Kiva loans to Armenia

I had a meeting today about a science project I'm working on on the genetics of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Armenia.  So I decided to make two Kiva loans to Armenia.

Stepan is 50 years old. He lives in the village of Verin Ptghni, which is in the Kotayk region of Armenia. Stepan is married and he has two sons and a daughter. For many years, Stepan has had his own production business. He is a shoemaker. He works in their house in a small and comfortable workshop where he has all the needed tools and materials for shoe repairing. Stepan has many loyal customers who, from all the large variety of shoemakers in their district, prefer and trust exactly Stepan. He is also engaged in agriculture; he cultivates some vegetables but not for sale – it is for his family’s needs.

Nor Horizon knows Stepan as a very responsible and serious person since he has taken out loans several times and he has paid them back successfully. This time, Stepan wants to cooperate with Kiva lenders and he asks for a loan of 300,000 Armenian drams to buy raw materials for his shoe production.

Vaghtang is 44 years old and lives with his wife and son in Kapan. Although Vaghtang has a higher education, graduating from Yerevan State Polytechnic Institute, he has never worked. His wife works as a teacher at the school. In the village where Vaghtang and his family live he has a private piece of land. They also keep a hundred chickens. Vaghtang cultivates vegetables and fruits and sells the gathered harvest at the Kapan wholesale market. Besides agriculture and farming, Vaghatang is engaged in carpentry works, making wooden parquetry, boxes, etc. 

Vaghtang plans to repair the barn for his chickens and needs a loan of 300,000 Armenian drams. It is the first, but hopefully not the last, time that he wishes to have a deal with Kiva lenders.

Haitian Education Society

 My sister sits as a local Board Secretary for the Haitian Education Society (HES). I helped sponsor the school in Jacmel, and through the efforts of HES the school was expanded up to grade 6. This year had the first grade 6 grads!

Made a few KIVA.org loans today,

mostly to Julia's.  Using up kiva credit.

Empowering people to follow their passions.

Snacks for vets

Brought soup to the Vets today.

I bring cup-o-soup flats to the volunteer office at the Veterans Hospital so they can give them out to the veterans who need something while they wait for doctors appointments. I started doing this 5-6 years ago when I was told that vets often ended up in jail for stealing food from the PX. So I became the soup lady and bring in a hundred or so a month (costs me about $25), and I even a tax write-off. 

Its absolutely nothing like writing a blank check for your life for your country. But today I got cheered on, and some of the guys who cheered me on were missing limbs. 

I'm glad I"m appreciated. Just saying it seemed the wrong person was being thanked.

Snacks for vets

Brought in some snacks for the veterans, enough for 80 meals.

Trying to keep the volunteer office stocked so no one goes hungry and steals.

Smile

Smiled and spoke to some people today and made their day brighter.

Donated food yesterday through my mailbox.  Letter Carriers food drive. I helped stamp out hunger.

Helped a friend

Helped a friend with his business today. Not sure it changed the whole world, but changed his.

Snacks for vets

Brought 'snacks', which are noodle soups that just need water, to the VA volunteer department today. I try to keep them supplied with something to give hungry vets.

Teaching

Started teaching today. New class to inspire and educate.
Teaching changes the world.

Helped purchase the Equity House in Topeka, Kansas.

I just gave a bit to pay off the mortgage for the Equality House which is across the street from the horrible Westboro Church - the mean people who picket military funerals.


I really like the idea of a rainbow house right near them to counter their message. Anyone else got a few bucks to help pay for a house in Kansas?


More info at Planting Peace on facebook.

Time sinks

Its been so long since I've blogged here. I guess I got tired of it, and other things started occupying my time. Mostly other people, wanting my time. It seems I am not very good at saying 'no', and tend to get caught up in helping.

This isn't necessarily a good thing. I often find myself in situations where I am being used by selfish people. Or weak people who can't go off on their own. So I have all these dependents who are drains on me. And they stop me from doing things for greater good. I need to stop these time sinks, and be stronger. Perhaps getting back here will help.

I made 2 kiva loans today.
Both to Julia's in Nicaragua.

Soup for Vets

Brought snacks for the vets

Kiva loan

Made a few kiva loans to use up kiva credit.

Kiva

Used up some kiva credit making loans.

Soup for vets

Brought snacks for the vets.

Trans Youth Family Allies

 I am keeping my monthly donations to Trans Youth Allies going. This is the only non-profit I have a continued subscription to.  I do it because I personally know the lady who founded and runs the organization, and I know that 100% of my money goes to help the kids.  I like to support Kim in her efforts, because I like having people like Kim in the world. When her last kid went off to college she founded this non-profit.

Southern Poverty Law Center

Made a donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center to help with JUSTICE.
I often fight for justice, I feel I should use my voice and strength to help people who don't have it.

People Assisting the Homeless

Made a donation to PATH - People Assisting the Homeless.

Made two Kiva loans today, both to Julia's. One in Kenya, the other in Peru.

• Julia Maua, Kenya

  A loan to to buy vegetables and fruits to resell.

   
   
• Julia Ayacucho, Peru

  A loan to to buy sacks of rice and sugar as well as cereals and canned goods.