time for watermelons!

I've been aware for a while that I've had some funds to re-lend at Kiva.

Usually I find a suitable  recipient as a birthday gift for myself, too.

However, I finally jumped at all that tonight!

That's because Kiva will grant me another $20 for making a $25 loan.

Buy one, get one means I get to help two people's dreams come true!

 

I chose Siri, the member of the Benkadi group there in the middle.

Yes, she's the one holding the huge bowl of peanuts!

She's 50 years old, and has been farming for over 30 years.

I wouldn't say that Mama was a farmer, but she certainly enjoyed tending to her gardens for as long as I can recall.

I think that perhaps she guided by eye to this loan.

(smile!)

There are two reasons that I really liked it, though.

"Peanuts! Watermelons! Summertime foods that are favorites!"

That's the rationale I left in the comments section of her page.

And the other reason this loan makes me smile?

 

The country looks like a party dress that's been left on the floor!

Mali is a landlocked country in northwest Africa, with some lush green areas in the bodice, but also lots of desert there in the skirt portion.

I think that would be a fun dress for dancing!

What a sight it would be, twirling around to the music!

"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me...!"

(smile!)

still counts as a bday68 gift to me...

I've been a bit busy, so this annual part of my birthday ritual was delayed.

Today, Kiva sent me an email that I still had money available to lend.

No time like the present to gift someone with support!

I chose Rasha, an educator in Israel who is helping her students fight those who bully others.

Here's the message I sent to the other Nerdfighters on my team.

 

As I told them, I once had my office as a Safe Space for any and all who needed a listening ear and an open mind.

That was during my time as a full-time assistant professor in the Chemistry Department at Armstrong Atlantic State University, and beyond when I was back to adjunct status, before the merger deleted my position entirely.

I've been retired since May of 2018, but I still recall how grateful students were to have a safe, non-bullying, environment that welcomed and supported them so they could concentrate on their studies.

Rasha has requested a rather large loan, which is why I sent the message to the other nerds like me.

I also posted a message on her loan page.

"As a retired professor whose office once provided safe haven to all students, I know the importance of this work. Wishing her much more success!"

I'm glad that she has the support of several schools who recognize the importance of her work.

She has a month to raise the funds she needs to expand her program.

Anyone can help, using this link.

Thanks!

my second seamstress of guatemala

 

I'm so glad that Kiva was quick to provide the $20 lending credit for the International Women's Day loan made yesterday!

Thanks to them, I was able to lend to the other young woman, Ruth Nohemi.

 

She is just two years older than Manuela, and she and her clients are in the northeastern part of the Central American country.

However, just like her countrywoman in the south, she is working to please her customers by providing new clothes for Easter.

I know Mama would be so pleased that I chose these two.

Sewing and embroidery were a big part of her life, and, consequently, of mine when I was younger.

I do hope Ruth's loan will be soon completed.

Incredibly, Manuela's became fully funded as I was making the one today!

I made sure to leave a note on Ruth's page... that will help.

Hopefully another Nerdfighter will lend a financial assist, too!

(smile!)

getting folks ready for holy week!

 

She does embroidery and wants to buy nice materials and threads.

That's because she has regular customers and wants them to have pretty choices for the religious holiday approaching.

I remember my mother making new clothes for us for Easter.

 

This young woman is also a single mother.

Mama was a single mother by the time I was in high school.

 

For this International Women's Day, Kiva is granting me $20 to give toward a future loan, just for making a loan to a woman today.

I intend to give that to another young woman, doing similar work in northeastern Guatemala.

For today, though, I chose to fund Manuela Christina Olivia in the south.

I'll have to let my first niece know.

She'll catch my inside joke with her.

(smile!)

better ingredients, better food

I know, that sounds like a commercial, doesn't it?

Maybe one for a restaurant, though I can't recall which one.

That's neither here nor there.

I'm talking about a group in Tanzania wanting to improve their crop yield.

Here they are, with the emphasis on Costantino.

