Lifting the Curtain
on Microfinance

Wednesday, March 11th, 12:15 - 1:15 PM, Josiah's in VGQ Quad

You've heard of microfinancing, but do you understand what actually happens when loans are made to micro-business owners in developing countries? How do borrowers access their loans, how are repayments collected, what are the risks and rewards of this financing model? For a behind-the-scenes look at the needs and issues facing micro-business owners, join David Stewart as he describes his experiences with Kiva, a peer-to-peer lending marketplace, and his journey to Nairobi to work with a Kenyan organization which receives and disburses loan funds from Kiva.

David Stewart graduated from the University of Rochester with a BA in Psychology in 2004. After living and working in Germany for several years, David worked as a Fellow for Kiva Microfunds in Nairobi, Kenya. In March 2009 he will be leaving for Kyrgyzstan to work in Business and Community Development for the Peace Corps.

Sponsored by the Office of Summer and Continuing Studies

Upcoming Events:

March 9th - What does it take to run a successful international non-profit?
March 12th - Boot Camp: Effective Story-Telling
March 14th - Kiva Ball
March 15th - Peer Critique
April 1st - Boot Camp: Measuring Impact
April 7th - Peer Critique

Please contact Alan Harlam, Director of Social Entrepreneurship, for more information Alan_Harlam@brown.edu