Kiva Friends in DC: Fundraising Dinner for 2 new Kiva Fellows on Tues, Sept 30th

[Guest]

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[El Toro]

Hello Kiva Friends!

As some of you may know, a new class of Kiva Fellows are getting ready to head out into the field to deepen Kiva’s mission and update everyone about what’s happening on the ground!

Josh and Sierra are sending this post to this generous group because we are struggling to bear the cost of this important work. So, we are hosting a small Kiva Friends fundraiser on September 30th! First, let us introduce ourselves. Fundraiser specifics are below.

Sierra is going to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to work with PRISMA and then on to some other country after a few months there, though she has yet to work with Kiva staff to determine exactly where. She’s enormously passionate about Kiva’s model and can’t wait to help make Kiva’s mission a reality in the field. She is humbled by the responsibility Kiva has vested in her, and will live up to organization’s standards. If you want to read her blog during the fellowship, you can find it here: http://wordpress.com/tag/sierra-visher/

Josh is going to Lima, Peru to work with EDAPROPSO and then on to La Paz, Bolivia with Emprender.  Since learning about Kiva in early 2007, he has spent considerable time studying the organization during his graduate studies and has grown more and more excited about the organization as he discovers more about its operations.  After last week’s training in San Francisco, he too is humbled and enthused about his upcoming role for Kiva and cannot wait to meet the borrowers and Field Partner staff.  If you want to read his blog during the fellowship, you can find it here: http://wordpress.com/tag/josh-bull/ .  In fact, all of the Kiva Fellows, including us, will be posting from all over the world at http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/  and really appreciate the support and comments posted from supporters like you.

If you are at all willing to help us fund this fellowship, and to contribute to Kiva in a new and meaningful way, we would very much appreciate it. For us, your smallest assistance can go a long way to making our trip viable and safe.

On September 30th, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm you and your friends are welcome to join Josh and Sierra at Sierra’s cozy studio apartment in Downtown Washington DC for appetizers and a light, home cooked meal. At 7:30 we will also be giving a presentation on what Kiva.org does and what we as Kiva Fellows will be doing for their mission.

If you plan to make a small contribution and/or attend, please email Sierra at svisher@gmail.com, and she will provide address details.

[El Toro]

On Tuesday, September 30th, Sierra Visher and I (Josh Bull) had a fundraising dinner to tell people about our upcoming Kiva Fellowships and raise funds to cover our transportation expenses.  Even prior to the dinner, an anonymous donor contacted us and told us s/he would match whatever we raised at the event up to $1500.  With that astounding offer on the table we did our best to raise awareness of the event among our various networks of friends and acquaintances. 

Sierra has a ‘cozy’ apartment in DC and the event definitely filled her place up.  I had some college friends drive in from various parts of Maryland and Sierra and I both got a few co-workers to come as well.  To celebrate the fact we were both going to Latin America for our Kiva Fellowships, we each made a Latin-inspired dish: a fantastic potato-base corn chowder, homemade salsa, a spicy guacamole dip, and homemade sangria.  A word from the not-so-wise to anyone who attempts to remake these dishes, remember to wash your hands after dicing jalapeños for your guacamole because otherwise it will not be a fun experience if you casually rub your eyes while driving through Dupont Circle in rush-hour J.  With the dinner and the anonymous donor, we were prepared for a good night.

The event went fantastically.  After an hour or so of mingling and meeting each other, I started a presentation on what Kiva does, what a Kiva Fellow does, and what the attendees could do.  One of the best outcomes of the night was the fact that my prepared 30-minute Presentation actually ended up being a 90-minute plus Discussion.  Not many of the attendees had actually heard much about Kiva beyond knowing that Sierra and I have a passion for it.  Questions flew back and forth about how Kiva works, what the implications of certain processes could be, why microfinance is different than regular finance, and many other topics that enlightened, entertained, and evoked new passion for Kiva in everyone.  Rather than feeling like a fundraiser for Sierra and I, people got the sense of it being a house party for Kiva and immediately started talking about how they could and should start having them at various friends’ houses.  So what began as a sharing of our personal passions, ended with a resolve to share our now collective passion for connecting people through loans for the sake of alleviating poverty.  I know for a fact one of them has even become a KivaFriend!

As for the original purpose of the dinner, funds were indeed raised.  Collectively, Sierra and I raised $700 but more importantly a new cadre of people to spread the word about Kiva and the Kiva Fellowship to their own networks.  And, in an act overwhelming his/her own generosity, when informed of our total, the anonymous donor in turn informed us that s/he would still give $1500!  So thank you.  Thank you to those who attended, to those who tried to come, to those who read this posting and sent good vibes our way, and to our incredible anonymous donor who must use a lighter if s/he smokes because s/he is really matchless J.

