Kiva @ SHC
Transforming Students into Social Entrepreneurs by Clarissa Mendiola
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n Zimbabwe, Jane is able to stock her grocery store, the profits of which help to send her three children to school. In the Dominican Republic, Bernardo is able to pay his college tuition so that he can study industrial engineering and bring his family out of poverty. In Guatemala, Eustaquia is able to purchase alpaca yarn so that she can sell her handknit clothes to help fund her young son’s education. Jane, Bernardo and Eustaquia are just a few of the incredible people SHC’s Class of 2013 empowered through their service-learning project with Kiva last year, and this year’s senior class is slated to bring their Kiva service-learning project to greater heights. San Francisco-based Kiva is committed to connecting people around the world through lending to alleviate poverty. Kiva believes that providing safe, affordable access to capital to
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Spring 2014
those in need helps people create better lives for themselves and their families. Inspired by Kiva’s mission, a group of SHC faculty members explored ways to integrate the Kiva model in the classroom. The Social Studies Department— with its economics classes and lessons dedicated to entrepreneurship, social justice and personal finance—held the most meaningful application for the partnership. For the second year in a row, seniors come together to raise money to finance loans to Kiva borrowers. Working with either their AP Government or Economics classes, students are tasked to start their own business, sell their service or product, and use the profits to fund Kiva loans. Instructor of Social Studies Abi Basch shares, “This service-learning project translates perfectly into our curriculum and mission. The students apply for loans themselves in order to start businesses that ultimately benefit Kiva borrowers. The project prepares them for life after SHC in so many