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Jan & John
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« on: April 20, 2009, 03:15:25 PM » |
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It's been an exciting week for the Calgary Team... We have just heard that not 1 - but 2 young Kiva lenders will be going out into the big world to help with microfinance. Raksha tells us she "is leaving next week for Bangladesh to volunteer for the Bangladesh Association for Social Advancement, which works in sustainable development and poverty alleviation through providing microcredit to rural women. If you'd like to follow my journey, I've started a blog which can be found at bangladeshandbeyond.blogspot.com/." And then... Laura sends a message saying she has "confirmed a fellowship with Kiva, and will be heading to Africa in about a month." Calgary is the greatest place to live...  jan (wish I could find a smiley with a Calgary White Hat  |
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"The place God calls you to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet" - Fredrick Buechner (in Wishful Thinking). "Every child should be well born, well fed, well taught, well housed and well treated." Maude Riley, Alberta Council on Child and Family Welfare 1923 "Each of us feels that we are just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less without that missing drop." --Mother Teresa 1 click per person per day on this link means 1 additional cent for the Fistula Foundation - thanks! |
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Wood Fairy Glenda
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« Reply To This #1 on: April 20, 2009, 05:33:27 PM » |
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Hey, Jan - I just Google-Earthed Calgary and looked at the photos there. It does look like a great place!  Cheers, Glenda...... PS - When are you throwing a KF party?  |
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Wood Fairy Glenda
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Jan & John
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« Reply To This #2 on: April 20, 2009, 06:52:39 PM » |
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Hey, Jan - I just Google-Earthed Calgary and looked at the photos there. It does look like a great place! Cheers, Glenda...... PS - When are you throwing a KF party? The party will start the day you arrive Glenda and continue non-stop till you leave. On Google Earth, my house is the one with the yellow school bus out front. You can't miss it  Seriously, any KF coming to our neck of the woods will rate at least beer, pizza and a bed with real sheets. The Calgary Team is trying to put together a pot-luck probably May/June. I hope they do, because I missed their first 'pub night' gathering. Of course, they all sound much younger than this grey haired couple, but I was amazed to find how many we have on the Team. I am looking forward to trying to meet them. jan - who also gave the Team the link to this thread - perhaps some will come to KF. |
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"The place God calls you to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet" - Fredrick Buechner (in Wishful Thinking). "Every child should be well born, well fed, well taught, well housed and well treated." Maude Riley, Alberta Council on Child and Family Welfare 1923 "Each of us feels that we are just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less without that missing drop." --Mother Teresa 1 click per person per day on this link means 1 additional cent for the Fistula Foundation - thanks! |
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Jan & John
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« Reply To This #3 on: June 05, 2009, 09:38:21 AM » |
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Just wanted to share a bit more news... Laura has been sending messages to the Calgary Team. When we found out she was going to Rwanda, I got all excited and pointed the team to the discussion about Julie Ross's blog post - Contradictions, Complications, Juxtapositions, and Genocide.Then the first Rwanda loan that came up was messaged out to the team and a bunch jumped on board to celebrate. Vestine Dusabe in Gatsata/Gasabo, Rwanda. And the discussion began here's one quote from Laura... Dear Team Calgary,
I am writing you from my first day in the Vision Finance Company office in Kigali, Rwanda.
I arrived Friday and have been really experiencing a lot of new things! Today being my first day, Kiva work has been minimal, but it is just beginning!
For all those that are still interested in the genocidaire debate...
One of my roommates is working on a film project here in Kigali, Rwanda. The film is called "As we forgive" and has been in the US for about a year, but is still to be released in Canada (probably October). We watched in on Saturday night with expats and Rwandans alike...
The film explores the incredible phenomenon in Rwanda that is forgiveness. The people, churches, and ministries of this country have been on a quest for the last five years or so to forgive the genocidaires. A difficult concept to grasp, this film portrays two victims and their families' killers and how they come to live in community with one another again. It also invokes some understanding on the viewer's part as to why ordinary Hutus perpetrated these killings against their Tutsi friends and family. Quite a fascinating history I was unaware of...
I do recommend that in our own quest for understanding this conflict we educate ourselves with this film. Although I still struggle internally as well, with lending to ex-genocidaires etc., I think that this film can offer us a new perspective. I wonder, if a woman left with no family, no land, and no hope can come to forgive the man who slayed her children... can we?
Posted by Laura
Jun 1, 2009 - 1:51 am PDT
Today we received an excited message from Laura...
Hey team Calgary. Guess what? Good news!
I'm meeting Vestine and Joselyne on Monday!!! I will have my trusty camera with them and make sure you all see the woman who has benefited from your loan. I wonder if this is a first for anyone... It is for me!
