Checking My List

For the past few months I've been working hard to get all my ducks in a row for my Fellowship to Jordan. I've been relocated to different offices twice, even before I've stepped foot in the country and I've even started looking for an apartment to stay which hopefully won't be too far from the office where I'll work. Fortunately I've had to sit down and use my organizational skills to prepare myself as best as possible. Here is a small list of just a few things that I'm working on.

Study Arabic:
Studies show that Arabic is the second hardest language in the world to learn behind Mandarin. If you've never tried to learn a new language on the fly before - let me tell you that it isn't easy depending on your language. I started taking an Arabic class a few months ago but it seems pointless since the class only taught modern standard and for this trip I'm going to need to learn colloquial Leventine Arabic.

If you don't know much about Arabic and how it goes I'll give you a small break down. Imagine learning a language in which you can speak to people and everyone understands roughly what you're saying, but in turn you have a hard time understanding them. I'd be able to read my reports coming in from the field as student information comes in, but I'd have a hard time conversing with a lot of the people around me.

I've been studying Arabic from a ton of books that I've bought and I'm finally getting comfortable speaking to many of the Arabic speakers at my job. I'm still a long way from having a meaningful conversation, but you have to start somewhere. Just like the old saying goes, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice!"

Fundraising:
The fundraising efforts have been a true test of endurance. I first mentioned my trip to a crowd of people at the Code Poetry Night event in July and collected just under $200. A month later on August 15 I put the marathon task in high gear. So far I've collected 3/4 of my goal from recycling bottles, donations from community members, old friends, new friends and anonymous people who believe in the cause of education and microfinance.

I've worked on so many campaigns including making bean pie, writing fundraising letters, creating a website and working on a fundraising video. So many donations have come with heartfelt letters from people I've met over the years and some I haven't seen in a long time. It's really a great feeling to know that so many people support the project I'm working on.

Fortunately I'm only a few thousand away from my goal of $7,500 and I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of donors. I'll be sure to keep all of you posted as thing move along. If you haven't already done so, DONATE!

Microfinance:
A couple of months ago I downloaded and began learning about microfinance formally through an online course through the United Nations Capital Development Fund. Thanks to the power of the internet it seems that resources are endless, but with these endless resources comes the challenge of finding the time to read and digest all the information.

Thanks to a chance meeting with microfinance enthusiast Drew Meyers - I've been put in contact with some amazing people including former Kiva Fellow and Social Entrepreneur Sloane Berrent. Both of these people have helped me find renewed motivation throughout the process of working toward my Fellowship. During those time of doubt about raising money and the huge task of starting a new REGIONAL program, their blogs reminded me of the mission ahead and the possibilities it will hold.

Learning about the process of microfinance has proven to be interesting to say the least. There is so much to learn and so many areas to cover, from savings to insurance. I'm very excited to have the opportunity to see all of this in motion while working to create a new area in which this MFI can utilize. I'm not an Economist or a banker by training, but I'm a student of life and learning something new is my biggest motivation to crack open my UNCDF book. In this case, a little motivation can go a very long way.

Irbid in Focus

It has been a little over one month since I started my fundraising campaign for my Fellowship to Jordan and I've been more than overwhelmed by the kindness of new and old friends. I've received donations from people I've known for years and some from people I've never met face to face. I've spoke to lots of people who've given me tons of great ideas on ways to fundraise and now I'm just a little ways off from the half way point of my goal. Being so close to this milestone I felt it's only right to tell you a little more about where I'll be stationed during my trip to the Middle East.

September 15 is exactly 120 days away from my departure window, I know this because because I'm be keep tracking on the calendar next to my bed. Everyday I switch on my computer to learn something new about the city I'll be calling home for 4 months. Thank goodness for wikipedia and other travel sites for all the information that they've given me. So far it seems that Irbid isn't the most boring place in Jordan, but rather a bustling metropolis in the north of the country since 1991.

