Hi all,
We have some inspiring loans to choose from for our February team loan. Thanks to Betty and cats for great suggestions!
We have loans for creating and selling embroidered napkins, for a book stall selling both fiction and non-fiction, and an agricultural loan for raising chickens.
Please take a look at the candidates and send in your votes, and I will tally the results on Tuesday February 15th, at 6:00 AM New York time (3:00 AM Kiva time - i.e. California time) and post them here and on the team page.
The first group is
Santiaguito Group in Mexico. The group leader's purpose for the loan is to create and sell embroidered napkins, and some other members are in the same business. The yarn shown has many different shades of color, and I can imagine families buying the napkins for parties and family get-togethers. Interestingly, two members of the group are in their seventies and still going strong. The field partner is Fundacion Realidad, which has 4 stars, delinquency 0.41%, default 0%, portfolio yield 53.80%, profitability 2.9%, currency loss possible and repayments April 2011 through July 2011.
The second group is
Amigos Emprendedores Group in Peru. The group leader's purpose for the loan is to buy books wholesale for a mobile stall where she sells both fiction and non-fiction. I remember how I loved bookstores as a child, and there are probably many children and adults who love to browse and buy books at her stall. The field partner is Asociacion Arariwa, which has 5 stars, delinquency 0.21%, default 0%, portfolio yield 35.50%, profitability -0.8%, currency protection and repayments May 2011 through August 2011.
The third group is
Zhizho (cuenca) Group in Ecuador. The group leader is a farmer who raises chickens, as well as dairy cows and guinea pigs (guinea pigs are raised for consumption in South America) and wishes to use the loan to buy more chickens to expand her poultry business. The field partner is Fundacion ESPOIR, which has 4 stars, delinquency 0.26%, default 0%, portfolio yield 20.20%, profitability 2.2%, currency loss not possible since the loan is in US dollars, and repayments April 2011 through September 2011.
The fourth group is
Bugongi United Savings and Credit Group in Uganda. The group leader's purpose for the loan is to buy coffee for his coffee-selling business. The field partner is Pearl Microfinance, which has 3 stars, delinquency 5.95%, default 0%, portfolio yield 54.80%, profitability -3.6%, currency loss possible and repayments are April 2011 through October 2011.
The fifth group is
Sol Naciente Group in Bolivia. The group leader's purpose for the loan is selling teddy bears. The field partner is Emprender, which has 4 stars, delinquency 0.71%, default 0.1%, portfolio yield 43.60%, profitability 1.6%, currency loss possible and repayments are May 2011 through September 2011.
We've got some exciting loans, and I hope we have a lot of participation in the selection this month!
Happy voting!
Eileen
