believes in a market-based revenue generated business model from their outdoor recreationist product line to support their emerging market initiative where Biolite partners with 3rd oarty credit-enabled distributors. These partners provide consumer finance to sell products to off-grid, low-income customers within their channels. BioLite supports distribution partners by providing product demonstrations, customer training, and after-sales service.

To date, BioLite has retailed 20,000 HomeStoves and 5,000 SolarHome 620 units, providing life-changing clean energy access to 125,000 people.

Loan Use

This loan will enable BioLite to bridge the gap in cash-flows that exists between manufacturing our products and delivering them to off-grid, low-income customers.

Kiva loan to an event planner in Gaza

Made a loan to Amer..  Amer is a 25-year-old single young man lives with his family in Rafah, Gaza Strip. He works hard to build himself and help his family in living expenses. He works in Event Planning. 

He sells and rents theaters, chairs and platforms for weddings and events. He went to Palestine for Credit and Development FATEN to request a US dollar loan to buy new goods( more chairs and theaters) for his work in planning events. This will improve his work and earns more income. He hopes you will help by funding his loan.

kiva loan

Yến is 35 years old and married with two children. She is an ethnic minority living in Cam Thuy district, a mountainous region of Thanh Hoa province, very far from center. She speaks ethnic minority languages and rarely goes out of the village, so she has no opportunity to access financial services. She has had a service tailoring clothes and a wedding-preparation service for more than 10 years. 

Her family is a low-income household in the village; moreover, the market need is low in this region. Yến is a reputable person in the community. This is her first loan from Thanh Hoa Microfinance Institution. The main hardship that Yến faces is lack of capital. She is requesting a loan to purchase instruments to maintain her wedding-preparation service.

With her business profit, Yến hopes for her business to do well, for her family to be healthy and happy, and for her children to do well in school.

Kiva loan to Huda in the Gaza strip

Huda, who appears in the photo, is a 30-year-old single girl who lives with her family in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. 

She is studying at a local university to get her masters degree in business administration. She studies hard so she can graduate and find a good job in her field. 

Her big sister is the responsible for her expenses, but she works in the public sector where she earns a low income that is barely enough to cover the basics. 

Huda needs a laptop for her study and she doesn't have enough money for it. For this reason, she went to Palestine for Credit and Development (FATEN) to request a US dollar loan to buy laptop for her study, to do research and homework. 

This will help her excel in her university studies and get her MBA faster. 

Go Fund Me

Just donated to a friends GoFundMe account. She has cancer and lives in the US and will need help.


Go Fund Me for Therese

Kiva loan in the USA

Made a Kiva loan in the USA.

I grew up in the city of Flint on the city north-side of town. This area has been the most disinvestment and crime ridden area since GM left over a decade ago. Once vibrant neighborhoods have become blighted, crime ridden and traumatized by a man-made water disaster crisis. The neighborhood I grew up in before the water crisis and crime and poverty help shape me as a youth. Many great memories and moments as a child and even to the current. I decided to stay around and be apart of the rebuilding process because I believe in it's people which is the cities greatest asset. I currently reside in the same neighborhood seeking to be a beacon of hope for those who feel like its hopeless. My dreams are to see thriving neighborhoods, economic development and for ex-offenders to have equal access to jobs, housing, education and to be able to participate in the cultural life of the community without discrimination.

Kiva loan to a teacher in Armenia

Ohan is 58 years old and he lives with his family in Vanadzor city of Lori region. Ohan has higher education and specialty of mathematician. Already 25 years Ohan works at the local school as a teacher of math. He also gives paid private courses of mathematics at his house and helps many pupils to get prepared for their entrance exams. Ohan is good specialist and usually all his pupils manage to have good results in thier exams. 

Now this loan of 1.000.000 Armenian drams Ohan asks as he wants to buy a computer, professional literature and he also wants to furnish his working-room with big round table and comfortable chairs as well.

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This loan is special because:

It gives students and teachers an opportunity to fulfill their dreams.

Kiva loan

Kalala is a 40-year-old, married woman with four children. She runs a small business providing the services of lawn mowing in her community to earn a living. She has operated this business for the past three years. Kalala is a Samoan citizen, and she lives in a rural area. She works very hard to please her customers with the help of her children. She is well known in her community because of the services she provides. 

