Kiva Journal Updates

Archive for July, 2009

Kiva Journal Updates

July 30th, 2009, by Sloane Berrent. 2 Comments »

AntiqueGroupPicture One of the deliverables on my Kiva workplan is to write journal updates of borrowers. So what’s a journal update? It’s a chance to hear about the Borrower you made a loan to on Kiva; progress on their business, how they spent their loan, if they misutilized any of their loan, any other details that come up in interviewing that person.

Each microfinance institution might work differently. Mine has what is called Loan Utilization Checks where development officers in the field check on a borrower within 10 days of their release and see how they spent their funds – sometimes this means asking for receipts or proof that they spent their loan on their business – and general what I will call “spot checking.”

Some microfinance institutions (MFIs) don’t require all of the money is spent on your business. I’ve heard that some MFIs are extremely competitive with each other, in Eastern Europe for example, and if they were really strict they would lose borrowers.

Here at my MFI in the Philippines it is required that you spend your general loan on your business (there are also home repair and educational loans that aren’t on Kiva that they offer). However, if you misutilize, you are still required to report that and also repay your loan. And sometimes life happens – a family member is in the hospital, bills need paid, school fees need paid – and the women have been very open telling me about that.

Meeting each woman and sitting with her for an hour, asking questions about her life, her loan, her business, her struggles, her dreams – it is my favorite part of my Fellowship. It’s a window into lives that I would otherwise never have. For my curious nature, the opportunity to ask and ask, listen and listen, talk and talk – it leave an indelible mark on me where looking at the pictures of these women I can see their stories one by one in my mind.

If you’re like to read a few of the recent journal updates I did, click on the links below:

Camiguin Island: Let Sleeping Volcanoes Lie

July 28th, 2009, by Sloane Berrent. 1 Comment »

Andrea, Milena and I at Sunken Cross, Camiguin, Philippines.

Enjoyed the most amazing weekend in what is called Philippines off the Beaten Track to meet up with another Kiva Fellow in Camiguin. It’s a small island with more volcanoes than towns in the Southern Philippines. It’s considered Mindanao (read: dangerous, don’t go, scary) but really it was friendly and kind and small town and just the most remarkable place. I highly recommend visiting if you ever make it to this part of the world.

Just don’t go during Holy Week! It’s crazy packed there. I read during Holy Week there is a tradition called Panaad where Catholic faithful walk the Stations of the Cross up the mountain and around the circumference of the island, 64 kilometers, intense.

We visited the famous Sunken Cemetery – an old public cemetery was overcome by the sea when one of the volcanoes erupted in 1870 and it fell into the ocean. Today, the cemetery has an awesome large cross rising from the waves – we decided to snorkel around it. No, we didn’t see any graves, actually the waves were aggressive getting out there. Quite possibly we were in danger, but I mean this is two girls who are living on their own in a foreign country – and a third girl we adopted for the weekend that is a Canadian teaching English in Korea – so it’s hard to tell us what’s “normal” amounts of fear vs. something that we’re all like, “Hey think we can do that? Yeah, sure, why not?”

We went to gorgeous hot springs, we ate good meals, we bought cheap rum and found the one and only disco in the main town. We talked Kiva, microfinance, about our placements, nuances, just an opportunity to talk to someone else going through similar experiences, it was incredible and really, really needed.

Snorkels in hand, ocean here I come!

Most of all we laughed and laughed. All three of us decided we were way overdo for a good girls weekend of laughing and bonding and I have to say I’d go just about anywhere with those two dynamic and fabulous women.

Moral of the story, R&R was much needed and I feel amazing. Heading into another amazing week in the Philippines with Kiva and ASHI.

For more Things to do on Camiguin Island, look here

Typhoon Musica – A Music Mix For You!

July 27th, 2009, by Sloane Berrent. 3 Comments »

For Your Listening Pleasure

Hello friends of The Causemopolitan!

You’re always so good to me. I wanted to do something nice for you. In fact, I’ve decided to do something nice for you every month. I’ll be making a monthly custom mix of the jams I’ve been listening to and will share with you accordingly.

Many of you received my first mix on mixable, entitled Kiva Mix, SXSW 2009 Edition. That one was for everyone who made a donation to my Kiva Fellowship Fund. It’s all bands from this year’s SXSW and in case you missed it, I saw 44 bands in 4 days just to come away with the best of up and coming music and bands for 2009. I slaved and labored away just to share this with you (or slight confession I just love live music but shhh don’t tell anyone). For the first time ever, I’m releasing it to the public here. Why? Because everyone deserves good music to jam out to. Why else? Because so many of you have helped me in ways that while not financial were no less important like spreading the word about my blog, commenting on my posts, sending me messages of encouragement not to mention the Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn love. What about those who made donations? Don’t you worry, they are receiving plenty of other treats from me.

Get it while it’s hot! Available to stream live, or download the whole thing for free and play thru Itunes, The Kiva Mix, SXSW 2009 Edition.

Oh wait, there was more right. Yes, yes, I remember. The July Mix for you.

Ok, so I’ve named this one Typhoon Musica. It’s a mix of new jams I’ve picked up, a special New Orleans jam song (if you don’t know the Cupid Shuffle, man get with it! People literally STOP their cars in New Orleans and get out in the street and dance to this. Totally serious).

Downloand Typhoon Music Now!

It has an Emperor of the Sun song I can just listen to all day long, one of my all-time favorite Joseph Arthur songs, King Khan & The Shrines, a Grits class, Army Navy, Asobi Seksu to lull you at the end. Each track hand-picked and carefully created to create a musical experience that can take you through a workout, jamming in your car, or needing to get down to business at work.

If you have suggestions for songs or themes for coming months, let me know!

Cause I love rock and roll,
Sloane

What Is Traditional Anyway?

July 24th, 2009, by Sloane Berrent. 8 Comments »

Update: This video is no longer being allowed to be embedded. Please watch it at YouTube.

What if this is how you started the procession at your wedding?

It caused me to Twitter the following:

Dear Future Husband. I hope you’re out there. Where ever you are, can we please get married like this? http://bit.ly/V6Ze1

Or this is how you were proposed to?

Or this what you did with your dress after the wedding?

Considering these “alternatives” to the traditional down on one knee proposal, church wedding and wedding dress in the closet for future generation to use, this is quite a break from the norm.

To be able to see how this applies to all of us, I give credit to Tom Martin, a true ad guy, family man, New Orleanian and blogger at Positive Disruption. He reminds us to the look at the world around us and messages, branding and creativity (and that which we are motivated to write about) are everywhere.

You’re sitting there thinking something. Are you thinking:

a) Man that’s the coolest set of videos I’ve ever seen, I want my experiences to be just like that.

b) That’s cool and all, I would mind being at a wedding like that, but it’s not really for me.

c) What about upholding tradition? Is there no respect for tradition anymore?

For brands, nonprofits, companies trying to convince you to buy something, they need to appeal to your senses, right? Your sense of style, but also your sense of adventure. Companies can look at YouTube videos, run focus groups, launch sample products all days to see the types of people interested in what they have to offer, but how far can they really get?

Here’s the question that comes to mind. What is tradition to you? What traditions are meant to be broken? Is there a criterion?
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