celebrating an anniversary

Last month marked my ninth anniversary as a Nerdfighter of Kiva.
Within a year, Kiva had one million supporters, people just like me, wanting to help others through a crowdsourcing platform.
Today, in celebration, I have made another three loans, this time with each of my $25 antes being matched by Hitachi, in a special bid to help during this time of pandemic.
(Get my little joke?
Maybe you need to play poker to understand!)

The first loan was to Jacinta in Timor-Leste.
The 33-year-old entrepreneur had asked for the loan to help buy additional supplies such as wood, chickens, fresh fish and other stuff to sell at her small food stall near the school.
Here's what I said about my reason for choosing her.
"I liked that she was supplying healthy snacks and food to school kids on their way home.

I am glad that my loan to her was matched so her goal will be reached sooner!"
Hussein, a musician in Palestine, requested a loan to purchase instruments for his band.
Given that I enjoyed the Savannah VOICE Festival for the last two weeks, and in memory of a guitarist who recently died, my first money in the 'entertainment' sector went for this one.

The third being the charm, I selected this one without hardly reading her bio.
What drew my attention to Fe'ofa'aki of Tonga was this.
"I simply have to like someone with a name more strange than mine!
Plus, I like that she is older and still obviously loving life - like I am!"
I liked, too, that she weaves natural-fiber mats.
Having slept on tatami mats in Okinawa, I know how important they are to clean living spaces!
I must confess to an underlying mission in my three choices: I deliberately went in search of loans to business types and countries that were something different.
My portfolio on Kiva previously reflected that my 23 loans had been to 16 countries for 17 types of businesses.
Now, how about a little perspective on that?
Kiva supplies loans to 75 countries for 163 business types.
I knew I could do better, just as I'd done with Kickstarter.
So, now, I've added three more loans as well as three more countries and three more types of business activity to the portfolio I've amassed.
(smile!)
That means I have made 26 loans, for 20 business types, in 19 countries -
making a total of six hundred fifty dollars in loans, but only actually using two hundred sixty-six dollars to do so.
That's because I tend to wait for the loans to be paid back before I lend to someone else, unless there is a special 'matching opportunity', as there was today.

Which countries have benefited from my money to their citizens?
Bolivia
Burkina Faso
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Fiji
Ghana
Guatemala
Jordan
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
Malawi
Nicaragua
Palestine
Philippines
Samoa
Tajikistan
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Vietnam

What business activities have I supported?
Agriculture
Clothing Sales
Dairy
Entertainment
Farming
Fish Selling
Food Production/Sales
Food Stall
Fuel/Firewood
Grocery Store
Higher education costs
Knitting
Laundry
Perfumes
Personal Expenses
Poultry
Primary/secondary school costs
Retail
Tailoring
Weaving

In the future, as the other loans I have out there, as well as these new ones, are repaid, again supplying me with $25 aliquots to lend, I'll seek to expand the corners of the world, and of the world's economy, that those dollars support.
That's definitely a worthy goal as I head toward my decade anniversary of being a Nerdfighter of Kiva, fighting suck!
(smile!)

thank you from Ghana!

Wow!
How very kind of those folks to send this email to me!
I'm speaking of the people in Ghana associated with Meridia.
I had chosen them to receive support in honor of my birthday62 this year.
Here's the email that I received yesterday...
honestly, it made me cry that my help meant so much to them.

--- * --- * ---

kiva.org
25 June 2020 8:45 PM

Update from Ghana

This update on your loan to Meridia was written by Kiva's Field Partner.

Dear Kiva Lender,

We are all in this together. No matter where you are in the world, you are facing a new reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a Kiva lender, you are an agent of positive change. The flexible working capital that you provide to Meridia and other social enterprises now has even higher social impact.

Like many social enterprises, Meridia is struggling to sustain operations due to COVID-19 restrictions. Land mapping and titling projects have been delayed in Ghana. The result is reduced revenue and increased vulnerability for women and cocoa farmers. Land rights provide economic security during uncertain times

An investment in Meridia is an investment in financial inclusion. Your patient capital unlocks the value of a customer's most valuable asset - land. Land owners with property rights increase property value by 2x and increase agricultural productivity by up to 60%. Annual family income increases 150% and loan approval rates increase by 12%. The impact does not stop there.

Meridia focuses on gender equality. Your patient capital strengthens the role of women in rural Ghanaian communities and contributes to the wellbeing of the entire family. Women landowners earn 3.8x more income and are 8x less likely to experience domestic violence. Children are more likely to go to school and less likely to be underweight. How is that for positive impact?

We are all in this together. Meridia still needs your support to empower women and cocoa farmers and thrive together in a post-pandemic world.

Lend directly to Meridia here: https://www.kiva.org/lend/1966124.

With gratitude,

The Kiva Labs: Social Enterprise Team

nerdfighting for birthday62!

When kiva.org has a "make one loan, get money for another" deal, especially around the time of my birthday and the start of my personal new year, well, I just have to partake!
I give all credit to the 18-year-old idealist in my mind.
She still believes the world can be a better place if we lend each other a helping hand.
What an optimist she is!

The first loan went to Meridia in Ghana, to keep a community of cocoa farmers at work.
I even posted on fb about it!
"I loaned to Meridia in honor of my 62nd birthday and in honor of my friend, Jo Coleman-Williams.
Jo went to Ghana twice, once in her youth and again for her 50th birthday, to help people.
This is my way of helping, too.
I invite others to join me in making microloans to others!"

