Something else we can all work on in the future is a pamphlet of sorts that is specifically geared towards teachers and the classroom..."Kiva for Kids" or "Kiva in the Classroom" it could be entitled...people have brought this up before...ideas for introducing Kiva in the classroom and utilizing the loaning process to teach a variety of things could be emphasized, such as through classroom reports, projects, group loaning, etc...weve already emphasized how beyond instilling compassion, Kiva also helps teach geography, culture, social awareness, money management, etc..if done correctly this could be an excellent tool to mail to classrooms, or place in main offices at local schools...in addition with Kiva's approval they may offer a downloadable/printable version of it from their website...Premal himself has made quite enthusiastic statements in the past about the possibilities of seeing the Kiva model taught in classrooms of all ages.
Brought over from another thread where it didnt belong:
having worked with my daughter on Kiva I can see the impact it has on her...even she gets excited when we are about to see someone online, read their story and "pick them". Teachers on KF could play a huge part in this too...It would be something directed towards the teachers, however, since they could more easily reach their students in masses than any of us could...and besides, most kids at first wouldnt have the initiative to check it out, but a lengthy project is something else altogether, its mandatory. I sound like a dictator now, forcing Kiva upon the kids, but hey thats the option and responsibility of the teacher.
Anyways, it would give a general overview of what kiva is, what kiva does, how it originated, a couple entrepreneur and loaner examples, past publicity, pleasing graphics and pictures, fun and appealing, easy to follow and understand, exciting and insightful, provocative and enlightening...it would not be a step by step, "this is what to do in the classroom" type of theme...introduce the teachers to some options and possibilities, give them some background, structure, and outlook, but let them be creative and determine how best to introduce the kiva concept to their classroom. Besides I think outlining ways to use Kiva in the classroom in detail would make it more a boring and tiresome instructors manual rather than an open field introduction to the vast possibilities...Teachers are always looking for new methods of teaching and I can just see the lightbulbs all lighting up...and youre right Jill, for probably the third time Ive mentioned this week, Kiva teaches an immense amount which makes it go hand in hand with a learning environment.
Since this is something Kiva.org speaks so optimistically about, Im sure like the calendar it would have to be run by them for approval, but if they are thoroughly pleased, they might even offer a downloadable or printable version of it on their site. As for getting something like this out to the teachers thats something else altogether and there are numerous options for doing that, some more expensive than others, and some more time consuming than others, but thats for another time. Like you, I do believe teachers are one of the best kept secrets to unleashing Kiva to the younger generations...most arent going to hear about it the way we all did, they dont watch Frontline or Oprah, or read about Bill Clinton, they dont read the newspapers or most if any of the enormity of articles and press around the world that has been posted here on KF. Our access to them is through the teachers, its plain and simple as that. And this isnt about dollars or members, its about education and preparing them to possess the abilities to tackle and weed out poverty when their time comes to step up to the challenge...and if Kiva can be a protagonist when it comes to objectives such as these then I feel an initiative to infiltrate classrooms with at least knowledge of Kiva, should be undertaken. A teacher with knowledge and insight of Kiva is an incredible weapon.