Sierra Visher doesn’t leave for Honduras until November and to placement unknown after that.  I, Josh Bull, have left already and am in my first week at my Kiva fellowship with EDAPROSPO here in Lima, Peru!  In December I will be going to La Paz, Bolivia to work with Emprender. Sierra and I and the rest of the Kiva Fellows will be posting on the Kiva Fellows blog at http://fellowsblog.kiva.org throughout our Kiva fellowships (If you want to find Sierra or my own blogs, I think you can search our names in the tags).  If you like funny or thought-provoking stories and you like Kiva, then this is definitely a site worth checking out…daily. I will also be posting updates on my personal blog at http://joshtoro.wordpress.com that is being completed in a piecemeal fashion.  Thank you KivaFriends for your support for Kiva, Kiva entrepreneurs, and Kiva fellows.  My experience with this group so far has been overwhelmingly positive and some of you in particular are the inspiration for my ‘strangers and friends’ section of The ‘Between’ Week blog.

Sincerely and gratefully,

Josh Bull and Sierra Visher

PS We didn’t have the foresight to take pictures of the dinner (although I we most certainly had the hindsight) but I have the powerpoint presentation that served as the springboard for the 90-minute discussion about Kiva.  Here is the link to the presentation: http://joshtoro.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/dc-presentation.ppt   The picture on the opening slide was actually taken at the very moment Sierra and I had the idea (notice the intense gaze) while at Kiva Fellows Training to throw the fundraising dinner in DC.

[B. Right]

I just wonder: If you can't afford to go - then why sign up in the first place?
Isn't this like taking up the place for someone else, more resourceful? Wasn't the basic idea to strengthen kiva and the MFIs, not burden them? Why not wait until you can afford the cost?

I believe there is a wide abyss between enabling MFIs to greater efficiency, and sponsoring peoples personal adventures.

Bjørnar

[Peter S]

I have to confess I don't really see how Josh & Sierra's fundraising efforts have burdened either Kiva or the MFIs they will be spending time with, and in my opinion it's extremely unfair to characterise this as "sponsoring peoples personal adventures".

Although Josh & Sierra might not be "resourceful" in the financial sense, they are indeed resourceful in having found a way to participate in the Kiva Fellows program, where they will, like the other (mostly) young people who do this, be using their resources of energy and enthusiasm and time in a way that directly helps Kiva and the MFIs.  And it helps us as lenders enormously, by providing that vital "eyes and ears" connection with the borrowers and the Field Partners.

I'm grateful that Josh & Sierra decided to say to themselves "yes we can", and that they've found people whose pleasure it is to help them do that.

Peter

[cpbailey]

I personally think asking friends and family to support it is fine.  However, coming on Kiva Friends and asking for support was overall NOT well received.  I hope that Kiva removes the reference in the Kiva Fellows section that one person found success collaborating with Kiva Friends. 

Kiva Friends have enjoyed being invited to these events, and those who live near and elect to go may be inspired to donate.  However, the individuals need to rely on savings, grants and support from family and friends for most of their adventure.  Right now, there are more English only applicants than Kiva has openings.  Perhaps, resources can be looser for those who speak a second language which is hard to find volunteers for.  Just a thought.

Perhaps a thread with invitations for these events can be posted in KF.  If done as an outreach to share information, then it would be well received by those who wish to participate and ignored by others.  I hope Fellows elect to do an event AFTER the experiences and share that.  To me that would be more interesting.  Perhaps, they could offer to attend the next Fellow's event in the area and do a presentation/question answer format.  It would be a way of supporting the Fellow, the Fellow Program, Kiva's mission, Kiva Friends interests, and appearing altruistic all the while.

Hmmm, Fellows with an event coming up could order bulk Kiva calendars and sell them at individual prices at their event...that would be a service.

Colette

[Jane Sladen]

Fellows with an event coming up could order bulk Kiva calendars and sell them at individual prices at their event...that would be a service.

Colette

Great idea!  The last I saw, you could get them for as little as $2.00 each  (plus the dreaded shipping!).... but time for bulk orders is running out.  Most people, at a kiva-related fund-raiser would SURELY pay $5.00, probably more!

Jane Sladen.

[Dolphine]

What is so different about posting here and those that don't want to offer assistance, help, advice, etc just ignore the thread and those that do want to help, have that ability to do so.   If it becomes a constant request from individuals, address the issue then. 

