One person can make a difference...

Two-thirds of India’s population of a billion people live in the nation’s 600,000 villages. Despite India’s economic growth, the disparities between wealth and poverty are enormous. Many villagers migrate to the cities in search of work and end up begging on the streets. South Indian bank manager J S Parthiban set out to do something to help their economic circumstances. He encouraged beggars to open bank accounts in New Delhi, and pioneered micro-loans to villagers in his home state of Tamil Nadu. This is his story—and theirs.

(tissue box warning around 7 minutes - jan)

Banking On Change (12 min version) from Pilgrim Films on Vimeo.

My Kiva Friend Ramona says "I really wish Kiva would also be able to expand one day into India."

later man, jan

Google bomb request...

I'm posting this for a friend I follow who calls himself Real Live Preacher.

He has this friend Mike who sold his gas station in 2008 and it appears the whole neighbourhood mourned the loss of such a great mechanic.

He says...

"They say the two things you have to find when you move to a new city are a good doctor and a good mechanic. I’ve had several physicians in the twenty years that I have lived in San Antonio but only one mechanic. His name is Mike."

Well Mike the Mechanic now has his own Kastis Automotive Repair in San Antonio and I understand that if his website is linked to in enough other websites and blogs, then Google will pull him up easier when people search. And if you pop over to his page... check out Mike’s tips for making your car last.

So here's my plug for Mike - who sounds like a great guy - and it's probably a shame he didn't move and open up here in Calgary, where we never seem to know where to turn to for help with our cars.

Best of luck, you go get 'em, Mike :)

later man, jan

Happy? Easter...

Holy Week for us is also holiday week. I find that my Holy/holiday week is hard work. Holy Week is difficult when you are on vacation and trying to have fun at the same time as you are digging deeper into your faith. My emotions are like a roller coaster ride.

I'm finding it difficult to make time and space to reflect on my chosen readings when my normal schedule has totally changed it's routine. I realize now that even though I *thought* I was too busy at home, I was actually held comfortably captive by a life revolving around John's work hours and pre-school days and visiting dad and volunteer time at the church and volleyball and going to curves and computer time and grocery shopping and dinner out and on and on...

Ever since the kids were small we have driven to the west coast for our annual visit. Easter has always been cut and dried. The Christmas baby grew up, was martyred for his beliefs and rose again 3 days later. John always patiently played Jesus Christ, Superstar for me on the car radio, year after year. Somehow, this year, the words have taken on a life that was never there before. Most especially the words "Heal Yourselves" as Jesus is thought to have said while pushed by the growing crowd of followers wanting another miracle.

There is little privacy while on vacation. I'm not complaining about being loved... but even spending an extra 10 minutes in the bathroom elicits concerns for my health. Sitting quietly alone in a room appears a strange occupation. I actually had someone the other day say "what ya doin? meditating or something?"

Well, yeah.
So I need to explain... but somehow it's too private...
so I'm now doing what??? ... posting it for all to see of course :)

well so, ok
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday
Christ is Risen - again.
This for me is Hope renewed that God's plan, while delayed again and again by our stubborn closed minds, will be realized as each of us, one by one, opens our minds and our hearts and welcomes the breath of the Spirit to flow through and fill us with love and compassion for all. We are all One.

"I am the vine and you are the branches"
"I am in the Father and the Father is in me"
"My Father's house has many rooms"

Whether your mother tongue is Christian or another... use this coming day to acknowledge you have a source outside and inside yourself. Open to it and feel the presence of strength renewed over and over.

later man, jan

ps chocolate is also holy, but don't eat too much ;)

"Smile On"

I SEE - an introduction to Operation Eyesight

Operation Eyesight began and still has it's headquarters in Calgary... "Two out of three of the world’s needlessly blind people are women and girls. Women often have less access to eye care, are more susceptible to certain eye diseases and have longer lives to live. But in places where the day-to-day reality of family life is already harsh, blindness – often totally preventable ortreatable – can become the difference between life and death. In the developing world, women truly arethe heart of their families and the backbone of their communities. They care for their husbands, children and parents. Many also eke out a meagre income doing whatever job they find. Women carry a heavy burden – one that can be almost impossible to bear if they or their family members become visually impaired."

later man, jan

Wonderful Kiva Documentary...

This video was posted on the Kiva Fellows Blog March 11th and truly shows life in Liberia, one of the poorest countries in the world, and the amazing success that can be achieved by individual entrepreneurs and LEAP (the Local Enterprise Assistance Program). You really can make a huge difference in someone's life just by lending them $25.