He's the big 34-year-old on the far right.

He's asking for a loan of $6,100 to purchase certified fertilizers, pesticides, and micro-nutrients.

As I wrote in the comments on his fundraising page, "Better farming techniques and supplies mean better food for families and communities!"

I do hope that will help him get the rest of the funds he needs.

Good for him for having the support of so many others!

happy bday58 to paul

Amazingly, I have the funds already for my third loan in less than a month.

Like the first of those three, this is also to celebrate a birthday, though this is for a man who is like a brother to me, rather than actual blood.

Like that first loan, too, this is for the 20th anniversary of an 18th birthday. 

Paul has been part of my life since we met in grad school in Tallahassee.

The 40th anniversary of his 18th birthday was on the 14th, so this gift is, admittedly, just a little belated.

That's because I was waiting to find a worthy loan, using the credit Kiva.org gave me after I made the second of the three loans I've made in less than a month.

That loan had been for the 20th anniversary of that charitable organization.

That's a lot of 20th anniversary dates being celebrated!

This third loan has been to Olusheno, a group in Namibia, and this is their second loan from Kiva.

Here's what the site said about them and this $100,000 ask.

"In partnership with d.light design, Olusheno... aims to bridge the affordability gap by providing high-quality solar light to thousands of “off-grid” families on affordable installments. Olusheno has already provided sustainable lighting to over 31,500 households across the country and is working to fulfill the government’s dream of bringing reliable electricity to its one million off-grid citizens by 2030.
This new loan will be used as working capital for Olusheno to purchase 5,000 solar home systems that will... help thousands of people light up their lives for the first time!"

I love that the description included that exclamation point!

(smile!)

The real attraction for me, though, was the photo of the woman standing in the doorway of her lit home, with the night darkness all around.
That spoke to me.

So I, in turn, left the above comment to encourage others to help.

I'm so glad that 21 other Nerdfighters have already added their support.

Paul, happy birthday, you're a man who lights up his community.

(smile!)

happy anniversary20 to kiva!

Hard to believe that Kiva.org has been around for twenty years!

I am so glad that I am part of its life-changing mission in the world!

To sweeten the pot, the site has offered a 20-dollar credit to all who help fund a loan today... so I made sure to do that!

I selected Yesica Leonor of the Dominican Republic.

She's a mother of two, and her loan is for construction materials to improve the rental properties she owns.

Note: this is the third loan the enterprising young woman has had with kiva!

Did I say "young"?

That's because she is 42, the same age as my first niece!

That was yet another reason to choose Yesica for my loan.

I even added a few words to encourage others to lend to her.

 

"She reminds me so much of my first niece! Same age, single mom of two, working hard to make the dream come true for herself and others! Plus, this is her 3rd loan - she's definitely a go-getter!"

I fully expect her loan to get fully funded soon!

And look at this: I've completed a badge on the website!

Without even trying, I've funded three loans that are classified as "Basic Needs".

I'm not sure just which ones those are, but I'm glad to have the badge!

Now, to decide who the recipient will be of the $20 credit that Kiva gives me for participating in their Anniversary funding drive...

happy bday58 to dood

Happy birthday to my youngest brother!!!

He is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his 18th birthday today.

I actually procured his gift a few days ago.

Kiva.org provided the perfect present: a loan to a man trying, like him, to make a better life for his family and community.

Kaboré of Cote D'Ivoire is the recipient of this $25 microloan from me as I celebrate my brother's birth.

Kaboré lives in the Daloa region of that African nation.

His $3475 loan through Kiva is for a solar energy kit, including a refrigerator, for his home.

In particular, he chose the solar project to provide electricity on cloudy days.
I totally agree with that rationale!

I'm sure his family will appreciate having electricity every night, too.

They will also appreciate being able to have cool drinks from the fridge, as well as being able to keep food fresh longer.

Oh, the things we take for granted in the United States!

a horse of a different color!

Naturally, when someone starts talking of equine animals, my mind goes to "The Wizard Of Oz".

