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

[Guest]

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[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