That loan netted me the $25 from Kiva to lend to Tansuluu in Kyrgyzstan!
Here's what I told the others who fight suck by my side!
"Moooove on over here and help Tansuluu purchase more cows.
Milk is a protein-rich food source for the people in her community, including children.
Plus her name reminds me of another nerdfighter from a galaxy far, far away, and that's good!"
Here's another good thing: VMware matched my money!

I only intended to make the two, but my lending account still had almost $9 in it, so I carried on!
Inspired by that matched loan to make a third, this time the funds went to Makerita in Samoa for paint, rollers, brushes, and other such materials.
"I loaned to Makerita because I know the value of having color on the walls of a house - that helps make it a home.
Plus, her name makes me feel a dance craze sweeping near!"
So, you know what that means...
gotta dance!!!
Who knew lending money could be such fun!
(smile!)

thanks for the blood!

The American Red Cross is Thankful for You
Hi Faustina,

In times of crisis, the Red Cross is fortunate to witness the best of humanity as donors, like you, roll up a sleeve to help those in need. Your donation may help patients undergoing emergency and lifesaving surgeries, new mothers and children facing complications from childbirth, and those fighting injury and illness. We greatly appreciate your willingness to come give blood and share your good health with the most vulnerable among us during these difficult times.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused many uncertainties in our world, but patients and the Red Cross are thankful that we can count on you to answer the call to help.

From all of us at the American Red Cross – thank you for helping others during this critical time.

-------- ------------ ---------------

What a sweet email!
The American Red Cross has also offered to send me this cool T-shirt.
I had originally thought I wanted it, to commemorate my donation of a pint for my birthday62.
Good thing they're letting me think about for a few days, but I would rather someone get it who will actually wear it.
I already have so many T-shirts...
especially from my VIP blood donor days.
I'm part of the choir.
(smile)

birthday blood, shared with others

On this last day of Year 62 FLS, I gave the perfect gift to the world:
a pint of my blood.
Now, those platelets and red blood cells and white blood cells, immersed in plasma, can help others continue living.
That means others of different race, of different beliefs, of different gender.
Blood knows no bias, especially AB+ plasma, the universal gift of life-renewing antibodies and nutrients.
Blood is a renewable resource, with all components, including the hemoglobin clusters, fully restored in only seven weeks.
Only seven weeks.

Happy birthday62, everyone!

lights out in the piazza

They called me just a little while ago, following up on the earlier email.

"May 5, 2020
Dear Faustina,
We have put off making this announcement for as long as possible, but as you know Savannah Repertory Theatre, like all other theatres across the country, has had to suspend our 2019-2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We had hoped that things might clear up in time to begin rehearsal, but out of respect for the safety of our cast, crew, and audiences, our much-anticipated production of The Light in the Piazza has been cancelled.
As you know, it is impossible to cancel performances without creating serious and lasting hardships for Savannah Rep, our staff, and artists. As a small nonprofit arts organization, we rely heavily on your support. Now more than ever, your support is critical to all non-profit arts organizations as we are realizing significant losses due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19. We ask that you please consider donating back the value of your ticket (as a tax-deductible contribution). We also understand that these days are not easy for any of us, so if a refund is helpful we are more than happy to provide that as well.
The amount of your transaction is: $16.25
We would like to offer you the following three options:
A - Donate the amount paid to Savannah Rep (tax deductible). As you know the ticket prices alone do not cover all of our expenses, and Savannah Repertory Theatre depends on donations and sponsorship funds to make up the difference. You will receive an In-Kind Donation Letter in the mail for your records.
B - Receive a complimentary ticket(s) valid for a future Savannah Rep Show. We will keep your name on file to receive a comp ticket(s) you may use for yourself or a guest at any future 20/21 MainStage production.
C - Get a refund. You will be mailed a check from Savannah Repertory Theatre of the above amount within 30 days of the refund request.
If we don’t see a response within a couple days of sending this email we will follow up by calling the phone number we have in our ticketing system.
It is our hope to bring this beautiful musical production to you some day along with its incredible cast – which included many local favorites and three incredible guest artists. At present, Savannah Rep is exploring all avenues to see how and when we may safely open our doors so we can once again share great stories and great theatre. We are all hopeful that our personal and artistic lives return to normal very soon.
We send you wishes of health and strength for these difficult times and look forward to seeing you soon!
Best regards,
Ryan McCurdy
Interim Co-Artistic Director
and the entire artistic team, staff, and board of Savannah Repertory Theatre"

When Ryan called, I cheerfully told him that I wanted Option A.
I am regarding that as a birthday62 gift, from me, to them, in the interest of keeping the troupe alive for entertainment and enlightenment on future evenings.
I do so hope...

another grove for another birthday!

Honestly, I very much like, and still agree with, what I wrote for my first grove.
That would have been in 2018, for my sixtieth birthday.
So, this very day, I have arranged for the Arbor Day Foundation to plant a second grove, this one also consisting of sixty trees, to commemorate the completion of another year of life for me.
Perhaps they will be able to get that done by my actual birthday.
(smile)
My thanks to the many trees of the world for the life-giving oxygen they supply.
I literally could not live without them...
nor could any other animal on Earth.
I am ever so grateful...
truly, and always.
i thank You, God, for the trees.