The view on sub-Saharan Africa is changing. No longer do stories of tribal wars, starving children and endemic diseases dominate the updates from the region. A new, more hopeful and optimistic picture is emerging; a reality of solid GDP-growth, more widely practiced reasonably free and fair elections, and a wealth of natural resources that range from oil and gas to diamonds and rare minerals.
... Continue Reading >>Stories tagged with blogsherpa
Apr 4, 2013
United States
United States
By: Abhishesh Adhikari
One of the best parts about my Kiva Fellowship has been the opportunity I get to meet and interact with entrepreneurs. During the 4 months that I spent in Kyrgyzstan, I helped Bai Tushum (Kiva’s partner MFI) launch a new Startup Loan Product and met a wide variety of entrepreneurs all across that country. After I got back from Kyrgyzstan in January, I have been working on a new Kiva project called Kiva Zip, trying to expand it here in Chicago.
Kiva Zip is a new initiative to make interest-free, small business loans to entrepreneurs in...
Continue Reading >>
Apr 4, 2013
Guatemala, 
Nicaragua
This blog post was co-authored by Jeff Nelson, KF20 Guatemala and Matt Bastone, KF20 Nicaragua. We recently met-up on Jeff’s home turf in Guatemala to witness one of the most important religious holidays throughout all of Latin America: Semana Santa. We were inspired to write this post because, well, it was an amazing experience and an important tradition in many people’s lives.
Continue Reading >>
Guatemala, Nicaragua
This blog post was co-authored by Jeff Nelson, KF20 Guatemala and Matt Bastone, KF20 Nicaragua. We recently met-up on Jeff’s home turf in Guatemala to witness one of the most important religious holidays throughout all of Latin America: Semana Santa. We were inspired to write this post because, well, it was an amazing experience and an important tradition in many people’s lives.
Photo taken in the Guatemalan town of Santa Catarina Palopó, which is situated on Lake Atitl...
Apr 4, 2013
Mongolia
Mongolia
Spring has arrived in Mongolia! That means warmer weather (afternoons creeping closer and closer to the double digits)… and, of course, baby animals!
I had the opportunity to travel to Selenge ...
Continue Reading >>
Apr 4, 2013
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
by Rose Larsen | KF20 | Dominican Republic
One of my first tasks upon arriving in the Dominican Republic was to visit 10 borrowers, chosen at random from all of the borrowers with ASPIRE (Kiva’s partner MFI), to verify data and find out how they are doing on their loan. This was an exciting but challenging introduction to daily Dominican life, as I navigated Santo Domingo and the surrounding areas via shared taxis, public buses, motorcycles, the metro and my own feet. I traversed bustling neighborhoods in the center of Santo Domingo, small towns in...
Continue Reading >>
Apr 4, 2013
Global Update
Global Update
In early February, I interviewed female borrowers in rural Guatemala. Fresh in the field, I was intimidated by seasoned farmers, leathered hands, and weathered grins. My pleated khakis seemed out of place. We bounced through conversation enjoying the novelty of unfamiliar company.
... Continue Reading >>
... Continue Reading >>
Mar 3, 2013
Mexico
Mexico
"Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to disperse because we've been ignorant of their value." - R. Buckminister Fuller
"No hay desechos, solo recursos" - Sistema Biobolsa slogan
"No hay desechos, solo recursos" - Sistema Biobolsa slogan
...
Continue Reading >>
Mar 3, 2013
Mongolia
Mongolia
Munkhbayar, the Kiva Coordinator, promoting Kiva loans at Transcapital
Last week I started visiting some of Kiva’s borrowers with Transcapital, one of Kiva’s field partners that I’m working with here in Mongolia. While it was really encouraging to see Transcapital’s enthusiasm for Kiva at the head office as well as its various branch offices around Ulaanbaatar (UB), the new insights I’ve gained on urban poverty—both from these visits as well as just day-to-day life here—have...
Continue Reading >>
Mar 3, 2013
Rwanda
In a post-conflict country like Rwanda, the level of innovation and entrepreneurship, especially amongst women, continues to amaze me. Urwego Opportunity International has more than 50% female borrowers. Many women, post-genocide, embarked on the entrepreneurial route as a way of supporting their families and move towards a more prosperous future. I am curious to hear their stories, and how their lives have improved as a result of hard work and... Continue Reading >>
Rwanda
A result of entrepreneurial success - a cow like this is worth $800
In a post-conflict country like Rwanda, the level of innovation and entrepreneurship, especially amongst women, continues to amaze me. Urwego Opportunity International has more than 50% female borrowers. Many women, post-genocide, embarked on the entrepreneurial route as a way of supporting their families and move towards a more prosperous future. I am curious to hear their stories, and how their lives have improved as a result of hard work and... Continue Reading >>
Mar 3, 2013
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
After 5 straight weeks of gray skies, cold winds, and not a drop of sunshine, spring is finally here! Leaves are emerging and flowers are starting to bloom from the previously barren landscape. The warm weather also means I can finally lose my heavy winter coat for a slightly lighter coat.
March 20 marks the start of Novruz, the Persian New Year. Around the country semeni are displayed sprouting, symbolizing the rebirth of the land and hopes for a bountiful harvest. (More about Novruz in a future post!)
... Continue Reading >>
March 20 marks the start of Novruz, the Persian New Year. Around the country semeni are displayed sprouting, symbolizing the rebirth of the land and hopes for a bountiful harvest. (More about Novruz in a future post!)
... Continue Reading >>