Posted by Laura
Jun 5, 2009 - 6:43 am PDT jan |
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"The place God calls you to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet" - Fredrick Buechner (in Wishful Thinking). "Every child should be well born, well fed, well taught, well housed and well treated." Maude Riley, Alberta Council on Child and Family Welfare 1923 "Each of us feels that we are just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less without that missing drop." --Mother Teresa 1 click per person per day on this link means 1 additional cent for the Fistula Foundation - thanks! |
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Eli
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« Reply To This #4 on: June 05, 2009, 09:59:41 AM » |
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What a neat story Jan! I love it! I certainly hope you keep us up to date as the story unfolds.
It is another one of the benefits of the Kiva teams and all going in together on a loan and what can transpire from those efforts.
What a small world moment, truly.
Thanks for sharing.
GO TEAM CALGARY!
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« Last Edit: June 05, 2009, 10:00:06 AM by Eli »
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In the end, we will conserve only what we love.
We will love only what we understand.
We will understand only what we have been taught.
~Baba Dioum, Senegal
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Jan & John
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« Reply To This #5 on: July 27, 2009, 10:11:59 AM » |
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I'm a little remiss in telling you about our "pot luck picnic in the park" Thanks to the organizing skills of our captain, Jonathon, we gathered at a central park and spread out the food and drink and began to talk... simple as that. Wow, unbelievable how easy it is to talk with people you have never met before. Kiva served as a focal point for finding that folks of different ages and circumstances can still hold the same value system. Sadly a number of folk couldn't make the date... Summer is a busy time. So our next date is September 12th at our home. Both Laura and Raksha will be back from their summer of microfinance and we hope they will both be there to share their experiences. I can't wait. jan (John wore his "I'm a Loaner shirt and I wore the "Wanna Help Buy a Goat?") edit: link to Team Calgary |
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« Last Edit: July 27, 2009, 10:18:36 AM by Jan & John »
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"The place God calls you to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet" - Fredrick Buechner (in Wishful Thinking). "Every child should be well born, well fed, well taught, well housed and well treated." Maude Riley, Alberta Council on Child and Family Welfare 1923 "Each of us feels that we are just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less without that missing drop." --Mother Teresa 1 click per person per day on this link means 1 additional cent for the Fistula Foundation - thanks! |
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Bremen
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« Reply To This #6 on: July 29, 2009, 08:57:50 PM » |
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I had such a great time, thanks for putting the picture up. I'm looking forward to next time, and thinking about what to bring for the BBQ!
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Bremen
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« Reply To This #7 on: July 30, 2009, 06:05:57 PM » |
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Oh by the way I'm Jonathan...you're probably a bit confused as to my true identity.
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Jan & John
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« Reply To This #8 on: September 13, 2009, 09:48:07 AM » |
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The Calgary Team met again last night for a pot-luck supper at our home... I can't express how exciting it is to actually talk to and HUG two wonderful young folks who dedicated their summer to working with MFI's. When I asked "how did you find out about Kiva?"... Laura told us that one of her teachers at university told her. Raksha just pointed at Laura and said "she told me". Raksha worked in Bangladesh and her blog is on the Globe Campus website. Laura went to Kigali, Rwanda as a Kiva Fellow and her blogs can be found here. Many of the Calgary Team could not attend for various reasons, but those of us who could reaped the rewards. We will definitely be getting together again. jan |
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"The place God calls you to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet" - Fredrick Buechner (in Wishful Thinking). "Every child should be well born, well fed, well taught, well housed and well treated." Maude Riley, Alberta Council on Child and Family Welfare 1923 "Each of us feels that we are just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less without that missing drop." --Mother Teresa 1 click per person per day on this link means 1 additional cent for the Fistula Foundation - thanks! |
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cjp1973
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« Reply To This #9 on: September 13, 2009, 11:37:06 AM » |
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It looks like you all had a great time Jan. Thanks for sharing your day and pictures with us.
Charmaine
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Jan & John
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« Reply To This #10 on: March 14, 2010, 09:53:32 AM » |
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We had a wonderful get together last night with some of the Calgary Kiva lenders. Thanks Marnie and Cristian for opening your beautiful home to us. And the food... well, I have always been a great fan of potluck meals. Homemade Dominican empenadas? (sp?) Double-Fried Plantains. Moroccan Pilaf! I need to contact Louise to find out what exactly was in those wraps and how long under the broiler?! And Jonathon, your chocolate... sigh. Sorry, the photo is of the table *after* the hoard went through:) It is amazing to sit and talk with people who come from so many different walks of life but somehow found out another way to make a difference in the world is by lending through Kiva. Wonderful to find we all really hold the same value systems and it's not all about me-me-me or putting number one first. More stories from KF Laura about her time in Rwanda, I can watch her smile all day We missed you Raksha (actually, we were missing the spinach salad, I think you were the only one who actually said what you were bringing ... do hope you're ok and just forgot or something. For those who didn't come, we're planning a campfire and bbq back yard get together so mark April 24 on your calendar and pray the rain stays away. -jan- |
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"The place God calls you to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet" - Fredrick Buechner (in Wishful Thinking). "Every child should be well born, well fed, well taught, well housed and well treated." Maude Riley, Alberta Council on Child and Family Welfare 1923 "Each of us feels that we are just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less without that missing drop." --Mother Teresa 1 click per person per day on this link means 1 additional cent for the Fistula Foundation - thanks! |
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carien
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« Reply To This #11 on: June 05, 2010, 12:16:30 AM » |
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Perhaps this is not the right place to put this message feel free to put it somewhere else
A very special event for me
On May the 28 I had the pleasure to visit Al Majmoua in Beirut.
