Celebrate 10 Years of Metafilter and Make a Difference June 2, 2009 10:52 AM Subscribe
The Metafilter Team on Kiva.com has gotten started and two weeks later we have 16 members and have lent just shy of $1,000 to small businesses and collectives in developing countries. Our team is now launching a new campaign to celebrate Metafilter's wonderful users and help individuals, families, and communities around the world. Join us to find out more...
To honor the tenth anniversary of Metafilter and to celebrate Metafilter's legacy of worthwhile conversation and interaction, we are launching 10 for 10, where our members will collectively lend $10 to thank every ten members who join our Metafilter team on Kiva.com from June 2 until July 17. Our 16 current members will donate up to $500 collectively to new or continuing projects to thank you for joining us and making a difference.
If anyone would be interested in matching all or some of the $500 we have collectively committed for this campaign, please mefi mail me. You can request to be completely anonymous if you would like. I will send the final amount of our collective gift on July 18. Even a $1 matching gift makes a big difference to a dental clinic in El Salvador or a tile maker in Uganda. If you can donate $20 or more, we will toast you and smile with you.
Check out our Metafilter Team on Kiva. You can see where our loans are going and learn how to get involved. Thank you all so much.
To honor the tenth anniversary of Metafilter and to celebrate Metafilter's legacy of worthwhile conversation and interaction, we are launching 10 for 10, where our members will collectively lend $10 to thank every ten members who join our Metafilter team on Kiva.com from June 2 until July 17. Our 16 current members will donate up to $500 collectively to new or continuing projects to thank you for joining us and making a difference.
If anyone would be interested in matching all or some of the $500 we have collectively committed for this campaign, please mefi mail me. You can request to be completely anonymous if you would like. I will send the final amount of our collective gift on July 18. Even a $1 matching gift makes a big difference to a dental clinic in El Salvador or a tile maker in Uganda. If you can donate $20 or more, we will toast you and smile with you.
Check out our Metafilter Team on Kiva. You can see where our loans are going and learn how to get involved. Thank you all so much.
Cool idea - I've just joined and will find someone to lend to.
posted by adrianhon at 11:15 AM on June 2, 2009
posted by adrianhon at 11:15 AM on June 2, 2009
I usually make all my donations through another team, but I joined up and made a donation through the Metafilter team! Yay 10th anniversary!
posted by arcticwoman at 11:43 AM on June 2, 2009
posted by arcticwoman at 11:43 AM on June 2, 2009
Doesn't Kiva advocate cockfighting and other animal bloodsports?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:43 AM on June 2, 2009
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:43 AM on June 2, 2009
Well done parmanparman, I signed up and picked out loanees but the CC page was hanging up, will try next time I have a better connection (someone feel free to remind me if this doesn't happen!)
posted by biffa at 11:49 AM on June 2, 2009
posted by biffa at 11:49 AM on June 2, 2009
You're thinking of PETA. Biggest cockfight advocates in the land.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 11:49 AM on June 2, 2009
posted by kuujjuarapik at 11:49 AM on June 2, 2009
Question, and I'm not trying to be contra here, but does being on a team have any additional incentive to the lender or benefit to the recipients or is it more a kind of social awareness thing?
It lets the atheists and the Christians argue over who is the most charitable. Currently the atheists are winning, with Obama-maniacs coming in a close third.
posted by smackfu at 11:49 AM on June 2, 2009
It lets the atheists and the Christians argue over who is the most charitable. Currently the atheists are winning, with Obama-maniacs coming in a close third.
posted by smackfu at 11:49 AM on June 2, 2009
From here,
A recent borrower in the Philippines took a loan to raise fighting cocks. This is a very popular and legal activity which provides an income for many families throughout the country. While many lenders may not want to fund such a loan (and exercise their own free will through such a choice), is it appropriate to deny this borrower access to Kiva since we may not agree with her choices?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:54 AM on June 2, 2009
A recent borrower in the Philippines took a loan to raise fighting cocks. This is a very popular and legal activity which provides an income for many families throughout the country. While many lenders may not want to fund such a loan (and exercise their own free will through such a choice), is it appropriate to deny this borrower access to Kiva since we may not agree with her choices?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:54 AM on June 2, 2009
does being on a team have any additional incentive to the lender or benefit to the recipients
No. It's just fun. I was a member of the atheists team before the mefi one started, just to make a statement against those who say only the religious have morals.
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:34 PM on June 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
No. It's just fun. I was a member of the atheists team before the mefi one started, just to make a statement against those who say only the religious have morals.
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:34 PM on June 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Doesn't Kiva advocate cockfighting and other animal bloodsports?
I don't think 'hosting loan requests for' is the same thing as 'advocating.' Kiva could deny to host requests for loans toward raising fighting chickens or buying non-essentials, but that would probably just result in people being less honest in their requests. Let not the perfect be the enemy of the good.
It's pretty much a given that the Metafilter collective will not be funding bloodsports in honor of The Tenth. You may make micro-loans through Kiva without donating money to the Kiva organization itself.
posted by zennie at 12:39 PM on June 2, 2009
I don't think 'hosting loan requests for' is the same thing as 'advocating.' Kiva could deny to host requests for loans toward raising fighting chickens or buying non-essentials, but that would probably just result in people being less honest in their requests. Let not the perfect be the enemy of the good.
