my Kiva Fellowship

Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty.Kiva Fellows support that mission by being the on the ground connector between the Microfinance Institution and Kiva. Please read more about my Kiva Fellowship here.Here are a couple more ways to support Kiva and my Kiva Fellowship in Peru:

1. Buy a Kiva gift certificate for me
With the Kiva gift certificate, I can make a loan to a Kiva borrowerandas the loan is paid back, I can withdraw the money to use for myKivaFellowship. This support Kiva's borrowers and my KivaFellowship. Hereis my Kiva lender page: http://www.kiva.org/lender/LethalSheethal

Voilá! You have supported a Kiva borrower and my Kiva Fellowship!2. Become a Kiva lender
Thisdoesn't financially support my Kiva Fellowship but the moreKivalenders, the more impact Kiva has! Remember, once your loan ispaidback, you have the option to relend the money to anotherentrepreneur orwithdraw the funds. The loan repayment rate is closeto 98%!

Featuring Bulldog lemonade and pisco sours by Mixologist Sheethal, arepas, beans and rice, BBQ by Grillmaster Tokumbo and red velvet cupcakes by CakeMan Raven,theparty was a blast!

I got to talk to many friends and meet some new ones.I also introduced Kiva to some people who had never heard ofthe organization before.

Thank you all so much for your support of my work with Kiva.I have collected so many good thoughts from the Going Away Party andso many personal messages from those who could not make it that Iwill keep with me during my trip.

Some of you have said that my work isinspiring to you. That isvery kind. I think many of us do great thingsto support our local communities and help make the world better. Thishas been a dream of mine for a long time. I am looking forward to doinga small part to support Kiva’s mission and learn more about the realityof microfinance in the rural Cusco region.

As the days are counting downto my departure, I’m getting excited but also realizing how much I willmiss my husband, my family and my friends during my time away.Fulfilling a dream comes with sacrificebut this experience will bepriceless.

Thank you again for all of your support!

Raffle Winners

• bike tune up from Bespoke Bicycles = KIRAN
  
• dinner for two at Deniz, the yummy Turkish restaurant on Fulton = COLLEEN
  
• dinner for two at iCi, seasonal menus from locally-sourced ingredients in a brownstone parlor = HELENE
  
• $50 gift certificate for Aqualis Grill, mediterranean specializing in fish = MICHELLE
  
• 1 hour tennis lesson from Master Pro Kiran Rao = CAROL
  
• 1 hour tennis lesson from Master Pro Kiran Rao = LORENE
  
• Orientation Package for the Manhattan Plaza Climbing Gym = TARA
  
• Orientation Package for the Manhattan Plaza Climbing Gym = MARCIA
• bottle of Peruvian Pisco = STACEY
• bottle of Bulldog Gin = CAROL
  
• The Blue Sweater book by Jacqueline Novagratz, founder of the Acumen Fund = CHARLES
  

Congratulationstoeveryone who won!

And thanks again to all of the entrepreneurswho generously donated fantastic prizes for the raffle. Pleasesupport local businesses by patronizing their stores and restaurants andsupport Peruvian entrepreneurs with loans through Kiva.

Please see Photos from the party on Flickr and my friend Lorene’s photos on Facebook.

I have secured fiscal sponsorship through IHCenter/LUFFso donors can get a tax deduction for their contributions to support mywork with Kiva.

However,this works best for larger donations sincethey will take a 5% portionof the donation amount for administrative expenses.

To get receive a taxdeduction for your donation, please make your check out to IHCenter/LUFF and make sure to include Sheethal Shobowale in the memo and send the check to:

Sheethal Shobowale
311 Cumberland Street
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Thanks for your support!

If you are uncomfortable donating online through PayPal, you can also send a check to:

Sheethal Shobowale
311 Cumberland Street
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Thanks for your support!

Support for my Kiva Fellowship

Hi there,

Starting at the beginning of October, I will bevolunteering as a a Kiva Fellow inLatin America for 6 months. I will beworking with one of Kiva'spartner Microfinance Institutions to meetentrepreneurs and createprofiles on the Kiva website so that generouspeople like you can lendthem money to start or expand theirmicroenterprise. I haven't receivedmy placements yet, but it willhopefully be in 2 of the following 5countries -

• Nicaragua
• Ecuador
• Guatemala
• Peru
• Bolivia

What is a Kiva Fellow?
TheKivaFellows Program offers individuals a rare opportunity totravelabroadand witness firsthand the impact and realities ofmicrofinance,byworking directly with a host microfinance institution(MFI).TheKivaFellow is an unpaid, volunteer based position designed toincreaseKiva's impact and to offer participants a unique insiderexperience.

Kiva Fellow Core Responsibilities:
TheKivaFellow is an integral part of the Kiva Team, acting as Kiva'seyesandears in the field and helping to extend limited resourcestomaximumeffect.

• Facilitate Connections between Kiva's Borrowers and Lenders
• Assist Communications and Maximize the host MFI's Partnership with Kiva
• Support Kiva's Mission, Product and Procedures