Kalala needs a loan to buy another lawn mower, chemicals, brooms, and celluloid to help take her business to the next level. She plans to use her profit to buy a vehicle to deliver her equipment. She became a member of SPBD in 2013. Kalala's dream is that one day she will gain more customers and earn more profit to help her family build a new home.

New Camera

I bought a camera today for a homeless person that is in a local facebook walking group that I am in.  Someone had stolen his camera and he was posting that he couldn't share pictures anymore.  The camera was one of his sole forms of communication.

He posted about it on his youtube.  Not used to seeing feedback.  I feel humbled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4_6mhkAv88

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsp1BnrNV-g

Eco friendly wood objects where 100% goes to Puerto Rico

I just bought a few things from Lumber Jackie.  Until tomorrow 100% of proceedings goes to a Hurricane Relief fund for Puerto Rico.  I did a google search on my city and help Puerto Rico and found a local group that is helping, and someone from that group is making the wooden objects.  I'm thrilled I bought a few Christmas presents! 

Kiva's new FATEN educational program.

Ieman, who appears in the photo, is a 22-year-old single girl living with her family in a village near Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine. She is studying hard at a local college to become physiotherapist

This loan is part of FATEN's new education program, designed to finance school tuition for students whose families have low incomes or work in informal sectors of the economy. Funds can be used for partial or complete payment of expenses related to higher education. By supporting this loan, you're enabling access to education for students with limited options.

Feeding folks on Skid Row

I joined Monday Night Missions today that feeds people on skid row in Los Angeles who doesn't get into shelters. It's a non-religious, non charity bunch of people who go every night during the work week. We met at a place we could make peanut butter and sandwiches together, then went down as a group. The leader is very good about keeping everyone safe and healthy.  The point of the group was to both feed people and acknowledge them, so there was this wonderful greeting ceremony where we all said hello by name to each person. Such a great experience, I'm going back.

picking up litter

I regularly pick up litter in my neighbourhood, especially in one area that people go to party.  I have done it all my life, but now since my father's passing I can't seem to pass it without thinking of him and how he picked up so many pounds of trash. He did it for his daily exercise, and really made his community a better place.

3 Kiva loans and a kid

I made 3 Kiva loans today, chosen quickly to fulfill an activity and lending partner.

Been busy settling in my friend who is no longer homeless. Moving her towards a positive future. She is a beautiful person and helping her develop into the best she can be makes the world a better place.

Homeless

I invited two of my homeless friends to come live with me for at least a year. They are very young and kinda failed the parent lottery. They have been living in their car, working full time.

I may not be able to help all the homeless. But I sure can help two.

Kiva loans for flowers

Made a loan today to Boliva to a group that has many ladies, including a few who want to purchase wholesale flowers.

https://www.kiva.org/lend/1338632

Fishing

I made a loan on Kiva today that had a 'fishing' activity. I chose this one because it was from Bolivia, a country my sister has taken into her heart and does a lot of NGO work for.  She's been there a few times.  My sister is also trying to change the world, at least what she can.

The loan I made was to Mariela.

Mariela's dream is to have all the necessary tools of work, which is why she wants to buy fishing nets and hooks or baits. The loan will be used in the wholesale purchase of fishing nets and fishing supplies. It is for these reasons that Mariela asks for a loan to buy fishing nets and supplies. 

https://www.kiva.org/lend/1331025

Kiva loan

Made a loan today to Grace. She wants to set up a business to bring  financial inclusion to the marginalized regions of Africa. 

Kiva loan in the USA

Made a Kiva loan today to Clara who lives in California. She is a new immigrant and looking to purchase supplies for her business. Google is matching this loan.
https://www.kiva.org/lend/1333328

Betty's taxi service

Made a loan to Betty today.

Loan on Kiva Here

Betty's story

Betty is a 50-year-old woman who is married with one child. She lives in a rural community outside Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands. 

She has a small business running a taxi service in town to earn a living. She has three years with this business. 

Betty has requested a loan to pay for vehicle maintenance and vehicle licenses to assist her in the business. 

She will use her profits to support her family financially and expand her taxi service business.