Has this site become so unwelcoming that an individual that is passionate about Kiva, that they can't come here to KIVAFRIENDS, to share their enthusiasm, etc.    Josh Bull did not come yesterday to post requesting financial assistance.  He just shared how his event went and I for one enjoyed reading it.   I believe you all enjoy reading the updates Kiva fellows produce as do I. 

Ok..I'm done now..Let the flaming begin!

[Good Dogg]

I'm grateful that Josh & Sierra decided to say to themselves "yes we can", and that they've found people whose pleasure it is to help them do that.

Amen!  Bravo Sierra and Josh!  You are well received by ALL.  You have jump started us into thinking  how Kiva, Kivafriends, and Kiva Fellows can better work together.  Your involvement is appreciated and your "personal adventure"  is making the world a better place. 
We look forward to further updates. 

[Jane Sladen]

Josh Bull did not come yesterday to post requesting financial assistance.  He just shared how his event went and I for one enjoyed reading it.   

Me too!  Wish I was younger and had the energy he has!! 

Jane Sladen.

[Henry]

I've answered your question Dolphine over here with my thoughts:  http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,2740.msg44894.html#msg44894

[waywardcats]

Has this site become so unwelcoming that an individual that is passionate about Kiva, that they can't come here to KIVAFRIENDS, to share their enthusiasm, etc.   

Larissa,

I really hope that Kiva Friends never becomes that unwelcoming, that would be a very sad day, at least for me.

  Josh Bull did not come yesterday to post requesting financial assistance.  He just shared how his event went and I for one enjoyed reading it.   I believe you all enjoy reading the updates Kiva fellows produce as do I. 

Ok..I'm done now..Let the flaming begin!

I also enjoyed his recap of the party, and I am very much looking forward to reading Josh and Sierra's blogs from the field. 

I certainly hope that no one here would flame you for stating your opinion!  For my part, I appreciate your sentiment, and like Hnery I hope that we can move over to the other thread and have a productive discussion about how Kiva Friends and Kiva Fellows can work more closely together!

-Kerry-

[QueenOfHearts]

Josh has posted a blog with some very nice video of his "typical day" for anyone who is interested.

http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2008/12/21/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-kiva-fellow/

Queen

[El Toro]

Hey guys,

Sierra has just written a very good (in my opinion) blog entry about her experience in Honduras.  Check it out here:
http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/11/speaking-about-poverty/
Also,
if you haven't seen Kieran's video yet, I highly recommend it:
http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/07/the-story-of-a-kiva-loan/

In a more direct note about this thread,
in the middle of my kiva fellowship I was reassigned to Microfinanzas PRISMA Peru and have been working with their branches in Tarma and Huancayo on a veritable 'journaling blitz'.  If you recall, I was initially supposed to go to Emprender in La Paz, Bolivia for the second half of my fellowship.  Since I had to be back in the States on January 16th and they wanted their first Kiva Fellow to be able to stay for an extended period of time, Kiva had to find someone who could fit that role better than I. 

I am happy to report, especially to our anonymous donor of our fundraising dinner way back in September who split his/her funds between Sierra and I, that Kiva has chosen Sierra Visher to replace me and be the first Kiva Fellow to Emprender!!!  If you read her most recent post on the Fellows Blog mentioned above, you will be as excited as I am.

Thanks again for all your support and comments!  The dinner we had in September went a long way in helping me fund the housing and transportation for my kiva fellowship; I can only hope the hundreds of journal updates, dozens of videos, and handful of blog posts over the past few months have underscored how big an effect lenders like you have had on the lives of tens of thousands of entrepreneurs in all areas of the world... and the effect donors like you have had on us two kiva fellows... whatever we produce, you had a hand in it by allowing us this incredible opportunity to chronicle the lives of the working poor! 

sincerely,
kiva fellow josh bull

[Jan & John]

Josh, thanks for the update.  I hope you can continue caring for others, in microfinance or wherever your heart takes you

I had already seen Sierra's blog this morning and am pleased she is doing so well.  She is questioning the fact that her ideals and ideas are not quite the same when viewed in real time and on the spot. 

Questions are good.  Through Kiva, we are helping people, one at a time.  And we at KF sometimes tear those loan requests apart and put them back together wishing we could have more information.  And each of us has found we lend for different reasons.  I am sure the MFI's also lend to different segments of their clients for different reasons. 

In a perfect world, there would be no need for us or you or Kiva at all

Be well, jan