I am posting these links to two features PBS’ Frontline has produced about Kiva.  The first, “A Little Goes a Long Way” comes from October of 2006, when Kiva had just taken off as a registered non-profit, and was still only channeling loans to borrowers in Africa (Ugandan borrowers are interviewed in this episode, along with Kiva’s founders and its president).  The other, “… Kiva … Growing Up” comes from October of this year, actually interviewing a Kiva Fellow in Ayacucho, Peru about Kiva’s outreach there.

Last week I took another step towards my own fellowship when I got access to the Kiva Fellows Wiki, which is a database of Kiva-pertinent information and wisdom that’s put together for and by the Kiva Fellows. I have been browsing hungrily ever since, and been excited to find out something new about microfinance on every page. Pretty cool, too, is that the more I read about Kiva’s foundations and progress, the more I find myself relating to the organization, and looking forward to relating in real terms to its administrators, lenders, and borrowers. Oh, also, I have finally become a lender myself to Kiva; I lent $25 to the Siempre Amigas [Forever Friends] in Cuenca, Ecuador, a group of 18 women raising money for animal sales. This group is affiliated with the Cuenca-based Fundacion ESPOIR, a pilot MFI partner of Kiva’s.

I will start receiving email updates from the Siempre Amigas borrowers, on the opportunities and obstacles surrounding their loans, and I will post excerpts as they come.  This is SO COOL!