Thursday, January 25, 2007

Kiva.org

I just made a loan to a small Third World business using a website called Kiva.

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the business is going.

When the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Midwinter Dinner

The midwinter dinner had even better food and entertainment than last year. The latter was provided by the Sakura Minyo Kai dance group (see video below).

Thursday, January 18, 2007

RPCVs wanted for Peace Corps Day

Hi there,
My name is Kim Frisella (Guatemala 98-2000) and I teach at St. Francis Elementary School in Midtown Sacramento. I am hoping to post a message in the next SacValley RPCV newsletter. I am looking for about 6 RPCVs to speak to grades 3-8 on Peace Corps Day. I have hosted this day the past few years (not last year as I had just had a baby!) and would like to continue the tradition. I don't have a date yet, but if the message can be posted, I will organize with the speakers and find a good day we can all agree on (end of Feb./beg. of March). Hope this all makes sense.
Thanks a lot,
Kim