March is slipping by quickly. I've been closing the books for 4 different companies with which I'm associated. Three down, one to go - that would be Prisma Microfinance, Inc. I hope to get that finished by the end of this week.
Meanwhile, I've received some gracious notes from Kiva friends asking about our re-entry. An update: we just received the new Spanish version of the contract. Our General Manager of Honduras, Orbelina Valeriano, has asked me to read through the document and give her comments before she signs it. I'll get that done tomorrow. We'll be touching April 2008 before we come on-line again. At any rate, the staff in Honduras is excited and ready to get started.
I'm heading to the University of Maryland the first week of April 2008 to speak to business school students about microfinance. One group of MBA students just got back from a visit to Africa where they were turned on to microfinance. I'm going to have an in-depth discussion with them about how to enter the field and the pertinent education requirements. Another group of undergraduates wants to learn about the industry and how microfinance could possibly be a new career field to consider.
Lastly, I'm sitting on an ethics panel for international business to talk about macro-issues such as trying to lower interest rates for the whole industry without subsidies and making sure the poorest of the poor are also being served. Then we'll cover micro-issues such as bribery, handling personnel, and loans to friends and political persons of power.
Another project I'll be putting into motion with the business school - an internship in Honduras for undergraduate students. They'll actually work in the division as junior credit clerks, improve their Spanish, have a great time working with our local staff, and get out into the field to meet the borrowers. We're looking for students who are in their junior or senior year of study with 3 or 4 years of high school and college Spanish.
Hi Kendall,
I'm looking forward to Prisma's return to Kiva!
Posted by: Fred | March 20, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I second Fred's remark... I'm looking forward to lend to Honduran entrepreneurs on Kiva and support Prisma through it. Many Kivans have developed a degree of affinity with Prisma, and you're missed...
Ramón
Posted by: Ramón Kolb | March 21, 2008 at 05:23 AM
Fred and Ramon, thanks for your words of encouragement. We're trying to clarify 8 or 9 points in the new contract. I predict another week to work through those questions. Hopefully we'll be listing by the first week of April. Thanks, Kendall
Posted by: Kendall Mau | March 23, 2008 at 05:31 PM
I'm also excited for Prisma's return. The first loans I made through Kiva were to Honduras and I enjoyed the experience!
Posted by: Sam Snyder | March 25, 2008 at 11:41 AM