Betty joined SPBD in 2015 to gain access to financial services.

Feeding horses

A couple of months ago I started feeding horses. This is a picture of me at the paddock.

It's about a 1.2 mile walk uphill from my house.  The original owners aren't around anymore (due to death) . The new owners do not live nearby.

So I volunteered to feed the horses in the mornings.  I walk up the hill, feed them and give them fresh water in scrubbed buckets.  

 It's wonderful exercise and fabulous for my soul.

 

Patreon

I just started supporting my second artist on Patreon.com - David Kassan

Patreon is a great site where you can make monthly support of artisans. I have been supporting my adoptive niece's significant other for over a year, the $25 I give him every month encourages him to buy supplies and do art.

I like the whole Renaissance feeling about it.

Kiva. It's working

I made two new Kiva loans, to Janet and Felipe.

Kiva loan to help a student study medicine

Made a Kiva loan to Lioner.
Lioner is studying medicine and is applying for a loan to pay for his education expenses. His mother died when he was ten years old and since then he lived with his blind grandmother. He studies to help those who need to improve their health.

Loan here

Handmade gifts by Syrian mothers

I bought a necklace today made by Syrian families in Turkey.
 http://www.amalshop.org/

kiva

2 new kiva loans -

Kiva & home

Made a few Kiva loans today.
Had 4 homeless people stay at my house this month, 2 couples who are friends. One had to go to the hospital and stayed a week to heal. The other 2 got jobs kinda in the area (3 hour bus ride) and stayed till they could find a closer room.

Helping the local homeless

Made a donation to

Care Packages for the Homeless Community of Boyle Heights

Ovarian Psycos would like you to help us raise funds to assemble a total of 200 Care Packages which we plan to distribute on our bikes on the morning of December 31st, 2016! The ovas welcome you to join us on your bike while we ride around BH to various homeless camps to distribute the care packages and to connect with this community that is too often outkasted and stigmatized! 

Each Care Package will include the following items:
-2 pairs of socks (preferably wool)
-1 pair of gloves
-A scarf
-Baby wipes
-Chapstick
-Waterless shampoo
-Small first aid kit
-Lotion and body spray
-A beanie
-2 pairs of clean (never used)underwear
-Bottled water
-Snacks and nonperishable food items
-A list of resources in BH for quick and easy shelter

You can help here

Southern Poverty Law Center

I made  donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center. I have been supporting them for decades, they do very good work and are one of the oldest and largest anti-hate group. If you join them you'll start receiving a lot of their literature which is quite informative. They also provide a lot of things for teachers in their Teaching Tolerance program.

https://www.splcenter.org/

kiva

 Made a Kiva loan today - https://www.kiva.org/lend/1160534

A loan to to expand weather, farming information and financing for 500 cocoa farmers through mobile services in Ghana.

A loan to to expand weather, farming information and financing for 500 cocoa farmers through mobile services in Ghana.

Lending for higher education

I made a loan to Jean in Rwanda to help pay for a lap top to go to school in the US.  

Loan to coffee grower in Peru

Made a loan to Peru, to a new microlender.  Adriano, aged 45, is a member of the Cenfrocafe Cooperative and lives in Caserío Cruz de Chalpon, San Ignacio, Peru. Adriano lives with his wife and their two children who are of school age. He wants to use the income from the farm to support his family and to educate his children. Adriano dreams of salvaging his coffee production, which was affected by yellow coffee rust, and buying more hectares of coffee.

With the loan Adriano is going to buy fertilisers so he can ensure good quality in his organic coffee. He has shown himself to be responsible during his eight years as an active member of Norandino and is grateful for the services. With the extra income he wants to reinvest the money into his farm. Adriano plans shortly to buy more hectares of coffee and guarantee a good life for his family.

Scales and support through Amazon Smiles

Just bought a  shipping scale and sent it to my adopted niece. She's building a business and I am helping. I bought it through Amazon, through the 'smiles' program and a portion of the money went to TEAM RUBICON, one of my favourite non-profits. Here I wearing one of their supporting 'I'm in the Tribe' t-shirts.

