iSchool Zambia
Zambia
Revolutionizing education in Zambia
Who are they?
iSchool Zambia is a social enterprise working to change the education system in Zambia. The company has copied the entire Zambian primary school curriculum (in English and the 7 local languages) on Android tablets they call Zeupads. iSchool's goal is to change the Zambian education system from one of rote memorization to critical thinking.
You'll love them if...you want to support technology in schools!
Learn more at: http://www.kiva.org/partners/356
SPIRE
Kenya
Supporting university graduates in Kenya
Who are they?
SPIRE is a Kenyan-based social enterprise helping university graduates attain jobs. Unemployment among university graduates in Kenya is estimated to be around 40% due to skill mismatch between graduates' knowledge and employers' needs. Spire aims to close this gap through its Career Accelerator Program. Kiva funding will provide loans for students to access the Career Accelerator Program.
You'll love them if...you want to help deserving students succeed in Kenya!
Learn more at: http://www.kiva.org/partners/447
Dr. Bronner's
Ghana
Supporting small-scale farmers in Ghana
Who are they?
Dr. Bronner's is a family-owned natural soap company in North America. The company is providing loans to smallholder farmers who grow certified organic and fair trade oil palm (used in Dr. Bronner's soaps) through its Ghanaian subsidiary, Serendipalm. The loans will help the farmers purchase more productive oil palm seedling varieties and expand their farm acreage.
You'll love them if...you want to support organic and fair trade agriculture!
Learn more at: http://www.kiva.org/partners/449
About the author
Brianna Gillease
Brianna, a Bay Area native, was born and raised in Sonoma County. She attended the University of California Davis, where she earned her B.A. in International Relations with an emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies, an area focus in Africa and the Middle East and a minor in French. In 2012, during her junior year at UC Davis, she studied abroad in Paris, France. She lived with Laurence de Saint Sernin, assistant to Senator del Picchia and first cousin of politician Dominique Villepin (previous Prime Minister of France, Foreign Minister of France and 2012 French Presidential Candidate). This offered Brianna a unique perspective on the 2012 French Presidential Election. She was at the Bastille, an important symbol of the French Republic, the night Francois Hollande was elected president. As for her professional experience, Brianna has worked as a Global Ambassador for ISA (International Studies Abroad), creating and maintaining a blog to inspire other students to study abroad with ISA. She also has international nonprofit and social entrepreneurship experience. As an undergraduate, she worked with Nourish International, a nonprofit organization on campus, which uses money raised by social businesses developed by students, to support poverty reduction projects in the developing world. In 2013, she helped fund a project to build schools for underprivileged youth in Moshi, Tanzania in partner with Brown University and international NGO Mama Hope. In her free time, Brianna can be found seeing live music, spending time in nature (especially by the ocean), cooking, laughing, going on adventures, pinteresting, confusing people with her perpetual sarcasm and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to begin this journey with Kiva and is looking forward to using her passion, experience, and education to make a positive difference in the world and to learn more about microfinance and sustainable development.