Costa Rica is arguably the most “developed” country in Central America. But at what cost has this “development” been attained? Is it really an accomplishment to be able to say, ¨We cater to the interests of gringos better than anyone else?¨ Or would it be more noble to pass[...]
Posts Tagged ‘Kiva’
High Definition
Idealistic adventurers (whether in Latin America or elsewhere) inevitably find themselves in a world of contrasts. Some contrasts are devastating, others empowering, and then there are the contrasts that are neither here-nor-there. The last of these, whether they make us chuckle or swear, add uniq[...]
Fatalism and Optimism
On Monday I worked with a group of women to identify characteristics that they relate to being a good entrepreneur. The activity was part of the professional training program they take part in as part of their loan through Fondo Esperanza, and to begin the session I asked one of the women to descri[...]
Happiness is: New Experiences and Unpredictability in a Foreign Country
“Maybe we mistakenly think we want ‘happiness’, which we tend to picture in very vague, soft-focus terms, when what we really crave is the harder-edged intensity of experience.” I read this in a New York Times article two days before leaving the States for my yearlong stint in Cusco. Nine mo[...]
Mother Hen
In the past week I bid my family of Honduran friends farewell, packed my things, moved continents (now in Santiago, Chile!), found a new apartment, learned a new public transportation system, and visited three offices of Fondo Esperanza (the new Kiva partner I’m working with). This morning[...]
Hungry?
I can’t leave South America without writing a post on one of my favorite things in the world: FOOD! Many of the clients I met working as a Kiva Fellow sold food in various forms – whether they were wholesale potato dealers, raised and prepared cuy for functions, cooked lechón at the local[...]
Productive Uses Create Sustainable Energy
There are many steps to help create energy independence within blueEnergy’s mission. One of the final stages is to create ways in which our communities can use the wind turbines, solar panels and other energy systems we provide for productive uses. Broadly speaking, productive uses refer to projec[...]
