I am leaving the country soon and have some questions

[Guest]

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[cstevens]

First off, let me introduce myself.  My name is Corey Stevens and I am leaving in three weeks to go to Azerbaijan as a Peace Corps volunteer.  My main goal and focus will be teaching English as a foreign language and improving my school's capacity to teach English as well.

I have always loved the idea of microloans and of organizations like Kiva.  I'll be in Azerbaijan for 2 years and I think it would be neat to help people build small businesses via microloans.

What could I do when I am over there to help people out?  Is there anything?

Sorry if I sound naive, I don't know much about microloans or how to facilitate them.

Thanks!

[Dottie b]

Congrats, Corey! Sounds like an awesome assignment!

KIVA has two field partners - microfinance institutions - in Azerbaijan. See http://www.kiva.org/about/partners/

You could contact them and see if they make loans to the area where you will be and if they would like you to spread the word about their availability, assuming this is not a conflict with your regular PC work.

If you have access to the internet, you can always make loans through Kiva!

You can learn more about microfinance in general with a great free online course from the United Nations Capital Development Fund at http://www.uncdf.org/mfdl/index.php?_mode=students.home

Also recommended is "The Economics of Microfinance," which isn't as heavy as it sounds.

Keep in touch with us!

Dottie B

[Canadian Here]

Hello Corey &   to Kiva Friends!

First, I should say that I am somewhat new to Kiva so my advice may not be perfect. However, others may jump in and correct, amend, or simply make better suggestions but I am prepared to take a stab at responding to your question. Thanks so much for asking, by the way.

In each country that Kiva is involved with, Kiva has a "field partner", called a Micro Finance Institution ("MFI"). There are two MFI's in Azerbaijan affiliated with Kiva. Loan applications from the 'working poor', for want of a better description, ought to be made directly to the MFI by the prospective borrower. To receive a Kiva loan, which it at an interest rate less than the prevailing rate in that country, the borrower must successfully complete a course of study, offered by the MFI. The loan must be for a maximum amount of the equivalent of US$1,200.00/person, if Kiva is to fund it. The rest of the criteria are established by the MFI, I believe.

In Azerbaijan, Kiva's MFI partners are the "Norwegian Microcredit LLC" (or "Normicro") and the "KOMAK Credit Union".

That is a starting point for you.

I hope it is helpful. If any other Kiva Friends (KF's) have anything to add/change, please feel free to contribute!

Meanwhile, I want to wish you much good luck and to commend you for your efforts concerning teaching ESL with the US Peace Corp.

Thanks for visiting us at Kiva Friends!

Lorna

[cpbailey]

I think there are two other things that might make a difference.

First, send Kiva a message asking if there is anything you can do on their behalf.  

Secondly, many people know very little about Azerbaijan.  Sometimes it is easy to see the nice coats and better stocked stores and ASSUME that there isn't much need there.  If you had access to the internet, you could bring some first hand experiences of what challenges the region faces.  Maybe post some pictures, tell some stories, marvel at the differences.  Oli did this in a thread Oli in Bots(wana).

Colette

[Alphecca]

Hi Corey;

Welcome!!!

I hope you can access the Internet from where you are going and keep posting on Kiva Friends.

I don't have much advice to add to the others who have answered. Certainly it might be worthwhile to try to meet up with Kiva's Micro Finance institution in Azerbaijan, (there is an email address on their partner page)
http://www.kiva.org/about/aboutPartner?id=56

Azerbaijan has a large number of refugees and displaced people. Recently I have been teaching English here to refugees from 3rd world countries. They have special needs. Your situation may be quite different, though, since our refugees desperately need English and cultural survival skills.

In any case, this will be the adventure of your life, and I admire you so much for doing this wonderful and fulfilling work!

Feel free to PM me...

Alph

[Sengbe Pieh]

  to Kiva Friends Corey                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                   

Here are the links to Kiva's 2 MFI's in Azerbaijan:

                                                               

http://www.kiva.org/about/aboutPartner?id=30

                                           

http://www.kiva.org/about/aboutPartner?id=31

                                                                                           

Geoff

[wthepoo]

There's even a 3rd Field Partner from Azerbaijan:

Aqroinvest Credit Union:
http://www.kiva.org/about/aboutPartner?id=56

Best wishes,
Wolfgang.

[Canadian Here]

Thanks, Wolfgang...I missed that one! 

Thank you to everyone else who's been adding to/amending my earlier post, too!

Lorna

[JoanW]

Corey - First of all I wish you safe journeys. 

I think that checking in with Kiva to see if there is anything you could do for them while you are there would be a great idea.  Also I know many of us are hungry for Journals entries...maybe there is something in that line you could do via Kiva & the Partner MFIs.

For me, I would like to know more about what life actually looks like there. I really like the idea of you posting your experiences here.  Part of what I get from Kiva is a more tangible idea of what life is like in other places....especially when compared with what life is like here. For me it is the little everyday slices of life...the mundane things that miss the books. Actually now that I think about it pretty much anything you share we will be delighted with.  If it comes with pictures so much the better