'Adopted family'

Family isn't always blood.  Over the years I have picked up kids (and adults) who failed the parent lottery and taken on active and consistent roles as a close mentor. A few years ago I picked up twins who are now in University. One spent the summer with me(first time) and is returning to school tomorrow. I just took him on a grand vacation to meet my family in Canada, and show him what family could be. We had many family parties and dinners and we got to spend some time seeing a bit of Alberta including the Rocky mountains.

An adopted niece cat sat.  Family is wonderful and it's not just blood.

kiva

Made 2 kiva loans to new microlenders I hadn't leant to. I think I have 33 left to find. And 4 countries.

Kiva loans to to new field partners

Found 2 loans from field partnerss I haven't lent to yet. Still trying to tick off that box.

I have 33 field partners still to lend to. Since some of them are no longer partners I have actually loaned to :

Field Partners 306 / 253

Likewise  I have 4 countries left to lend to, but

Countries 81 / 78 is my tally.

Two new countries to lend to

Just made two loans, one to Nepal and the other to Lesotho. First time lending to both countries.

New Kitten

I went to the local SPCA yesterday and adopted a new kitten. She's 11 weeks old and adorable. I am hoping she'll play a lot with my other cats.

The Pasadena SPCA has a new cat house that has several communal cat areas. It's very beautiful. And it was nice to see empty cages.  I choose which kitty I wanted a head of time because there was no way I could look into their eyes and decide.  So I went there hoping to bring Harley home. And I did. And she's now curled up beside me.

Kiva

Joined one of my Kiva groups in trying to get a loan funded, also chose a loan from a microlender I haven't loaned to in a while.

Helping Ferel cats

I made a donation today to a wonderful group in British Columbia, Canada that is saving feral cats. They have a very ambitious goal to care for the current cats and reduce future generations by neutering. They are taking in pregnant cats and finding homes for the  kittens. And they put everything online so you can follow them. Lots of live web cams.

http://www.tinykittens.com/cats

Helping delegates get to Philadelphia

I've been donating a lot lately to Sanders delegates to help fund their trip to the convention. Not sure how many I've funded, I've not kept track.  One is supposed to send me postcards.

It's hard not to help encourage and support people who have such passion and are willing to donate time and effort into making things better for everyone.

Kiva loans

Made 3 more kiva loans to microlenders I haven't loaned to yet. Slowly getting through them all.

Two more kiva loans

I made 2 more kiva loans today. Lending to new microlenders. I need to make more money so I can have more money to lend through kiva.

Team Rubicon - One of the best Non-profits.

Just 'fixed' my monthly donation to TEAM RUBICON.
They are such a great organization, win/win.  Vets helping.

I ran into a member last week at the airport in Calgary, Alberta Canada. He was just coming off the Fort Mac Deployment.  I wish I was wearing my 'I'm in the Tribe' shirt.

Kiva loans

Made 4 Kiva loans to microlenders I haven't loaned to yet.  I have leant to 291/256 field partners.

Kiva loan to Juliet

Made a loan to Juliet in Africa today.
Juliet

uliet is a production worker and an Organic and Fair Trade Certified Oil Palm Farmer who lives in Akim-Asuom in the Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region of Ghana, West Africa. She is 34 years old and married with three children, all of whom have a basic education. 

Juliet believes organic oil palm is profitable and helps protect the environment. In this regard, she wants to secure a Kiva loan to expand her oil palm field, in order to create more development and also to be able to continue providing for the education of her children and improve her family’s lifestyle.

Wonderful Words

I got a beautiful card from my cousin today. She's actually my 4th cousin. I met her a few years ago when my sister and her sister planned a 'family' gathering in London.  The sisters had met on ancestry.com.  14 of us trucked over from North America and joined other distant cousins into ancestry.

So while I was there I spoke of my hobby business that I started to help friends feed kids. It sells costumes online. I started it about 15 years ago and have hired over 100 people so far.  We sell to religious people also, we make a lot of monks robes.

I like to buy products from local artisans Made in USA.  So when my cousin told me her son could make wooden crosses for me, we went into business.  He has severe schizophrenia and can't work. But I now give him something to do.

the card reads:
Thank you for giving A this work. It makes him feel like he is able to do something worthwhile with his life.

Words are so sweet to hear. We're all in this together.

And the crosses are beautiful.