Known as the "Bride of the North" it's also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The biblical name for Irbid was Arabella and changed during the advent of Islam in the entire region. Depending on which source you find, Irbid is the second or third largest city in Jordan behind the capital Amman which sits 120 miles to the south. Located in the northwest portion of the country near the Syrian and Israeli border not far from the occupied Golan Heights, the cities was made famous by the extremely fertile soil that surrounds the land. Unfortunately since the development boom in 1991 most of the precious soil used by farmers for generations has been covers by concrete for office buildings and parking lots. Now instead of being the agricultural capital of Jordan - Irbid has become one of the educational capitals. Instead of planting and cultivating corn and wheat, the city cultivates knowledge to thousands of Jordanians and some Palestinian refugees.

The most interesting fact about Irbid has to be that it holds the World Record for the most internet cafes per square mile, boasting well over a 100 in a relatively close proximity. University Street is home to the majority of these cafes which means lots of choices and cheaper prices while I'm there. The city is also home to a few of Jordan's most prestigious universities, namely Yarmouk University and the Jordan University of Science and Technology. I'm sure that the majority of students I'll be meeting and working with will come from these two schools.

I haven't lived in a college town since my undergraduate days in the Midwest, but living in a Middle Eastern college town should put an interesting spin on things. I'm counting down the days until I start packing my bags, but until then I'll keep you posted on where I'm going and what I'm doing.

On a final note I'd like to thank the following people for their contribution toward my Fellowship thus far. Most people have written checks instead of used my chipin widget, but all of it goes toward the same cause. Thanks for your help everyone!

Shams Kazi & Shazia Bhombal
Nadia Aftab
Sophia Rahman
Kareem Ali
Jihad Turk
Mouna Mana
Fizzah Raza
Sarah Peters
Malik Aziz
Mona Sharif
Mia Cramer
Almaas Shaikh
Ozma Khan
Larvell & April Hood
Laila El-Hajoui

Also I'd like to thank a few generous donors who wish to remain anonymous. I hope I didn't forget anyone.

Microfund in Jordan: The Company

I'm sure that many people are wondering exactly who I'll be working with while I'm serving my Fellowship in Jordan. Lucky for you I'm here to explain it a little better. Microfund for Women isn't a name that should ring a bell for most people although their accomplishments are incredible. Nestled in the streets of so many cities in Jordan - MWF helps female clientele primarily in low-income situations to further empower the women it serves and their families. The numbers they have posted are very impressive and admiringly ambitious in my opinion but what is it exactly that makes MWF so special?

The result of years of product testing throughout Jordan, Microfund for Women was initiated as a pilot called Group Guaranteed Lending Program in the capital Amman in 1994 to help women entrepreneurs become income earners. By working with these entrepreneurs from all over Jordan they've created successful programs which have helped hundreds of thousands of women nationwide. These programs become so successful that the groups changed it's name to MWF after it became an independent entity in 1999. In 2002 it became a fully sustanable venture and reached the 25,000 active-client-loan mark in 2006.

Looking at exact numbers shows that MWF has over 56,000 active clients (97% women) and a repayment rate of 99% since it was established. In 2006 they received the Sanabel Best Microfinance Investment award for the Arab Region. Nationally it has grown in ten years to only a few people to 234 staff members in 22 branches, one of which will be the branch I'll be working with in Irbid located 120 miles north of Amman. I'll get into more information about Irbid in later postings.

Still confused? Lets take a story directly from MWF to illustrate. In one story a woman named Shaikha wanted to generate income to help her husband and family. Shaikha takes out a loan, creates her business and begins contributing more to the household finances in a short amount of time. The key is the final line in her profile which states, "She has also been able to send her son to university." The MWF branch I'll be assisting is proactively creating a program to help the children of women like Shaikha reach their goals of an educational. The information collected from the first young adults participating in this program will be gathered after I arrive in Jordan to flush out viability of such a program on a local and national.

Shaikha's son could have waited years until his mother had enough to send him back to school, but with MWF and Vittana a lender could be only a click of the mouse away from lenders willing to help them. Both of these organizations are quickly receiving a great reputation for making positive change as they each post high repayment rate. Although the end result is still forming, its exciting to know that I'll be one of the people that helps to make this project a reality.

Nothing Says 'Thank You' Like Bean Pie

After one month of fundraising for my Fellowship to the Middle East I've been humbled by the friends and strangers who have given from their own pockets to help me reach my goal. I still have a long way to go until I reach the magic number - so with the help of a friend I've come up with the perfect 'thank you' gift. Bean pie!

