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Stories from Paraguay

Apr 4, 2013 Paraguay

"Are you going to Carnaval tonight?" the Taxi driver asked me in Spanish. Newly aware that I had not, as I'd thought, missed Carnaval season, my answer was a pleasantly surprised "heck yeah, I wouldn't miss it!"

Later that evening a few friends and I hopped a taxi downtown and, on the way, managed to find a micro-entrepreneur" who was willing to sell us tickets to the Press Box. Despite some doubts as to the provenance and validity of said tickets, we decided to take the... Continue Reading >

Mar 3, 2013 Paraguay

Micro-businesses ranged from handicrafts to catalog sales

In an earlier post I mentioned one of the ways that Fundación Paraguaya serves its constituents by broadening its scope beyond just making microloans. In that post I wrote about the Fundación’s self-sustaining agricultural and hospitality education program for high school students.

Another way that Fundación Paraguaya equips people to make better use of microfinance and emerge from... Continue Reading >

Mar 3, 2013 Paraguay

Wait, what exactly is going on at Fundacion Paraguaya? Why are they not just making loans? Have I found the "journalistic" Holy Grail and uncovered Something Scandalous?

The Short Answer: (1) No, I haven’t uncovered anything scandalous and (2) they do more than make loans because, quite simply, it is helpful to the people whom they serve!

Important Context: I am a wet-behind-the-ears Microfinance Guy who undoubtedly still sees things as being much simpler than they really are. #Kiva

Now The Long Answer: As I climb the Development /... Continue Reading >

Feb 2, 2009 Paraguay

See You In Asuncion! By Nick Cain

Kiva training is done. My bags are packed. I’m about as ready as I can be to make it from San Diego, to LAX, to Houston, to Buenos Aires, and then on to Asuncion, Paraguay. So, here I am, ready to depart for another meet and greet with customs officials, and it seems appropriate to spend a little time thinking and sharing about why, exactly, I’ve decided to hit the road again. On...

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Kiva Fellows are volunteers who maximize Kiva's impact around the world. By working closely with our Field Partners in over 50 countries, they make sure loan dollars go where they're needed most -- while having a few adventures along the way. Learn more >

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Stories from Paraguay