Why We Kiva

Las Girasoles Tecpanecas Group of Guatemala

Nicolas Haub Guatemala, Loans we did make, Why We Kiva

The Las Girasoles Tecpanecas Group is group of women in the rural Guatemalan city of Tecpan. This is a group of women who work hard to meet individually set goals.

There are 9 women in the group who all have a different businesses such as, food sale, agriculture, weaving, selling clothing, and the sale of cosmetics. They call themselves the “Las Girasoles Tecpanecas” or the Tecpan Sunflowers.

Las Girasoles Tecpanecas GroupThere are many reasons I made made this loan. One reason I made this loan is the average annual income in Guatemala is only $5,300.! Compare that to how much your parents make in a year. In fact most people spend more than that on a car in America.

Another reason why I made this loan is the loans at risk rate and the default rate are extremely low. The loans at risk rate and default rate show whether similar loans in the area where not paid back or not paid back at all. We will also be paid back monthly over 10 months. This means we will get paid back a little bit over 10 months which means we won’t have to wait a long time to get our loan back.

The final and most important reason I made this loan is for people like Dolores (one of the women in the group). Dolores is 68 years old and is practically the sole source of income for her family and is responsible for paying for the education of her kids by owning and running a small food business. With the loan she hopes to buy spices and rice to expand her business.

This is why we Kiva. We Kiva to help women like Dolores and their families make a better life for themselves.

By: Nicolas H.

 

It’s All Connected…

Allison W Mali, Why We Kiva

childlabormap

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/29/child-labor-map_n_5631384.html

World Poverty:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measuring_poverty

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate

Air Pollution:

Indoor Air Polution map-deaths

http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Household_air_pollution

Looking around, you would think the world is just like our country, rich, plentiful amounts of food, sanitary, and full of opportunities. Well, it’s not. Do you realize how lucky you are to be born in a country that has what you need for a good life? Around the world, people are suffering from poverty, child labor, illiteracy, and air pollution. What’s worse is that it adds up. A kid who’s 14 and lives in Mali could be working over 8 hours on a school day, suffering from air pollution, illiteracy, and living in extreme poverty. These poverty maps are very humbling. All of this should make us realize how lucky we actually are.

-Allison W., Caitlin P., Emma T.

 

The Best 3 Years Of My Life

Evan C Why We Kiva

I have been in the SMS Kiva club for 3 years now, and sadly it is time for me to move on. I am leaving our school and moving on to high school where I hope I can continue to use the knowledge I have gained from Kiva club, or even start a new Kiva club.

I have learned so many great things, and met so many great people, and made so many new friends in the past 3 years.

I learned how lucky we are to have everything that we have because many people don’t have the opportunities that we have here in the United States. I’ve met teachers and students from British Columbia who wanted to start their own Kiva clubs. And I have made many new friends, some who have moved on to high school, and some who just started this year in 6th grade.

I have had so many wonderful memories. From my first loan, to my first post. From my first time walking in the door, to the last. I just don’t want the experience to end. I wish that I could stay longer to see the hard working 6th graders blossom into their full potential.

I also want  to say thank you to our teacher, Mr Ferriter, for giving me all of the great memories and experiences throughout the past 3 years.

I just don’t want the memories to end.

– Evan C.

#ItShouldLastForever

#IDontWantItToEnd

#IKivaBecauseICare

#NeverForget

Here’s Why We Kiva…

Chloe M. Why We Kiva

Why do we Kiva? We Kiva because we care. People around the world work as hard as they can to support their families and its still not enough. Kiva is a way we peoples lives a little bit easier without traveling all the way around the world.

 

PovertyIs Real

Also, even though we only loan $25.00 at a time, others contribute and all the different people that lend $25.00 to a group makes it possible to get them the loan that they need, and with Kiva it’s not a donation its a loan! So we can help people support their families and we get our money back. With the money we get back we can make loans to more people, and the more people we can help the better.

 

By: Cheyenne S. and Chloe C.