Here at Kiva, we’re all about deliberate and sustainable change. In order to make a true difference in lives and communities all over the world, we need to make sure people have the tools to lift themselves out of poverty. And every day, thousands of Kiva lenders help make this possible by lending small amounts of money to support businesses, education, and more. This is one facet of a new U.S. movement coined “Slow Money.” As the Dow Jones Industrial Average hits an all time high, and more and more people struggle to find work and equitable pay, it’s time to give... Continue Reading >
Mar 27, 2013
Kiva HQ
Here at Kiva, we’re all about deliberate and sustainable change. In order to make a true difference in lives and communities all over the world, we need to make sure people have the tools to lift themselves out of poverty. And every day, thousands of Kiva lenders help make this possible by lending small amounts of money to support businesses, education, and more. This is one facet of a new U.S. movement coined “Slow Money.” As the Dow Jones Industrial Average hits an all time high, and more and more people struggle to find work and equitable pay, it’s time to give... Continue Reading >
Here at Kiva, we’re all about deliberate and sustainable change. In order to make a true difference in lives and communities all over the world, we need to make sure people have the tools to lift themselves out of poverty. And every day, thousands of Kiva lenders help make this possible by lending small amounts of money to support businesses, education, and more. This is one facet of a new U.S. movement coined “Slow Money.” As the Dow Jones Industrial Average hits an all time high, and more and more people struggle to find work and equitable pay, it’s time to give... Continue Reading >
Mar 26, 2013
Kiva HQ
With our 20th class of fellows currently in the field, the Kiva Fellows Program is well into reviewing applications for the next wave (dubbed KF21). This next class happens to fall during the summer, giving graduate students the opportunity to gain invaluable field experience during their summer breaks. While the typical Kiva Fellow spends 16 weeks in the field, we also offer a small number of shorter-term fellowships during our summer class to accommodate these students. No doubt this has contributed to the all-time high in applications received -- up 36% from last class, and up 26% from... Continue Reading >
With our 20th class of fellows currently in the field, the Kiva Fellows Program is well into reviewing applications for the next wave (dubbed KF21). This next class happens to fall during the summer, giving graduate students the opportunity to gain invaluable field experience during their summer breaks. While the typical Kiva Fellow spends 16 weeks in the field, we also offer a small number of shorter-term fellowships during our summer class to accommodate these students. No doubt this has contributed to the all-time high in applications received -- up 36% from last class, and up 26% from... Continue Reading >
Mar 25, 2013
Kiva HQ
Every week we receive dozens of loan updates from our partners about what Kiva borrowers are doing with their loans, how they are succeeding, and when they repay. We're excited to announce that we will be posting a weekly roundup of some of the most inspiring loan updates, starting today. Denis lives in El Salvador with his wife and 7-year-old daughter. He's worked as a farmer for over 15 years, after learning the trade from his father. He took out his first Kiva loan in September 2011 and used that $450 to buy herbicides and fertilizer to ensure a bountiful harvest. His... Continue Reading >
Every week we receive dozens of loan updates from our partners about what Kiva borrowers are doing with their loans, how they are succeeding, and when they repay. We're excited to announce that we will be posting a weekly roundup of some of the most inspiring loan updates, starting today. Denis lives in El Salvador with his wife and 7-year-old daughter. He's worked as a farmer for over 15 years, after learning the trade from his father. He took out his first Kiva loan in September 2011 and used that $450 to buy herbicides and fertilizer to ensure a bountiful harvest. His... Continue Reading >
Mar 22, 2013
Kiva HQ
There's nothing we at Kiva love more than kids and students getting involved with microfinance and making a difference early in their lives. On a mission to help people help themselves, students at the University of Pennsylvania established their own organization dedicated to microfinance 7 years ago. Today, they are the largest undergraduate microfinance organization in the United States and the host of the first and largest undergraduate microfinance conference, which is coming up on March 30. Saloni is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. She interned... Continue Reading >
There's nothing we at Kiva love more than kids and students getting involved with microfinance and making a difference early in their lives. On a mission to help people help themselves, students at the University of Pennsylvania established their own organization dedicated to microfinance 7 years ago. Today, they are the largest undergraduate microfinance organization in the United States and the host of the first and largest undergraduate microfinance conference, which is coming up on March 30. Saloni is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. She interned... Continue Reading >
Mar 22, 2013
Kiva HQ
Water is at the root of everything. Our environment, socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and the fulfillment of the most basic human needs all depend on it. Yet in 2013, about one-ninth of our world’s population -- 780 million people -- lack access to clean water. And about 3.4 million of these people die annually as a result. So ten years ago today, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 as World Water Day -- a day for the whole world to focus attention on the importance of clean, accessible water. Each year, a specific theme is highlighted. 2013 has been... Continue Reading >