First I had a long conversation with Youssef Fawaz executive director. We talked about Kiva in general and what it means for them. Al Majmoua is a non profit organisation which is totally indipented so Kiva is important for them because the money is free of interest for them. Although it is for free it still costs them around 3%. Think about the stories updates etc. Sarah Baba is fulltime working for Kiva. She takes care of all the Kiva related subjects.
Youssef asked me what was important for us Kiva lenders. I can of course only speak for myself, but a good picture and story and updates are important for I think most of us. The last half year the updates are great from them stories improved (they made it a part of the loan application so the loan officer has to fill it in an the client has to singe that he agrees that his picture is shown on the internet (Kiva). The pictures are not always that good . They have 30 (if I am not mistaken) loan officers and they can't afford it to give them all a camera so a lot of those pictures are made by cellphones. Sarah is urging them to make better pictures and I think they are better now then before.
I asked why Al Majmoua has only 4 stars while Ameen has 5 stars. For me they are performing much better, He himself doesn't understand it neither. The next question why are there so many man asking for a loanand so few woman. The problem is various but it might not be a surprise to you that the main reason is social and religious. (may I suggest that if you don't like to lend to a man think of it as behind every man is a woman).
The lender pays around 1.3 % a month and they are planning to reduce that. As I happen to know in the streets of Lebanon you pay 7 % on a monthly base. 95 % of their lenders have no access to regular banks so I think they have a good deal.
Youssef asked me how I would feel if a lender can't pay back. For me as one Kiva lender I really don't care. I don't think they should cover the loss because I am taking that risk. I should mention that in 2006 during the war they lost 7.00000 dollar specially from people in the south. They took that loss because there was no way that they could ask the people to pay it back. Just to remember big parts of the south and a part of Beirut was completed destroyed.
I talked with Alia Farhat , business development manager, for a while about here work. Al Majmoua gives free training specially to woman entrepreneurs who have or plan to start a business. They build networks so the women can get better deals. they bring women to work together. They give those courses not only to clients of Al Majmoua but they do that also for other organisations. It was very intresting to hear what they have reached so far
Finally I talked with Sara Baba, who was so kind to arrange this meeting, and Nishita who is a Kiva fellow and worked for Ameen and Al Majmoua. You can read all of here bloggs if you are interested. I discussed also the subject of Ameen suddenly started to put the loans anonymous. I told her that I don't like the reason Ameen is giving for it because I think the situation in Lebanon is improving. She told me that the clients don't like to have their picture on the internet and Ameen respects that. A lot of people also don't want other people to see that they took a loan that reason I can understand. Never realised that in not to poor countries it is 2 clicks away and you can see who applied for a loan. We talked about the football game between the two Ngo's. On June 8 Th they will have a Kiva event in Beirut.A lot of the Lebanese are poor people not to compare with most African countries but still poor and there is of course a group who can afford everything. It is a challenge to try to reach them.
My conclusion I was impressed how open they were how they try to make live better for the Lebanese who needs help. I was a fan for a long time but now I am even bigger fan
So right now there are a few Lebanese loans in the red so if you can help please do.
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Mona
Kiva Supporter
Berlin
Gender: 
Posts: 2255
Dawn at 3.069 m on La Reunion's Piton de Neige
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« Reply To This #12 on: June 05, 2010, 04:13:21 AM » |
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Wow, what a great event and report, Carien! |
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Jan & John
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« Reply To This #13 on: June 05, 2010, 10:30:49 AM » |
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Thanks Carien... lovely of you to share with all of us... here's one... Only 3 days left...Majed is a 54-year-old entrepreneur from Lebanon. He is married and has four children. He has been renting a shop to sell sinks, pipes, and other plumbing devices since 2008. He has 26 years of experience in the industry. Because of his extensive experience, he has a broad customer base that includes friends, neighbors, and professional contacts. Majed is extremely proud of his work and believes that it is his experience that has helped him succeed.  -jan- who thinks plumbing is just so... basic, don't you know ? |
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« Last Edit: June 05, 2010, 10:33:53 AM by Jan & John »
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"The place God calls you to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet" - Fredrick Buechner (in Wishful Thinking). "Every child should be well born, well fed, well taught, well housed and well treated." Maude Riley, Alberta Council on Child and Family Welfare 1923 "Each of us feels that we are just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less without that missing drop." --Mother Teresa 1 click per person per day on this link means 1 additional cent for the Fistula Foundation - thanks! |
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