Zafèn.org

[Guest]

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[Kestrel]

Here's a pitch for the first batch of Zafèn.org projects, some of which will expire unfunded in as little as 3 days.

Zafèn provides online access for loans or donations to Haitian entrepreneurs and students. It is a pilot project sponsored by the well respected Haitian MFI "Fonkoze" (http://www.fonkoze.org/) and the Vincentian Family. "The Vincentian Family has generously offered to match a number of donations towards scholarships that provide Haitian primary schoolchildren with the opportunity to go to school for a year and to receive nourishing meals each day at school, sometimes for the first time in their lives".

Of the projects listed, 21 have been funded, 11 are raising funds for loans and 17 are seeking donations. The projects include: school reconstruction; bakery expansion; drycleaning; art markets; pig, fish and sugar cane farms; planting of coffee plants and fruit trees; tuition & board scholarships for Fondwa University; water treatment equipment; internet access; restaurants; and elementary and preschool scholarships.

The Pazapa Home Visit Education Project is 20% funded. If it does not reach full funding in the next 3 days, it will be pulled and funds will be returned to the donors.

From the web site:

"PAZAPA’s mission is to “support the treatment, education, and development of children with handicaps, and to integrate them into the community at-large.” In Haitian Creole, PAZAPA means "step by step," and, step by step, PAZAPA is making a difference in the lives of Haiti’s disabled children. Furthermore, by modeling and fostering acceptance of children with disabilities, PAZAPA is effecting systemic change in the treatment and education of, and Haitians’ attitudes towards, children with disabilities."



See more at: https://www.zafen.org/pdfs/0000/0115/PAZAPA1_march_291.pdf

I am sure Zafèn's mission is in line with Kiva's and I am hoping some Kiva Friends will help this new site succeed with their launch. 

Check out: https://www.zafen.org/


Best,
Laurie

[wannado]

Thanks for posting this!  I've contributed to some of those projects, and I'd definitely like to see them become fully funded.  Come on, Kiva Friends!  This is a great way to lend a little money to some people in Haiti who desperately need our help.

Marsha

[Jan & John]

We're willing to give them a try... but we don't make donations outside of the Canadian tax system... so we chose a farming loan.
Thanks Laurie
-jan-

[Mona]

Looks good, I am in!   
Especially as Kiva has not had a loan to Haiti available in weeks... 

I have set up a "Kivafriends Lending Team" there. Feel free to join me!  
https://www.zafen.org/en/teams/59

[cjp1973]

joined the team, made a couple of loans.  Hope this does well.

[Mona]

Btw, as I found out just now, it is also possible to dedicate loans/donations afterwards to a specific team. 

[Kestrel]

Many thanks to Mona for establishing the Kivafriends Lending Team on Zafen. With 9 members, it is currently the fourth largest team!

Here's the sad note (from Zafen's facebook page):

"Reality Sets In: 5 projects didn’t receive full funding & were removed from zafen.org to allow lenders to contribute those funds to other projects. If you contributed to the projects below, check your My Zafèn account and you will see a credit that can be applied to a new business. Unfunded projects are: College Mixte Gaetan Amedee School, PAZAPA, Optimiz Bakery; Neza Shop and Chicken Fiesta."

From the same page:

Zafèn made Voice of America... http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/americas/Clicking-for-a-Cause-95433044.html

How about some more Kivafriends support for this loan:

Kiskeya Aqua Farm



"The impact of the proposed activity will be to contribute to food security, and to sustain jobs already created in rural Leogane, as well as to create new employment opportunity. In addition, the pig farm will contribute in increasing the population of this endangered animal. Please note that a portion of the profit generated from the commercial farm will support community development including the free medical clinic established on its premises. For photos of the medical clinic, please see http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiskeyaferme/."

12 month repayment term, 42% funded, $575.00 still needed

...or one of the 6 other projects fundraising for loans...or 15 projects looking for donations (the Sugar Cane Farm Equipment Project is 80% funded).

