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How to be a Microfinancier Part 2

2007-06-29 · Hank · watch on YouTube · Global development · reflection essay

Following John's video, Hank reflects that meeting the women in the Dominican Republic showed him that poor people are 'just people', not the downtrodden figures of TV commercials, calls microfinance a powerful way for them to improve their own lives, and lends $200 on Kiva.org on camera.

What is said

00:00:00 — Greeting (not singing two days in a row); thanks for yesterday's video; feelings about the Dominican Republic visit, armed guard; the women's questions to the brothers

  • ★ After a sung 'Good morning, John!', Hank says he is not going to do that two days in a row. (playful) — 00:00:11 · Good morning greeting
  • ★★ Hank thanks John for yesterday's video and is glad they finally shared some of what they saw in the Dominican Republic. — 00:00:11
  • ★★ Hank says he oddly felt grateful for the experience; he had expected to feel sad, guilty or scared, and did not, though at first he felt awkward and out of place. (hedged) — 00:00:11
  • ★ Hank says he probably felt less scared because they had an armed guard with them the whole time. (hedged) — 00:00:11
  • ★★ Hank says the program had about three robberies in its first year, so now there is always a driver who carries a gun. — 00:00:11
  • ★★ Hank adds what John did not share: after questioning the graduating women about their businesses, the women asked about the brothers' sisters and marriages and argued which brother was cuter (John won). — 00:00:57

00:01:26 — 'They were people': Hank's surprise, TV-commercial image of poverty rejected; microfinance as a powerful way to improve their lives

  • ★★★ Hank admits, ashamed, that he was surprised the poverty-stricken women turned out to be people with a community, doing much of what we do except things that cost money. — 00:01:26
  • ★★★ Hank rejects the impression from TV commercials that poor people are too sad and downtrodden to relate to: they are just people in horrible situations. — 00:01:55 > «They're totally just people.»
  • ★ Hank says the women were nice and funny and he would not mind hanging out with them, though he would need much better Spanish. — 00:01:55
  • ★★★ Hank says that while these people need help in many ways, microfinance is a really powerful way for them to improve their own lives. — 00:01:55 · microfinance
  • ★★ Agreeing with John, Hank says microfinance is like giving money except you get it back, a pretty good deal without being a pure capitalist. — 00:01:55 · microfinance

00:02:31 — Hank lends $200 on Kiva.org on camera; 'it's that easy'; better than Exxon; excited Kiva shout; sign-off

  • ★★★ On camera Hank goes to Kiva.org and lends $200 to a clothing saleswoman who needs $575, leaving $375 to raise. — 00:02:31 · Kiva
  • ★★ Hank says he will put a link to the borrower he sponsors on Brotherhood2.com so that together they get her the loan. — 00:02:31 · Brotherhood 2.0, Kiva
  • ★★ Hank says lending is that easy, the money comes back in six months, and it is like investing with a poor interest rate, but feels better than investing in Exxon. (playful) — 00:03:00
  • ★★ Hank enthusiastically promotes Kiva.org: it is loaning, not donating, yet feels like donating, and you get your money back; 'It's that easy!' (playful) — 00:03:00 · Kiva, microfinance

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