I can't help it - that movie has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

 

That's partly what drew me to Nariman's loan at Kiva.

Horses.

Everyone else in Kazakhstan who had animals were interested in getting more cattle or more sheep.

Not him.

In his bio, he states that he "owns 174 registered horses — all documented with veterinary records and official tags".

Impressive!

This loan will help him improve his livestock facilities and develop milk processing.

Yes, that's right: this horse ranch is a dairy farm...

with products derived from mare's milk...

wow!

That's amazing!!!

I made sure to post on his loan page, to encourage others to become part of this change.

"I am fascinated by the originality of this dairy farmer! Not cows, not goats, not sheep - horses are the source! He even has an established clientele for his mare's milk products! That's why I chose this loan: to support innovation!" 

I then sent the above message to all the other Nerdfighters of Kiva to make sure they knew about this one. 

Why was I wanting to make sure others knew of Nariman?

Because of this: I was the very first person to lend to him.

That's never happened to me before.

I felt that I was meant to find this one loan amidst all of those clamoring from my attention from that country not yet in my portfolio.

Enough repayments from others I'd lent to had finally amassed to enough for a new loan, so I stipulated "countries I've not yet lent to" in the search.

Pages and pages of people with loans sprang forth!

I whittled down the list to three, including Nariman.

All had established farms, all ran them with their entire family.

But, this was the only one with horses...

this was the only one using mare's milk...

and that innovation struck a chord with me.

I do hope his loan is a success over the next 13 days.

I like the thought of, maybe, someday, trying mare's milk cheese.

fish for all!

 

Kiva sent me an email this morning: I had money to lend again!

Best of all, there was enough in that account to even cover the lending fee, so Kiva wouldn't have to do so.

Perfect!

That meant I had a question to answer: who would I choose?

Well, as it turned out, that wasn't such a hard choice after all.

I knew I would be dining on seafood tonight, thanks to Smitty, my brother.

 

When I read that Marie of Sierra Leone was requesting a loan to purchase more fish to sell, I knew that was the right one for me!

Right place, right time.

That makes the twelfth open loan that I have on Kiva right now.

All of the other 145 loans I've made over the years have been repaid, so those are all regarded as closed.

The mother of four is still needed a few more backers to fund her loan.

I made sure to post a few words of support on her wall.

Hope that encourages others to help her.

(smile!) 

for my bday67 loan, i choose...

... this one!

The funds will go to support Nilcer Danelia, a mother of three, in Honduras.

Why her, out of the many with loans to be funded on Kiva?

That's the comment I left on her page.

A stationery shop - oh, the hours and hours I have spent in such places over my life, carefully selecting the perfect paper for missives to family and friends!

That is the message I sent out for my fellow Nerdfighters.

I do hope some of them will join me in this birthday quest! 

As I told them, I know of no other loans that have her mission.

Let's help make that dream a reality!!!

for a single mom in brazil

Happy International Women's Day to Maria of the Gratidão Iii Group!

She is the woman on the left, the one in the teal tropical print.

I chose her Kiva loan because she reminds me of my first niece.

Like Christina, Maria has a child with special needs.

I wrote on her page:

"A single mom with a special needs child? Yes! I'll help her make a better life, just as I do my niece who has two special needs children. Keep up the good work!"

Maria has worked as a hair stylist since 2010, mostly in her home.

In 2018, she was able to rent a space to do business, but that was lost due to the pandemic.

Now, she is trying toward that goal again.

Kiva will be giving me a $25 credit for helping her, and, when they do, I'm intending to turn right around and loan that to her, too.

If anyone would like to help her make her goal, just click here.

Meanwhile, Maria, keep up the good work and keep the faith.

You've succeeded before, you can do so again.

gift to all of my brothers

Finally I had enough in my Kiva account for this gift to my brothers, as well as to those seeking the loan there to enrich their community!

Meet Mary, of Good Hope Sgbl, in Zambia.

