I thought I’d share an email I received from Kiva today about one of my loans.

Dear Andrew Hennessy,

This is an update on your loan to Em Ath in Cambodia.

On a small island on the Mekong River, I visited Em Ath on a Wednesday morning. With me was Som On, a friendly credit officer working for MAXIMA, one of Kiva’s four partner microfinance organizations in Cambodia. As a Kiva Fellow at MAXIMA, I travel with loan officers and company employees to meet borrowers and see the impact of microfinance firsthand.

When Som On and I arrived, two of Em’s sons were just getting back from school. In Cambodia, most children go to school six days a week from 7:30 am through 11 am, when they return home to help their families with their chores and household duties. The two children quickly changed from their school uniforms and came downstairs to watch us speak with their mother about her loan, along with the youngest brother. The oldest sons are age 20 and 17 and both work in construction. Em’s husband was out of the house, helping his nephew build a storefront to start a grocery stand on the island.

This is Em’s third microfinance loan with MAXIMA, and it is for $1000. Em and her husband are in the business of buying and selling firewood. Her husband cuts the wood and Em buys his and the wood from other woodsmen to sell in the nearby Kandal province.

With past loans, Em and her husband have purchased a gasoline-fueled chainsaw for $600, which her husband uses to cut wood safely and efficiently. With the current loan, Em bought more firewood from the other villagers to sell. Em can get about $100 worth of firewood from one tree, which she gets from the Koh Dach Island and the islands and villages around it. As their business grows and scales, the Ath family can increase profit, and in turn, improve their standard of living.

With the money they make from their firewood business, Em and her husband provide for their family. They send their two school-age sons to school, for 500 Reil a day (about 12 cents in $USD) each. Em had one of her sons run and bring his father back to the home, so that he could show Som On and me his lumbar and the chainsaw he purchased. This video shows Som On and I at the Ath household: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shYGkT1_e_A

The Ath family is hard working and kind, and I am happy that their loans through MAXIMA and Kiva are helping them.Before leaving to visit more Kiva Borrowers in the village, I thanked Em for her time and wished her success: “Some nang lo’ah!” – Good luck!

Thanks for lending to the world’s working poor on Kiva!

Best Wishes, Kiva Staff

I came across kiva.org a while back and I’ve been wanting to donate for ages. Today, I finally bit the bullet and donated.

If you’ve never heard of Kiva before it’s an amazing idea. Individuals from across the world loaning money to businesses in poorer countries of the world. It’s sort of like sponsoring a child with a twist. The beauty of this idea is that you are helping people establish themselves and become self sufficient. The entrepreneurs post a profile on their business and what they plan to do with the money. If you like their story and want to help you can donate as little $25. Over time, your loan is actually repaid and then you can go and invest in another Kiva business.

I’ve chosen to donate to a family in Cambodia who sell firewood for a living and a man in Bolivia who runs a printing business. This is a really interesting way to make a difference to people less fortunate. I must admit I had a lot of trouble choosing who to loan to as there are some really touching stories. I encourage you to go and check it out - it’s a really easy way to make a difference to those who need it most. Go on, be a loaner!