Kiva

WHAT IS

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Kiva is a non-profit organization revolutionizing the fight against global poverty by enabling people to connect with and make personal loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world. How does Kiva works? From Kenya to Ecuador, microfinance institutions around the world go to Kiva and post photos and profiles of low income entrepreneurs in need of money for their businesses. Lenders visit Kiva.org, browse through the profiles and loan to the entrepreneur of their choice. Over time, the entrepreneur repays their loan.

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An entrepreneur is a person or a group of persons, hard-working and hopes to create a sustainable livelihood. All they need is a small loan. The entrepreneur that I chose is:

Trabajando Juntas Group

Group Members Virginia Lilia Anita Irma Margarita Norma

Dina Martha Victoria Francisca Aurora Norma

About the Group The Trabajando Juntas Communal Bank is located in the community of Yauli, Huancavelica province, in Peru. This community's economic activities are tourism (in Incañan) and trade. Norma Seras, is married and has 7 children. She is a loom weaver, and weaves day and night to fulfil customers orders. She has not stopped weaving in spite of being ill, and expecting to undergo surgery. Norma has used her loans to buy raw materials for her business. Her dream is to have a textile factory and export her products. She would also like to buy a weaving machine.

About the Group Norma Laurente, is married and has two children. She likes to weave covers, hats, alpaca and lamb wool, which she sells at the fairs in Paucara and Yauli. Sometimes she takes her items to sell in Lima, with the help of her husband. She will use her loan to purchase raw materials for her business. Her dream is to have a large textile company, and to open a small grocery store to give her children a good education.

About the Group •

Primary Activity: Textiles

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Loan Requested: $2,075.00

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Repayment Term: 6 months

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Loan Use: The Trabajando Juntas Communal Bank needs 6,200 nuevo soles for 10 members to invest in their business

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Field Partner: Finca Peru

Field Partner

FINCA Peru's Mission is to contribute to the empowerment of social and economically disadvantaged women in Peru. By facilitating the integral development of human capacities, FINCA Peru promotes the development of the entrepreneurial spirit within each of its clients. Its mission is to strengthen the social discipline of women through the daily practice of positive values such as equity, solidarity, respect, responsibility and honesty.

Field Partner

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Field Partner Risk Rating:

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Time On Kiva: 15 months

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Kiva Entrepreneurs: 3811

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Total Loans: $1,060,750

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Delinquency Rate: 0.15%

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Default Rate: 0.00%

Who lend $2,075.00 to the group? 55 Lenders Who are they? People from all over the world Europe

American Continent

1 from Portugal (me)

6 from Canada

1 from Belgium

38 from United States

2 from United Kingdom 3 from Spain

Asia 1 from Taiwan

Australia 1 from Lane Cove

2 from unknown countries

LENDERS We can define lenders like people who help others with money needs because that make them feel well with the world and with them self's. Mrs. Nadine from Shreveport, Los Angels, is one of the “Trabajando Juntas Group” lenders.

Who is Mrs. Nadine? That was what I try to know when I sent her this message.

Hello Mrs. Nadine

I’m Ana, I’m writing to you from Lisbon, Portugal and as you I chose “Trabajando Juntas Group” in Peru to make a loan. I’m an English student and it was our teacher who introduced us to the Kiva organisation. He thinks that the best way to improve our English is contacting with other lenders of the same entrepreneur group and I thought in you because as well as Fernando, my English teacher, you are a teacher. From all entrepreneurs that you helped, have you already met any of them or their work? Best regards, Ana Areia

Mrs. Nadine answered me. My message made her feel glad. It was the first time she heard from a fellow Kiva member and she thinks that is wonderful to be able to correspond with someone who feels strongly about being able to help on a one to one level. Mrs. Nadine is a teacher. She is teaching art to elementary students. She loans because she believes in the power of the individual to make a positive impact. And that is very important to her.

“I know what we do is small, but isn’t it great how our small acts can add up to so much good?” YES IT IS, ISN’T IT?

www.kiva.org Ana Margarida Areia November 4th, 2008

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