Stamp out Hunger Food Drive by Letter Carriers

I put together a bag of food for my letter carrier to pick up at my mail box tomorrow. It's Stamp out hunger day.Stamp out Hunger

Kiva Loan

Made a Kiva loan today with one of my Kiva groups. We get together to do this every Monday.

Rescued Cats back in Africa.

Pictures of the 33 'cats' that were rescued. They will live out the rest of their days in comfort. So happy to see. More pics here

I have 2 smaller cats in my house. One came to stay a few years ago, she was living with a young friend who was never home and they lived in a small space. My Binx cat arrived depressed but quickly got over it living here with all the attention. My other cat Kallie is a rescue from the local SPCA. I got her at 3 months. She was very timid. It's been over a year and she is now rather spoiled. She's currently meowing from another room because she wants me to go play with her.

Fires in Alberta

I made another donation to the Canadian Red Cross for the Fires in Alberta.
The fires are growing.
I'm also working on getting other Canadians Abroad folks to donate with me.

https://donate.redcross.ca/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1951&ea.campaign.id=50610

Feeding refugees.

Made a donation to

PHILOXENIA  

today.  They are feeding refugees.

The name Philoxenia derives from an ancient Greek term referring to the duty of kindness and hospitality shown to guests, foreigners or strangers, and embodies the true generosity of human spirit. We are team Philoxenia, and our mission is to embrace and share this spirit among the growing population of asylum seekers in Europe. We provide hot meals, comfortable spaces and open arms in

stressful environments. We work to provide positive support and inspire a sense of humanity and solidarity that people can carry with them throughout their onward journey.

In 2015, vast numbers of ordinary people have been forced to flee their homes in fear of persecution, violence or death and in search of freedom, justice and dignity. Despite the harsh winter conditions and increased risk of drowning at sea, thousands continue to make the treacherous journey into the EU each day. Government and international aid agencies, though equipped with large scale funding and facilities, are unable to address every need in this volatile environment. We are here to fill the gaps that are left behind. This initiative emerges from the desire to support incoming refugees in some of their daily challenges. We feel that at the end of the day, a simple but warm meal can go a long way. 

Our goal is to provide a warm meal to 1000 people a day. That means, during our first year of operation, we will provide around 356,000 warm meals to asylum seekers throughout the EU. 

Thank you for being kind, the world is so much better because of it.

Fort McMurry Fire

I made a donation today to the Red Cross of Canada to help the people of Fort McMurry, Alberta.  Fire just got most of the town and everyone was evacuated.


Donation link here - Canadian Red Cross - Alberta Fires.   You don't have to be Canadian to donate.

Kiva loan to Madagascar

Made a Kiva loan to Ruffine. My first loan to Madagascar,

Ruffine is a widow, 58 years old, and she had only one son, who is already married. She lives in a busy neighborhood. For a dozen years, she has been selling kitchen utensils at the market: with this business, she has succeeded in meeting family needs. It is also a passion of hers. 

She has been a partner with VAHATRA for nine years. With her previous loan, she had profits she preferred to reinvest as capital. She still wants to take out another loan to purchase kitchen utensils to sell, such as cups, buckets, pots, and tureens. 

Ruffine is thinking about her financial independence. Her goal is to build a house.

Southern Poverty Law Center

I've been donating to the Southern Poverty Law Center for over a decade. They do wonderful work against hate.
 We need less hate in the world.

They also teach tolerance.

We need more of that too.

Sustaining Space

I helped out James in Oregon today with part of a Kiva Zip loan. These loans are for Americans (I think mostly) for their small businesses.  We all need capital.

Pasadena Humane Society

I made a donation to the Pasadena Humane Society today. It's being matched

Political Revolution

Helping get Bernie Sanders elected president.

Feel the burn.

Post Card to Attawapiskat.

I sent a post card today to Attawapiskat.

"The Canadian First Nations community of Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency this month after 11 people tried to kill themselves in a single night, bringing the total number of suicide attempts since September to more than 100."

