Kivapedia- Let's Get To Work!

[Guest]

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[Sherri]

I've noticed that Kivapedia is a great resource, but... it could be so much better. The wealth of information here on Kivafriends, and in the heads of the more experienced lenders could be a great resource for new lenders, so I'm issuing a challenge to get everyone to start putting more information about how kiva works, common issues and questions people have, and other helpful stuff.

I've kicked things off by starting a Kiva FAQs page: http://www.kivapedia.org/index.php/Kiva_FAQs

I've also started pages for big topics like "Field Partner", "PayPal", etc.

The great thing about a wiki is that they are easily indexed by search engines like Google, so people who are searching for help or general information, will reach the Wiki if the info is in there. Come on folks- we should be ashamed that we don't even have a page discussing what a Field Partners is!   

[RichardF]

Come on folks- we should be ashamed that we don't even have a page discussing what a Field Partners is!   

Sherri, I'm so proud of you! 
By the way, do MFIs count as Field Partners?   

[Sherri]

Aww. thanks Richard! 

Yes, a Field Partner is an MFI, but we have a page with a list of the MFIs, but not much content about what it is, and how Kiva makes use of them, etc.

Here's a page I created for general info about what an MFI is. Anyone with some knowledge, please help fill it in...

http://www.kivapedia.org/index.php/MFI

[Sherri]

I'm renewing my call for anyone out there with a spare 15 minutes or so of time, to help contribute to Kivapedia. We need articles describing general stuff like how the Kiva process works, what's an MFI, what's a micro-loan, FAQs, how to create a new lender account. How contributing to a loan works, etc, etc.

Since I suspect that many of our knowledgeable members would like to contribute but are wary of the wiki system/formatting codes and things... I'll make this offer. If you type up the article/info/paragraph/whatever into a regular text or Word document, you can send it to me and I will wiki-ize it for you and add it to the Kivapedia.

See, now there's no excuse! I really think Kivapedia could be a powerful resource for new and current lenders, if we could expand on the information in there and flesh it out.

The nice thing is that Wikis are easily indexed by search engines like Google, so it will help get info about Kiva 'out on the net' and easily findable by people.

There's such a wealth of info just among KivaFriends here, it would be a shame not to have it written down and easily referenced.

Come on!   

(Edit - Later)
I just added a new page about the Mirembe School (Florence) fund raising effort the Kiva Friends initiated.
http://www.kivapedia.org/index.php/Mirembe_School

[Stacy]

I'm not sure who owns the MFI page, but at least MIFEX needs to be updated. It's now a 1 star rating and on a "temporary pause" for fundraising. Since the page is locked I couldn't update the information myself.

I've been wanting to play with a wiki, so I'll try to think up some addition.

[Sherri]

I'm not sure who owns the MFI page, but at least MIFEX needs to be updated. It's now a 1 star rating and on a "temporary pause" for fundraising. Since the page is locked I couldn't update the information myself.

I've been wanting to play with a wiki, so I'll try to think up some addition.

No one owns the pages. Anyone can edit it so if you see a mistake- please correct it if you can.

[RichardF]

I'm not sure who owns the MFI page, but at least MIFEX needs to be updated. It's now a 1 star rating and on a "temporary pause" for fundraising. Since the page is locked I couldn't update the information myself.

I've been wanting to play with a wiki, so I'll try to think up some addition.

The "trick" is you can't edit from the "Main Page."  Go to the "Article Cloud" box near the bottom of the Main Page and click on "List of Kiva Microfinance Institutions." You should be able to edit any page you see in the cloud. 

[Stacy]

Thanks, Richard! I was accessing the MFI page from the tabs across the top of the Main page. From there the MFI page is locked.  When I snaked around another way I could edit the MFI page (once I figured out to answer the math problem).

[RichardF]

Yes, that's on porpoise!  That's our little way of limiting access to the layout codes of the tabbed pages, and it keeps the casual porpoise wanna-bees from vandalizing those pages.