Please check out:

https://www.zafen.org/

[Kestrel]

Zafen Update:

Three new projects have now been listed (from the Zafen website):

The Return of Ak 100 Lakay (Akassan)!

"Let’s help to bring back a nutritional, affordable, and popular drink called Akassan that has been in short supply since the earthquake on January 12th. Akassan is a traditional Haitian corn-based drink, served hot for immediate consumption, or in bottles to take home. It is sold in marketplaces by vendors and in small shops and restaurants. AK 100 Lakay was one of the only businesses which, prior to the earthquake, sold Akassan for mass consumption in large marketplaces. With the loan, AK Lakay 100 intends to rebuild their facilities, which were destroyed in the quake. As a result of the loss of their building in Tabare, AK Lakay 100 has relocated to Diegue, near Petionville. They intend to rebuild there, using equipment and supplies that would be provided by the loan."

Type: Loan; Amount Still Needed  US$3,575.00; 12 months repayment term
https://www.zafen.org/en/projects/194

Agwo Boutik Lakay: Getting supplies to Farmers

"A loan to Agwo Boutik Lakay will allow the store to make more and lower-cost agricultural products available locally to the farmers of St. Raphael and the surrounding areas of Pignon, Dondon and St. Michel. Without the increased capacity of Agwo Boutik Lakay, the farmers would have to travel to Cap Haitian and pay higher prices in order to purchase much needed products, such as fertilizer and diverse supplies of agricultural tools."

Type: Loan; Amount Still Needed  US$3,575.00; 12 months repayment term
https://www.zafen.org/en/projects/257

Ecole du Village: Water Tower Repair Project

"To finance the repair of the school water tower that will be used to catch the rain water during the upcoming rain season. A water filter has already been purchased."

Type: Donation; Amount Still Needed  US$1,100.00
https://www.zafen.org/en/projects/249

Also...Kiskeya Aqua Ferme:Increase Production Capacity of the Pig Farm project is now 57% raised ($425 still needed) with 6 members of the KivaFriends Lending Team on the loan. https://www.zafen.org/en/projects/152

Only 3 days left until expiry for Plante Se Lespwa Farm which is currently 40% raised. Six KivaFriends on this loan as well:



https://www.zafen.org/en/projects/30

Would love to see more KivaFriends helping Zafen [according to Kivabank: 0 Matching Loans in Past 30 Days for Country(Haiti)].

 

Laurie

[Kestrel]

From Zafen's Facebook Page:

"A group of friends from around the world who make microloans through Kiva.org and who spread their generosity among other efforts to make the world a better place have created a team on Zafèn and already made more than $1,000 in loans and donations to Haitian businesses and sustainable projects. Zafèn salutes them for their humanitarian spirit. May many others follow the meaningful example they have set."

Sadly, the Plante Se Lespwa farm project expired at 43% raised:

Project updates

06/16/2010

"This project did not receive any (or sufficient) contributions during the time it was active. It is no longer available for contributions and all amounts previously loaned or donated will be credited to contributors’ My Zafèn accounts."

Some of you will have refunds....

Laurie

[Kestrel]

Good news!

The Watch Tower Repair Project is fully funded. 

Now how about considering a loan for the Notre Dame de Lourdes Water treatment equipment?



"NDL seeks to respond to the crisis situation by increasing the company’s capacity to produce and sell water (in pouches). There is a clear demand for potable water in many parts of Port-au-Prince. The company wants to use its existing distribution system composed of 256 women to distribute water throughout open market areas, and to NGOs who are purchasing water for the tent cities.

The original purpose of the NDL was to create jobs both directly and indirectly. The company has approximately 14 full time employees who receive a hot meal on a daily basis. Each distributor receives a payment at the time they purchase NDL products so that they can establish working capital for themselves to fund their businesses. When they are well established, they take over and make cash payments."

Location:  Port-au-Prince
Funds Requested  US$7,500.00
$ Raised So Far: US$775.00 (10% raised)
Amount Still Needed: US$6,725.00 
Repayment Term: 12 months
Repayment Schedule: Monthly
Days remaining: 13

Click on: https://www.zafen.org/en/projects/40