Our Latest KIVA Microfinance Loans: Kyrgyzstan, Philippines and Rwanda

Since joining Kiva a few years ago, certain trends and rules of thumb have arisen as to why we lend to particular individuals and groups.

When we make our loans each month, we look to do the following:
- Make a loan “close to home” (in the Asia/Pacific region)
- Make a loan to an African cause.
- Make a loan out of sentiment.
- Support women and children.
- Support education.

In the latest selection, we chose Kyrgyzstan because, whilst being involved in the war in Afghanistan in 2002, I spent many months in Kyrgzystan. I hold the country with great affection, and the added political troubles that have bubbled over in the country this year (they were always there, by the way), makes the need for the loans greater. Our African and Philippine choices covered a few bases – the need to support women, the locale, and the importance of encouraging education.

As always, the causes we choose are not made because they are more deserving than others – we’ve gradually been able to separate our desperate want “not to judge” with the reality that we can’t help everyone. In saying that, there’s a Talmudic quotation (you may have heard it in the movie, Schindler’s List): “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire”. That seems a pretty good rule to work by.

So, here’s more information on our latest donations. Don’t forget that you can sign up to donate through Kiva – make small loans and take an interest in what’s happening around the world:

Loan To: Lisa Jalandoni
Location: Sto Niño, South Cotabato, Philippines
Activity: Farming
Loan Use: to purchase fertilizers such as manure

Lisa is is 34 years old, single and loves helping her family. Lisa owns and operates a farming business, planting and harvesting rice for sale. Lisa has been engaged in her business for over 5 years and earns approximately 5,000 PHP a month from it.

Lisa joined CEVI to gain access to financial services to help improve her living situation and ability to engage in business activities. Lisa has successfully repaid a previous loan from CEVI. She is requesting a new loan of 20,000 PHP which will be used to purchase fertilizers such as manure. This will be the tenth loan taken out by Lisa from CEVI. She plans to use the additional revenue generated from the business to financially support her family.

Loan To: C4561 Twuzuzanye Group
Location: Kimironko Hategekimana, Rwanda
Activity: Clothing Sales
Loan Use: To expand her business

Eugenie is 43 years old and married with three children. The first child is 20 years old, the next is 15 and the last is 11 years old. Eugenie takes care of one dependent who is 10 years. Eugenie owns a small business selling various styles of clothes. Eugenie has enough experience in this field because this is her fifth year of experience. The hours of her shop are from 8 in the morning to 7 in the evening every day except one day in the week. Eugenie is group leader of her group, which is called TWUZUZANYE in the local language. This group contains 11 members with different businesses.

Now, Eugenie and her group are requesting a loan from Kiva lenders via Vision Finance Company in order to expand their business through purchasing more products for their business. With this loan, Eugenie and her group will be able to satisfy their customers, which will be one of the ways of earning more profits.

Loan To: Ainura Kochorbaeva’s Group
Location: Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan
Activity: Personal Education Expenses
Loan Use: To pay for her daughter’s education at university

Ainura Kochorbaeva is the leader of this group. She is 51 and married. She has raised two daughters and a son. The first daughter is married and lives separately with her family, the second is a student and the son works as a teacher. Ainura also works as a teacher at the same school. Her husband has been engaged in cattle breeding since 1995, after the collective farms broke up. Ainura applied for this loan because she needs money to pay for her second daughter’s education at university.

Nuruiza Mukambetova, 51, is married. She has two daughters and a son. The first daughter studies at university, the second is at school and the son is preschool age – under 7. Nuruiza and her husband have been engaged in cattle breeding since 1995. By selling some cattle, they were able to repair their house and purchase a tractor. Now Nuruiza hopes to obtain this loan because she needs money to pay for her daughter’s medical treatment. In the future, Nuruiza wants to see her daughters get married.

Aigul Tokoeva is the treasurer of the group. She is 49 and married. She has raised five sons: the three older ones are working, the fourth son is in the army and the youngest one studies at school. With money received from this loan, Aigul wants to pay for her son’s education at university. In the future, she wants to purchase a house in Bishkek.

Sveta Beishekeeva, 43, is a widow. She has two daughters and a son. The older daughter and the son are at school and the younger daughter is not yet school age. Sveta hopes to obtain this loan because she needs money to cover the family’s expenses.

Loan To: Obidohon Juraeva’s Group
Location: Aravan, Kyrgyzstan
Activity: Cattle
Loan Use: to purchase a cow

When a person works every day, he gains very valuable traits. First, he becomes patient and prudent. Sweat spilled and effort expended imparts thrift and respect for work as a whole. For this reason, even during times of unemployment and economic decline, the heroes of our story once again show that hardworking people always find work.

Obidohon Juraeva is the leader of this group. She is sixty years old, and after her husband’s death she was left with two children. Fortunately, her children have grown up, married, and now there are even grandsons to help Obidohon with her business. Obidohon works raising cattle and cultivating cotton. Her elder son is thirty-nine, and her younger son is thirty. Both of her sons have left to work in the Russian Federation. However, they left only when they were convinced that the grandsons could look after their grandmother and take care of the household. Obidohon has been working in animal husbandry for twenty-five years. Earlier, Obidohon only grew cotton. However, through Obidohon’s diligence and hard work, she produced enough cotton to allow her to buy livestock and begin to raise cattle. She has managed to marry off her sons and is already thinking about celebrating the weddings of her grandsons. Obidohon is asking for a loan to buy a cow.

Simon Turner