Microfinance Initiative at Bucknell (MIB)
During the 2008-2009 school year, MIB grew from a starter organization to a legitimate source of education on campus. By the end of the year, MIB had accumulated a revolving fund of $2,000 through the help of students, professors, and alumni. With sturdy financial backing, MIB loaned money to approximately twenty i
ndividual entrepreneurs and groups spanning from Africa to North America. Of all the loans given, only one entrepreneur has defaulted. In addition to lending money, MIB has devoted much of its time to educating the campus, most recently through a panel discussion entitled, “Microfinance: Developing Paths to Sustainability”, which featured four esteemed Bucknell professors from different fields overlapping in microcredit in the US and abroad. The panel discussed the pros and cons of microfinance, where it has been most successful and why, and other methods which may be more effective. Considering 2008-2009 was MIB’s first year up and running, we believe it was a tremendous success, the first of many to follow!
Hi Everyone,
We want to remind you that the first annual Educational Community Web Summit will be hosted by Campus Kiva and High School Kiva this Friday, November 6th, 2009. We are excited to announce that we will be joined by Kiva’s President, Premal Shah, and Jonathon Stalls, who will be walking from Colorado to Maine in support of Kiva.
There will be a conference call portion of… Continue reading
LutherKiva was created by an inspiring mix of Luther students, faculty, staff, and even an unidentified mystery person. In 2007, at a panel discussion on “fair trade” sponsored by SEEDS (Students Engaging in Economic Development through Solidarity), Professor Brett Johnson mentioned microlending as a tool for poverty alleviation. The next day Brett received an email from SEEDS co-leader… Continue reading
