GLOBAL COMMUNITY
Kickin’ it with Kiva
Helping our dear neighbors across the world! Caitlin Vogler
Armenia Cambodia Ecuador El Salvador Georgia Indonesia Jordan Kenya Kosovo Kyrgyzstan Lebanon Liberia
Mexico Mongolia Nicaragua Pakistan Peru Philippines Samoa Sierra Leone Tajikistan Togo Uganda USA
Afghanistan El Salvador Haiti
Malawi Zambia
“This experience overall has been a huge eye-opener for me, and I know it has been for others also.”
Abigail Calva
“Perhaps the most important thing that I learned was that no matter how far away people live, what language they speak, or what religion they practice, they are people who share the same hopes and dreams as we do.”
James Bradish
“If more people lived by ‘you love more, you win (Harris, 2013, p. 327)’, I imagine the world would be exponentially better.”
Inspired by her participation in Avila’s microloan project, Caitlin Vogler created this original artwork to be featured in a student-authored book of reflections.
Dean and student travel to San Francisco for conference
Last semester, Darby Gough, Avila’s dean of students and student development, and Kara Koehler, a secondary education student, traveled to San Francisco and attended the first-ever conference for Kiva, the world’s preeminent micro-lending platform. Once Kiva ascertained that schools and universities all over the U.S. teach their students about microloans, it came up with the idea of a small Kiva conference that would include key speakers as well as provide the schools with pre-made lesson plans that would further educate future students. Kiva sent out invitations to many large universities, but accepted requests from a large number of elementary, middle and high school teachers as well. Bob Harris, author of The International Bank of Bob, who has worked extensively with Kiva in making his own microloans around the world, specifically recommended the organization invite Avila because of the work he’d seen the University doing during his visit and lecture here in September. Gough and Koehler said that being able to listen to each of the speakers’ unique stories was an awesome experience. “The best part was being able to make connections and network,” said Koehler, referring not only to students she roomed with, but also people she met during the different activities and lectures she attended each of the four days. Making the trip to the Kiva conference fortified the experience Gough and Koehler had in reading The International Bank of Bob and making Kiva microloans themselves. Not only did they have the opportunity to fulfill the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet by helping the dear neighbor, they also were inspired to more good work in the future. Both Gough and Koehler agreed the trip was an amazing experience for them and Avila University.
Makenzie Martin
“This entire project connects with the Avila values, as it focuses on doing a service for others.”
Kara Koehler (L), student, and Darby Gough (R), dean of students, traveled to San Francisco and attended a national Kiva convention to learn more about the world of microfinance.
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