So sad.  I'm having a day that is hard for me too, But it's never been so hard that I wanted to die.  Just need to look harder for the good in the world


Read the story here

Helping Syrian Refuges with cats

I made a donation to help a few Syrian refuges who have 3 cats.  So brave.

https://www.generosity.com/emergencies-fundraising/syrian-refugee-family-and-three-cats-need-a-home/x/36927

Kiva loans

I made 9 Kiva loans today. Two were for 'dentistry', the last 'activity' I had left to fund. The others were for microlenders I haven't loaned to yet.
 I really should set kiva up to automatically fund loans. I always seem to have a balance. So much to do in life.

Friend of Saxonhouse

I helped fund new thatching for the Saxon House.

Friends of Saxonhouse

Bring Hope to the Table

Donated to 'Bring Hope to the Table' when I bought some groceries at Ralphs.  The money goes to help feed people in need. http://www.bringinghopetothetable.com/

Team Rubicon Support squad

Just signed up to be a monthly donor to Team Rubicon. Member of the Support Squad.
Team Rubicon is a veterans organization that helps out after natural disasters.

"I support Team Rubicon not only for the important job they are fulfilling by getting experienced first responders on the ground to disaster areas, but what they provide in allowing our veterans to use the leadership, operational, and technical skills"


http://www.teamrubiconusa.org/?mc_cid=ec9310b54f&mc_eid=8b0386dcf6

kiva

Made a few kiva loans today.  love the new picture that shows where they went

Kiva loans

I was asked by a group on facebook to make a kiva loan to a widow from El Salvador with a grocery store.  I made 2 other loans to microlenders I hadn't lent to yet.

Respect and Dignity

I had a conversation with a homeless man today.  He was sitting outside a book store and said hi to me so I stopped and chatted with him when I came out. Just about what I was doing and small talk stuff. Nothing about him being homeless or wanting food or money.  Just treated him like he was a person. Which of course he is. But when you're homeless that gets taken away from you.

I've sat with homeless people on a few occasion (sometimes I'll buy food and eat with them). As soon as you are with them, people stop noticing you.  They walk by and advert their eyes. Everyone just happens to be looking the other way. They clutch bags and act afraid.   I can tell they don't see me, I am just getting judged by the company i'm with. I don't get that reaction when I sit alone, lots of people make eye contact.

So today I gave a homeless person some respect and dignity.

Kiva loans

I just made 9 Kiva loans of $25 each, to use up my Kiva credit.

I need to blog more.  I do things but don't have time to write about them.

Musical Instruments

Whoot, finally got a loan filling one of the last 3 'activities' on KIVA (out of 149). Kiva tallies several lending statistics. Obsessive people like me try to get at least one in each category/group. This one fulfilled 'Musical Instruments'.

Helped Bail out Greece

Made a small donation to help bail out Greece.  It's a fundraiser and they are trying to raise all 1.6 billion.  Hope it goes through. I really like the idea of the people raising so much money to help people.
 http://time.com/3942118/british-man-indiegogo-greece/

buy products to amass more stock.

Made a kiva loan to Silvio in Brazil.  First time lending in Brazil. I think his summary really summarizes a lot of Kiva need:

A loan of $1,475 helps Silvio to buy products to amass more stock.

As a small business person building up inventory I can totally relate.

!0 loans

Made 10 Kiva loans.
Been busy with house renovations and the business and my work. Not necessarily in that order.
And going through some personal issues (break up) which makes me lethargic and not wanting to blog. But I"m crawling out of it.

Back to lending to Julia's

I could not find any loans in the lender statistics, I've leant to all the microlenders, in all fields, etc.  Or as many as I could.
So I'm back to lending to Julia's. Made 2 loans today. One may not get funded, it's only at 1% and has 4 days left.

I haven't been posting here 'cause I've had some personal issues and it's made me not want to do too much. Life gets in the way. I got hurt and wanted to crawl into my shell for a bit.

I hope I'm back.

Kiva zip - loans to California

I made 3 loans today to people in California through the kiva zip program.

Kiva

I made 10 Kiva loans today to use up credit that acculated over the holidays. One was to a new industry, the others to new microlenders. I'm still trying to get one in each category. I like completing things. And data.

www.kiva.org

I want to go fly my Kiva plane. Wonder if I still have it.

Dinner for one

I bought a meal today for a street person who was sitting outside Whole Foods. I got him something hot - a chicken bowl with veggies. And a drink.  Made his world a bit better today.