She's the third from the right in this photo of the group she works with for loans.

She needs the $2,750 "to buy beers and restaurant dishes" for her customers.

What made her ask so compelling for me?

Today is Friday.

That's the day I get together with my brothers and their friends for the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta at Jalapenos of Sandfly.

Seriously, that's a real thing.

The men quaff beers and the women sip margaritas and we all sit and chat for at least an hour whilst munching chips and salsa.

Then, we order and we're there another hour, still chatting and quaffing.

Hugs all around before we go our separate ways at night's end.

Let me tell you, this time with them is very important to my social life.

I'm sure the people in Zambia who dine at Mary's restaurant feel the same need for a place to eat, drink, and be merry with those important to them.

So, Happy Christmas, Smitty and Dood!

in honor of Dood

My youngest brother's 57th birthday is today, so I've honored him with two Kiva loans!

He's off on a cruise and I'm hoping he will travel more, perhaps even crossing the oceans to other continents, such as Asia and Africa.

How did I determine which loans to support this time?

 

Both of these are matched by Deloitte, doubling the impact of my funds.

The first loan is to Nusrat of Pakistan.

Tony has become closer to his daughter these past few months.

Nusrat is 38 years old, which Hope will be in two years.

This young woman is raising lambs and calves to help her family.

The second loan is to Mpower Ventures in Cameroon.

They have a very ambitious project: supply solar power to 2000 homes.

The good news is they have experience, as this is not their first Kiva loan.

They have already successfully empowered (get the pun?) 800 homes.

I certainly wish both of these loans much success in their ventures!

Happy birthday, dear brother!

coffee, chatting, and jewelry, too

The next time in Puerto Rico, I'll have to look up The Coffee Boutique.

I was hoping to find something woman-empowering on kiva that both Barbara and Christa might enjoy, and there it was!

Right place, right time.

Zorey found herself jobless when the pandemic struck, so she turned her hobby of jewelry-making into ZK Jewelry & More.

Now, she's ready for a new adventure... and that word is how she hooked me!

 

As a coincidence, mi amiga Sandy is also making jewelry and had her first sales show almost a month ago.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if she has another this busy Labor Day weekend!

(smile!)

And Carolyn, how would she feel about such a enterprise?

Oh, please, she wears more jewelry than all of us combined, and would love an excuse to hang out and talk about it!

(smile!)

Sure, we'd have to cruise down to Puerto Rico to do so... but that's fine.

We all enjoy a good shipboard adventure, and we wouldn't even need passports there. (smile!)

Capital One is matching all loans for Coffee Boutique, too.

Plus, there was already another Nerdfighter chipping.

I've even posted the link on fb, in hopes others will follow my lead and bring this dream to life for Zorey and others... like me and mi amigas.

(smile!)

Yes, definitely where I was meant to be on Kiva.

leather for peru

"I do so enjoy crafts with leather! I have a rocking chair with an embossed leather back and seat. I bought it by the side of the road in Panama in 1979, and it's still going strong!"

That's the comment I left on KIVA for Johnny of Peru.

He is a furniture builder and leather craftsman, as were his father and grandfather and several generations of his family and that of his friends.

He said, "My family is eternally grateful to all of you for these loans, which have allowed us to grow our workshop and stay prepared for periods of high demand. Our craft has been passed down from generation to generation through our family and neighbors, and we are thankful to be able to keep making a living from it. Thank you."

Thank you, Kiva, for adding another furniture maker to my portfolio.

Thank you, Sage Global, for matching the funds for this loan.

Thank You, God, for guiding me to this tribute for a friend's wife.

georgia on my mind... and india, too!

Thanks to the Nerdfighter Challenge that I stumbled upon at Kiva, I've added two more countries to my list!

Called the Mid-Year Loanathon, here's what our team captain had to say:

"If we lend $220K by June 15 we'll win a $1,000 prize. PLUS if we win there will be a fun contest with a $500 individual prize for the winning team member! All loans count, but you can filter below for team picks to see some loans we’ve vetted for you!"