If you've never heard of bean pie then you're missing out on a treat that's more American than Apple Pie. What better way to say thanks then with a treat that no Ramadan iftar or movie night at home should be without. Starting today and until I reach my fundraising goal I'll be giving away small bean pies to everyone in the Greater Los Angeles area who donates $15 or more through the Chipin widget on my blog. KFPK has books, DVD's and movie tickets for $150 donations, but you can acquire this sweet treat that I make myself for donations to my Fellowship.

At the end of each week I'll gather all the names of people who've donated and find a way to deliver your pie using my trusty rickshaw service. This isn't a bake sale or fundraising with those chocolate bars that children and parents alike push for new band uniforms - this is the perfect gift from my kitchen to your stomach. Donate, enjoy and thanks again.

I Need Your Help!

Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you have heard, I was recently given a Fellowship opportunity with the Vittana Foundation. My placement will be at the Microfund for Women which is located in Irbid, Jordan. For 16 weeks in 2011, I'll be assisting in efforts to help alleviate poverty in the area through microfinance and education. To say this honor bestowed upon me is a once in a lifetime opportunity is definitely an understatement. I will be helping to start a program that doesn't exist anywhere in the Middle East.

If you're hearing about Vittana for the first time, you're not alone. Vittana is a non-profit that allows you to lend capital to a specific low-income student in the developing world. In increments of $25, you choose who to lend to - whether an Accounting student in Paraguay, a Business Administration student in Peru or even a Medical student in Vietnam. As they repay their loans, you get your money back. You can either re-invest your money, withdraw it or donate it to Vittana. It's a powerfully inspiring and sustainable way to empower someone to break the cycle of poverty and an innovative way to see how you make a difference on a global scale.

Since Vittana was founded, over $324,000 have been distributed by more then 2,900 lenders in 35 countries. That money has funded hundreds of students in 5 different countries. The default rate on repayment is 3%. It's incredible to see that 97% of loans given out are repaid.

My job as a Fellow will be to assist my MFI (Microfinance Institution) partner and be the bridge between the MFI and Vittana. It will be my responsibility to add new students to Vittana's website by writing their stories and photographing them, as well as creating partnerships with schools in the region to reach more students in need of this service. I will not only assist with Vittana work, but also help train the staff of Microfund for Women on how to best implement Vittana's online platform to help them fund the less fortunate students in need of assistants. The Fellowship program is unique in the variety of tasks that I will undertake and the potential for a lasting impact on the people of the city I'm placed, the staff of the MFW and Vittana.

My Fellowship is scheduled to take place in the beginning of 2011, just as I complete my applications for Graduate School programs concentrating in microfinance and international affairs. I should note that the Fellowship is not paid and I am responsible for raising support to cover airfare and living expenses for the duration of my 16 weeks aboard. I'd be grateful if you would consider joining me and financially supporting my Fellowship.

I have created a full budget of my expenses and I'm looking to raise $7,500. Every little bit counts so please give what you can! Your contribution is extremely needed and appreciated!


There are a few ways to give:

1). Donate via my ChipIn:



2). Send cash or check payable to NATHAN RICHARDSON: please contact me for my address.

3). If you'd like to donate airline miles or help support my trip in other ways, please send me an email. wray (dot) richardson (at) gmail (dot) com.

Final notes:
*This is a donation to fund my participation with Vittana. Unfortunately due to non-profit tax laws, tax-deduction are not possible since the donation isn't to Vittana itself. However, I will be sending EVERYONE acknowledgments thanking you for your donations.

Fundraising Incentives

$100 donation = I will send you a personal postcard from my location. I'll compile the list just before I go.

$250 donation = A personal souvenir from Irbid will be sent to you upon my return to the States.

$500 = A personal 3x3 accordion picture album of the people and places from my Fellowship.



*All those who donate will get personal recognition on any publications pertaining to my Fellowship unless anonymity is requested. All monetary donations are welcome.

Thank you to everyone! Your support is my inspiration and fuels me daily to help in the fight to alleviate poverty and help people in Jordan to be the best they can be with the help of Vittana.

Sincerely,
Nathan Richardson