In the past few months I have been rationalizing the change that has been going about with my job. As well as trying to accept it, it's been a hard idea to try and muster. But in due time and learning my strengths in where I am, I'm learning to accept it for what it is.
I'm learning more, being trusted with more, and when the opportunity arises, I am stepping up and taking more responsibility. I can say at this rate my name badge can say, ' Everywhere and Anywhere' as a job title.
I've cleaned floors, baked goods, prepped foods, folded clothes, stocked shelves, cashiered, pushed carts, and handled seafood. I've been in every department in our store excluding the places that require a state license. But I'll get to it eventually.
In these months I have expanded myself to show more to the world. I continue to paint, donate and help groups with their conservation efforts. As well as enjoy the spring weather that has graced the Pacific Northwest with varying degrees of temperature. This week it's supposed to reach the 80's, right now it feels like it's the beginning to mid 70's.
But regardless, here I am boasting about the weather, instead of talking about more important things.
I have gained some claim with my coworkers for my paintings and what it is that my paintings do. As well as some much love from the worldwide web that makes the idea of selling these all the easier.
This is where I come in with my posting now. Because of all this, because of the support that I've received, the interest and the requests I am able to do more. Which is what my spotlight group does for many people around the world.
The group that I'm talking about, is Kiva.
For those of you who don't know, Kiva is a non profit organization that connects people in the world through micro-financing. A small sum of 25$ can help create opportunity and help alleviate poverty in areas around the world.
Kiva is a San Francisco based group, that was created by Matt Flannery and Jessica Jackley in 2004, becoming an official non profit in 2005.
Today, Kiva is over 8 years old with no sign of slowing down or stopping.
Kiva's Statistics gives them a 98.94% repayment rate. Which then brings up the questions of micro-financing and how it works.
The system with Kiva's loans is simple, when you make a loan on Kiva, 100% of your money is given to a field partner. Who help micro-finance on 5 continents, these partners help vet, administer and disperse each loan.
You then receive updates about the loan that you funded, as well as the progress in the you provided.
Finally you get paid back. As your borrower earns money, they begin to pay back the loan that you provided them. As you get money back, you will be able to continue the cycle of loaning and repaying.
When you start lending money to a specific person there are multitudes of options available for who and what you can lend to. You can separate by gender, by groups and individuals. You can lend to support someones education, their store, or their agriculture. All these choices are based upon your preference.
Why I feel that Kiva is so important because it helps people with the idea of independence and self sufficiency. It gives people the opportunity and provide not only for themselves, but for their families.
Self sufficiency is something that I know that I can be behind 100%. If there seems to be a common theme in which I give money to groups of people it all revolves around self sufficiency. I believe strongly in our abilities as humans, some would consider calling me a humanist. I'm still uncertain what it is that I would consider myself in my life. But in light of it all, it seems that a humanist is the closest thing that I can be.
To this group I'm going to lend to two different people, each with a lending of 25$. So this equals out to 50$.
I lend to two women, one living in the Philippines and the other living in India.
The first person I lend to is, Mamata, a 26 year old mother of four who lives in West Bengal.Hoping to provide more for her family, Mamata is hoping to expand her family home beyond the mud and hay roof. Unfortunately most of Western Bengal is completely rain dependent, leading to food insecurity and and low income.
The second person that I lend to was Ginelyn, a mother living in Tacloban city, in the Philippines. She once owned a business and a house in Tacloban before Typhoon Haiyan. But after the typhoon, both were destroyed. With the loan provided she hopes to be able to buy building materials and help pay for construction costs to help rebuild her home. As well as help expand her business.
In all of this people continue to wonder why it is that I donate to those underprivileged. Why do I insist on helping to homeless, the jobless, why do I pressure upon self sufficiency. But the answer is simple.
Self sufficiency is all about you. Your abilities, you traits, your ethic, your work. I have rarely met a homeless person who truly enjoys being homeless. I have never met an unemployed person who enjoys being unemployed.
There is a sense of self empowerment when you are able to fend for yourself. There is empowerment in being able to provide for you, your family, and even others. At one point in most peoples lives we have been down and out. We've been kicked to the ground, and we've struggled to get back up. In those moments you learn who you really are, what kind of strength you really have. In those moments as well, you learn about the unequal kindness of the human heart. That kindness and a helping hand can come from those you don't even know.
There was something I told my nephew a few weeks ago when someone was trying to be nice and he told them off. I told him, " Someday, you're going to have to depend on the kindness of strangers..." That is what I believe in.
We as humanity can come together. But it takes some certain extremes for some, and a common interest for others. It takes something that I love, that others love and something I wholeheartedly believe in. Because maybe, deep down inside past the muck and all the issues I am a humanist. I believe in the human spirit, and our abilities to persevere. Which is where I stand in life. I believe in very little things regarding religion, but I don't let religion stop my ability to believe in humanity.
So remember, regardless of race, sex, orientation, religion, skin color. Do not think about what makes us all different, but instead, what makes us all the same.
- Amanda