 

Major coolness!!!

After filtering out those countries I've already loaned to, I settled on these two loans.

 

Davit of Georgia, a country with a coastline much like the one for my US state of Georgia, was an immediate hit with me!

"Davit is a 21-year-old determined student charting his course in marine navigation at the university. With a love for the sea and a passion for precision in navigation, he is committed to mastering the skills required to safely navigate ships across the world's oceans. However, the financial challenges of pursuing this specialized field weigh heavily on him, prompting Davit to seek a student loan to fund his education. He envisions himself as a future captain, guiding vessels through challenging waters and contributing to safe and efficient maritime transportation.
This loan is special because it allows low-income students to pursue education and find jobs before repaying. " 

Marine science!!!

Low-income student!!!

In Georgia!!!

Those are all descriptors that could have been applied to me at his age!

(smile!)

The loan for the Diaspora Co. in India took a little longer to attract me.

In fact, their ask of $100,000 was a big drawback, until I read more.

"Diaspora Co. is a woman-of-color-owned business dedicated to working with South Asia’s best regenerative family farms. Diaspora works with 140+ farm partners and 1500+ farm workers across 10 states in India & Sri Lanka to source their collection of 30+ single-origin spices and 6 house blends that are sold to their primary market in the US. Diaspora sets thriving wages with its farm partners (an average of 3 to 5x higher than commodity prices) that ensure smallholder partners and their workers are adequately compensated for their labor.
Kiva’s loan is critical for Diaspora ahead of their planting and harvesting seasons as they look to invest in seeds, irrigation, and farmworker help. It enables the company to make pre-harvest advances for the majority of Diaspora’s supply chain, allowing farmers to produce without taking on high-interest predatory loans. Lending to Diaspora supports improved, sustainable livelihoods and climate-smart agriculture practices. This is Diaspora’s second loan through the Kiva Social Enterprise program."

Here's the comment I left to encourage others to lend to them.

"This one loan will help HUNDREDS improve not only their livelihoods, but their lives and the lives of others in their community. Win, win!"

Right now, they've acquired about a third of the needed funds to make that happen.

 

I'm glad I had the repaid funds from former loans to allow me to celebrate my birthday by helping others.

 

If, dear reader, you feel inclined to help them, just click the links for the two loans.

Many thanks!

four women for international women's day!

I've been having a bit of a pity party, but what better way to celebrate the end of that moping than by helping other women?

And what better time to do so than on International Women's Day?

Indeed!

This action was especially beneficial to me because it made me feel part of something bigger than myself, part of a world family working to decrease suck.

Yes, I'm talking about being Fliss of Nerdfighters!

Three of the loans I chose were referred by that group, with a special boost: for every 5 Nerdfighters that helped each loan, the Piggy Bank would put in an extra $25.

Yes, please!

I did my part at 2 AM, before bed.

When I checked just now, those three loans had achieved that boost!!!

 

I'll have to see about adding Olga Christina to their list, so she can get the perk.

She's the one I had already selected before I came upon the Nerdfighter challenge.

She lives in Colombia - South America, not South Carolina - and has her own business selling textile products retail in the municipality of Riosucio.

After my demon-slaying foray yesterday, and given part of her name being that of my first niece, I thought helping this young Spanish-speaking starfish would be a nice part of the bday41 gift to Christina Ann.

Yes, there's an inside joke for my niece.

(smile!)

After choosing that loan, I stumbled onto the Piggy Bank challenge from Nerdfighters.

Clementine, part of the group villageoise Saint Michel in Congo (DRC), is a widow, 45 years old, and has 4 children who are all in school.

She reminded me of my mother at that age, though I was out of school and in the Navy, and Mama was already a grandmother by then.

Clementine has her own business, now 12 years old, of selling shoes and wants to expand her inventory of footwear and add handbags to sell.

She's doing that in a conflict-affected area, too.
Now she has my group helping to support her group!

(smile!)