Kiva Documentary-What Did They Do With My $25 Loan? from Brent E. Huffman on Vimeo.

later man, jan

Calgary KivaTeam

We had a wonderful get together last night with some of the Calgary Kiva lenders. Thanks Marnie and Cristian for opening your beautiful home to us. And the food... well, I have always been a great fan of potluck meals. Homemade Dominican empenadas? (sp?) Double-Fried Plantains. Moroccan Pilaf! I need to contact Louise to find out what exactly was in those wraps and how long under the broiler?! And Jonathon, your chocolate... sigh. Sorry, the photo is of the table *after* the hoard went through:)

It is amazing to sit and talk with people who come from so many different walks of life but somehow found out another way to make a difference in the world is by lending through Kiva. Wonderful to find we all really hold the same value systems and it's not all about me-me-me or putting number one first. More stories from Laura about her time in Rwanda, I can watch her smile all day :) We missed you Raksha (actually, we were missing the spinach salad, I think you were the only one who actually said what you were bringing :)... do hope you're ok and just forgot or something. For those who didn't come, we're planning a campfire and bbq back yard get together so mark April 24 on your calendar and pray the rain stays away.

later man, jan

Music for Peace...

The Playing For Change Foundation is building a new music school in the Village of Kirina, Mali. Kirina is a village of musicians, some of whom can trace their musical ancestry back over 75 generations! In this very special episode West African music legend Baaba Maal and friends perform for the village elders in honor of the new "Playing For Life" music school that is just beginning construction.



later man, jan

Feeling good about Kiva...

I haven't posted much lately... been busy just with the joy of lending on Kiva...

I wanted to share some of the journal updates that come through periodically on the email...

This is an update on your loan to Dilovar Amonov in Tajikistan.

Dilovar and his family are very grateful and thankful to KIVA for the loan program. The loan has created a positive impact and helps improve their familys well-being. Dilovar said from his profit, he is continuing assisting his children in paying school fees and meeting feeding expenses. Dilovar is very determine and eager to take more loans from Kiva to expand and diversify his business. Dilovar and his children are very thankful for the opportunity of taking this loan and for your support and encouragement.

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This is an update on your loan to Mai Abu Ayash in Palestine.

Meeting with Mai Abu Ayash was uplifting, she received us with a wide smile with her husband and daughter who help her taking care of the cucumber and cabbages she grows.

Mai used the $2000 to pay her debt of purchasing fertilizers, plants and raw material she needed for her project.

The loan covered all expenses and increased Mai's income as she now sells the crops in her house and her brother's in law shop. Mai adds that she is now able to pay her 4-years-old daughter who is Diabetic besides house expenses.

Having two sources of income is changing Mai's and her family life to the better, therefore she thinks of renewing the current loan when it ends and expanding her project buying a new greenhouse to plant a different crop.

It's worth telling that the cucumber fruits her land produces is delicious.

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This is an update on your loan to Justine Kyosimire's Group in Uganda.

Since receiving the loan amount of 500,000 USH Justine has had so much success selling the local brew "tonto" that she has started a produce business to supplement her income. She sells beans, bananas, millets and maize.

With the additional profits that the produce business delivers, Justine is able to afford her children's school fees and no longer stays up at night worrying where the money will come from to do so.

She is very grateful to the Kiva lenders and would like to receive further loans in the future.

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This is an update on your loan to Thaera in Palestine.

This is Thaeras second loan with FATEN (she used the first to improve her familys home in Qalqilia) and she could not be happier with the effect it has had. Thaeras $2500 loan enabled her husband Ahmed to start a business selling used car parts. Specifically, Ahmed purchased spare parts and a computer and finally has a steady job with a reliable income that does not force him to enter Israel illegally to work.

In addition to handling the familys expenses, Thaera handles her childs health care, taking her to a Jerusalem hospital when she needs treatment (although Thaeras says that her daughters health is better). Thaera is also currently a student at the university and wants her family to be well-educated, something her husband never had the benefit of.

Her repayments have been progressing well and she hopes to be able to close her loan early. Thaera is not a rich woman to be sure, but she feels like her familys life is now in order and they are more comfortable. Her loan from FATEN has played a significant role in improving her familys livelihood.

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I can go on and on with eco-fuels in Mongolia and school teachers in Sierra Leone... rice farmers in Cambodia and crafts people in Guatemala and second hand clothing sales in Nigeria and Costa Rica and Haiti and the Philippines... I have so much more to feel good about now that these people have so much more to hope for...

later man, jan

Would you *cut* your six year old on purpose ???

"YouTube and the World Economic Forum are opening the doors to Davos to provide unique access for an individual to elevate a worthy and important cause. 'The Davos Debates' are an opportunity to engage and debate with the world's leaders, and join them on stage for a special panel to help pitch their cause to the world."

Here is Julia's appeal to end FGM now.

Please go to http://www.youtube.com/davos and vote for Julia...

I listened to all 5 of the videos and they are all under 3 minutes and all very worthy entries... however, I voted for Julia. I felt her message was wonderfully moving and understandable. I think she deserves our support because it's the only way I can feel I am helping right now.

Vote for her to speak at Davos and help get the message of Female Genital Mutilation out in the open so all the world can see and discuss and possibly do something to make change happen.

later man, jan