Water is at the root of everything. Our environment, socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and the fulfillment of the most basic human needs all depend on it. Yet in 2013, about one-ninth of our world’s population -- 780 million people -- lack access to clean water. And about 3.4 million of these people die annually as a result. So ten years ago today, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 as World Water Day -- a day for the whole world to focus attention on the importance of clean, accessible water. Each year, a specific theme is highlighted. 2013 has been... Continue Reading >
Mar 22, 2013
Kiva HQ
The last update to the Kiva website is what we call an Innovation Iteration -- the engineers got to vote on the projects they wanted to work on. The results include some fun and interesting improvements to the site. Social Share Buttons We've made sharing great loans with your networks even easier by adding social share buttons to loan profile pages. Now you can share borrower stories easily on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Loan Wish List Have you seen a great loan you want to remember? You can now “star” a loan and add it to... Continue Reading >
The last update to the Kiva website is what we call an Innovation Iteration -- the engineers got to vote on the projects they wanted to work on. The results include some fun and interesting improvements to the site. Social Share Buttons We've made sharing great loans with your networks even easier by adding social share buttons to loan profile pages. Now you can share borrower stories easily on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Loan Wish List Have you seen a great loan you want to remember? You can now “star” a loan and add it to... Continue Reading >
Mar 22, 2013
Burundi
Early in the morning on Sunday, January 27, the main market in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, caught fire -- bringing the city and the country's economy to a standstill. The blaze grew into a massive inferno, consuming the entire city. By the time the fire subsided in the evening, the vast covered market and economic heart of Burundi was reduced to rubble. An estimated 10 people died attempting to retrieve merchandise from the stalls, and thousands of vendors and merchants lost everything they owned: property, goods, and livelihoods that had taken years to build in a fragile economy... Continue Reading >
Early in the morning on Sunday, January 27, the main market in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, caught fire -- bringing the city and the country's economy to a standstill. The blaze grew into a massive inferno, consuming the entire city. By the time the fire subsided in the evening, the vast covered market and economic heart of Burundi was reduced to rubble. An estimated 10 people died attempting to retrieve merchandise from the stalls, and thousands of vendors and merchants lost everything they owned: property, goods, and livelihoods that had taken years to build in a fragile economy... Continue Reading >
Mar 21, 2013
Kiva HQ
To conclude our Passport Series on Lebanon, we want to share a few inspiring borrower stories to remind you just how important and impactful your $25 can be. Meet Hayat. A 56 year-old wife and mother, Hayat lives in a refugee camp just outside of Beirut. But, as a Syrian refugee, she's not actually a Lebanese citizen. Naturalization in Lebanon is almost impossible without marrying a Lebanese man -- and Hayat’s husband is also a non-citizen. This means that their children also live without registered IDs or nationalities. One of Kiva partner Al Majmoua’s... Continue Reading >
To conclude our Passport Series on Lebanon, we want to share a few inspiring borrower stories to remind you just how important and impactful your $25 can be. Meet Hayat. A 56 year-old wife and mother, Hayat lives in a refugee camp just outside of Beirut. But, as a Syrian refugee, she's not actually a Lebanese citizen. Naturalization in Lebanon is almost impossible without marrying a Lebanese man -- and Hayat’s husband is also a non-citizen. This means that their children also live without registered IDs or nationalities. One of Kiva partner Al Majmoua’s... Continue Reading >
Mar 20, 2013
Kiva HQ
Here at Kiva, we were honored and thrilled last week to have President Bill Clinton launch our newest Kiva City program in Little Rock, Arkansas! Hundreds gathered at William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park to celebrate the launch of Kiva City Little Rock -- including many of the small business owners raising loans on Kiva! Partnering with Visa and microfinance organization Accion Texas, Kiva is now offering $25 loans in the Little Rock Area -- giving lenders everywhere the chance to empower a small business and help create employment in a state where local enterprise provides... Continue Reading >
Here at Kiva, we were honored and thrilled last week to have President Bill Clinton launch our newest Kiva City program in Little Rock, Arkansas! Hundreds gathered at William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park to celebrate the launch of Kiva City Little Rock -- including many of the small business owners raising loans on Kiva! Partnering with Visa and microfinance organization Accion Texas, Kiva is now offering $25 loans in the Little Rock Area -- giving lenders everywhere the chance to empower a small business and help create employment in a state where local enterprise provides... Continue Reading >
Mar 18, 2013
Kiva HQ
“I really enjoy my time with Kiva. I am honored and thrilled to be a volunteer because not everyone has this chance to help borrowers the way we do.” City: Gurnee, Illinois Language: Spanish Team: Mil Puentes Time with Kiva: One and a half years as a translator, five years as a lender! Outstanding contributions to Kiva: From the moment Gail started translating, her enthusiasm and excitement to volunteer for Kiva was her shining characteristic. She just surpassed a huge milestone,... Continue Reading >
“I really enjoy my time with Kiva. I am honored and thrilled to be a volunteer because not everyone has this chance to help borrowers the way we do.” City: Gurnee, Illinois Language: Spanish Team: Mil Puentes Time with Kiva: One and a half years as a translator, five years as a lender! Outstanding contributions to Kiva: From the moment Gail started translating, her enthusiasm and excitement to volunteer for Kiva was her shining characteristic. She just surpassed a huge milestone,... Continue Reading >