 

Speaking of mothers who are grandmothers, Kady was the next person to benefit from me and the Piggy Bank.

That's her, the friendly woman in blue, waving from the midst of her group, in Senegal.

She is my first niece's age but has six children, as well as two grandkids living with her.

Kady sells honey and beeswax to pay for the children's education.

Glad to be of help to her!

(smile!)

 

Nadia in Egypt was next for me.

Married, she started her grocery store four years ago to help support their three children, and now she is expanding her business with more choices for her customers, maybe even buying a taxi for her husband to have a steady income as well as serve their community.

Under 30 and on top of her game!

(smile!)

turkey, with a side of cambodia

Today, I brought my number of countries supported via Kiva to 36.

Very nice!

I do like their new lending policy!

In all the years - a dozen and counting - that I've been with Nerdfighters on the Kiva crowd-sourcing site, each loan had to be a minimum of $25, or multiples thereof.

Now, the minimum amount lent is set to $5, allowing more flexibility and more lending.

That flexible option has allowed me to help finance two loans.

 

The first that I chose was to Davy, in Cambodia.

Here is the profile on the website.

"Davy is a seller and business owner. 

Since she has been making foods to sell for about 60 month. 

It has gained a good reputation and now has a strong base of loyal customers. 

She started that business to provide for her family. 

She has applied for a loan from Kiva to buy some groceries to make foods to sell. 

This business is offering her community more options and giving her the opportunity to build a better life for her family. 

More competitors and the rainy season are her major challenges.
This loan is special because it provides entrepreneurs with resources to increase income and improve their living conditions."

She sounds like she's running a diner, to allow folks to purchase meals she makes fresh.

I appreciate how valuable a service that is to her community!

 

As I have kept my sanity by such services in my own seaport, I loaned her $20.

Thanks to repayments from several of my Kiva loans, I had a credit of $42.

That was enough to make two good loans, as well as help Kiva in their funding. 

As that fee for the loan to be processed is about $3.50 per loan, that left $15 for me to make a rare second loan.

I chose Yasemin, in Turkey, for that second loan.

Here is her profile.

"Yasemin is 50 years old, married, and has a daughter. 

She started working to support her husband and daughter. She sells food containers and food storage boxes.
She will buy food containers and food storage boxes with the loan she will receive through Kiva.
This loan is special because it supports underserved women in rural parts of Turkey."

Those are all plastic, no doubt the same linear, high density, polyethylenes that I worked with for my doctorate in analytical chemistry, almost thirty years ago.

Good for her, I thought!

So, to help her loan get fully funded, I left a comment on her profile.

"How wonderful that she is selling a reusable product! 

Not only will the foods stored in the plastic containers stay fresh longer, but those foods will also be safe from infestation from bugs or animals. 

That's good for the health of those who eat the food.
- Faustina
Nerdfighters "

 

I do hope both women will soon see their loans fully funded...

and wish them much success in their endeavors!

honoring my stepmom on bday75

Happy 75th birthday, Bonnie!

 

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I decided to gift you by giving money to someone else.

 

Yeah, maybe that doesn't sound like a good present, but I know you will be pleased.

 

This is the fellow I chose especially for you.

 

His name is Munkhbat, he's 49 years old, and Kiva describes him as "modest and hard-working".

 

Believe it or not, he's a cobbler.

 

No, not like peach or blackberry! LOL!

 

The man makes shoes.

 

Right?!

 

In this day and age, there are still people out there who craft shoes by hand.

 

He must do quality work, as he sells five pairs of shoes every day from his home in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

 

Pretty amazing!

 

But you know what I like most about this?

 

His favorite part of his business is seeing people wearing his shoes.

 

Very nice.

 

So, to help him buy more materials to make more shoes, I gave him your birthday money.

 

That $25 will go a long way over there!

 

Maybe one day he'll be able to sell his shoes on the internet; one never knows.

 

So, happy birthday to you, dear friend and stepmom!

 

(smile!)