On Campus
ways—it teaches financial responsibility, inspires an entrepreneurial spirit, it teaches a deeper social practice and offers a real-life connection to our mission.” The idea is simple. Project student-leader Eugene Shekhtman ’14 explains, “Individuals like you or I go online to Kiva and lend $25 to a stranger. The person we choose uses our money to improve her/ his business—to buy a sewing machine or tractor or tree or livestock—and makes a profit. Then that person pays this money back through Kiva, who pays it back to you. And suddenly, with $25 back in your pocket, you have helped someone halfway across the world and it didn’t cost you a dime.”
“ This project is not charity, it is about our students working together to create real change in the lives of others.” Students explore many facets of entrepreneurship by writing business plans, applying for loans and creating businesses that sell their products. Their businesses generate profits offering their wares to SHC faculty, staff, students and parents at the Kiva Carnival, held on campus in the spring. Goods and services range from handmade clothing to homemade pastries to games like Pin the Beard on the Principal. Last year’s project was so successful that Kiva invited Basch to speak at their inaugural Kiva U Summit in the fall. At the summit, students and educators from around the world gathered to discuss ways to take action to expand financial inclusion and alleviate poverty. Basch was accompanied by six of her students who now serve as the student leaders of the project this year.
entrepreneur Mohammad Yunus. In the film, Yunus shares, “Social business is doing business not for me, but doing business for the rest of the world.” Juniors interested in leading their service-learning project next academic year have been offered an immersion trip to the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to see, first-hand, the ways in which microcredit has helped one of the most impoverished communities in the United States. Basch shares, “People in the Lakota community are addressing key areas that affect poverty: health, education, financial literacy, access to capital. It’s a tremendous opportunity for our students.” The Kiva service-learning project allows our students to gain a greater understanding of the cycle of poverty while challenging them to become social leaders and actively address debilitating economic disparities in the global community. Basch reflects, “The project has inspired a remarkable sense of leadership in our students. The greatest innovations in this project have come from them.” The senior service learning project with Kiva is perfectly timed as these students prepare for life after graduation. Basch explains, “This project is not charity, it is about our students working together to create real change in the lives of others. As they go out into the world beyond SHC, we want them to continue to think about those that do not have access to the incredible education they’re getting here.” Left: Nick Lee ’14 and Mike Fox ’14 converse with Kiva CEO Matt Flannery. Below: Instructor of Social Studies Abi Basch presents at the inaugural Kiva U Summit.
SHC’s partnership with Kiva has truly flourished under the leadership of passionate faculty members and the enthusiasm of our students. To kick off this year’s project, SHC held its first Microfinance TeachIn that included presentations from Kiva leaders and the screening of Bonsai People, a documentary highlighting Nobel Peace Prize recipient and social
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