It's pretty much a given that the Metafilter collective will not be funding bloodsports in honor of The Tenth. You may make micro-loans through Kiva without donating money to the Kiva organization itself.
posted by zennie at 12:39 PM on June 2, 2009
the Metafilter collective will not be funding bloodsports in honor of The Tenth
I was hoping to have two of the borrowers fight a death match for the right to access Team MeFi's lending capital. I am deeply disappointed.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:55 PM on June 2, 2009
I was hoping to have two of the borrowers fight a death match for the right to access Team MeFi's lending capital. I am deeply disappointed.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:55 PM on June 2, 2009
I tried to fund Roma people and/or people in Romania and was a little dismayed to find at least a few of them seemed to have skipped out on loans entirely. Seems like there are some nice well-meaning Peace Corps people going around signing people up and then their terms end and no one really picks up that ball. That said, these seem to be atypical results.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:01 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:01 PM on June 2, 2009
It's pretty much a given that the Metafilter collective will not be funding bloodsports in honor of The Tenth. You may make micro-loans through Kiva without donating money to the Kiva organization itself.
Thanks, I'm happy with donating my money to other organizations.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:04 PM on June 2, 2009
Thanks, I'm happy with donating my money to other organizations.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:04 PM on June 2, 2009
Jessamyn, this is the list off all defaulted loans that Kiva brokered in Eastern Europe. All 8 are in Bulgaria. There don't appear to be any loans that were defaulted on in Romania.
posted by rajbot at 1:10 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by rajbot at 1:10 PM on June 2, 2009
Yeah, it was probably a loan through REDC Bulgaria. They have a one star rating on Kiva. They are no longer an active Kiva field partner.
posted by rajbot at 1:15 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by rajbot at 1:15 PM on June 2, 2009
When I made my loan, I was concerned about the interest rate charged to the people borrowing the money. It varies from lender to lender. Kiva says the rates are within reason, but I found some who charged 50%, while others charged 10% (even in the same country).
Others pointed out that even 50% is better than the typical rates charged to lenders in their countries, but it still bothered me to lend through a group that would give my money out at such a high rate.
If anyone else here puts that into their decision-making, to find the rate you must go to the Field Partner's page. You can find a link to that page from each person's page (in the About The Field Partner pane on the right). Or, you can see all field partners here (with the rates for each on their linked page). Note that from that page, you can also sort the list to show you field partners by delinquency rate, location, etc.
posted by Houstonian at 1:26 PM on June 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Others pointed out that even 50% is better than the typical rates charged to lenders in their countries, but it still bothered me to lend through a group that would give my money out at such a high rate.
If anyone else here puts that into their decision-making, to find the rate you must go to the Field Partner's page. You can find a link to that page from each person's page (in the About The Field Partner pane on the right). Or, you can see all field partners here (with the rates for each on their linked page). Note that from that page, you can also sort the list to show you field partners by delinquency rate, location, etc.
posted by Houstonian at 1:26 PM on June 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
I've meant to join for quite a while. Thanks for reminding me of this.
posted by deborah at 2:11 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by deborah at 2:11 PM on June 2, 2009
Yay, I joined and am helping to fund a group of women in Pakistan (they still need more funds, join me!). I've meant to get involved with Kiva for awhile so thanks for providing the last push I needed.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 2:17 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by otherwordlyglow at 2:17 PM on June 2, 2009
I joined the MeFi team and the atheist team!
posted by matildaben at 2:19 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by matildaben at 2:19 PM on June 2, 2009
How do I get ahold of some of that sweet, sweet cockfighting money?
posted by klangklangston at 3:29 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by klangklangston at 3:29 PM on June 2, 2009
Just joined and donated too. Having been on the receiving end when I needed it I know all too well what it means to get help at the right moment and am so glad to be able to participate and give now.
posted by nickyskye at 4:20 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by nickyskye at 4:20 PM on June 2, 2009
I joined the Mefi team and the Christian team!
posted by Pater Aletheias at 5:17 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by Pater Aletheias at 5:17 PM on June 2, 2009
I joined! Thanks for this, it's something I've been meaning to do
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:35 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:35 PM on June 2, 2009
Wasn't sure which group to lend to, so kind of just went with my gut. Glad to be part of the MeFi team doing good things.
posted by anthropoid at 5:47 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by anthropoid at 5:47 PM on June 2, 2009
Man, I wish all of my loans weren't already out, I'd much rather donate with the MeFi group than the atheist group. Oh well, the money's being used, that's the important thing.
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:33 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by Lemurrhea at 6:33 PM on June 2, 2009
Someone mailed me to point out that the match amounted to $1 a person. I mailed the writer back and I thought it was probably OK to put just the response here for why I decided to put the match that low.
I know, you are right. Where I decided to place the match was tricky but it came down to the fact that givers in teams are often much more altruistic and I don't want anyone to think they have to resort to paying for our getting new members. We like to think metafilter is organic in the way that people cling to thing and are reverent in their remembrance.
posted by parmanparman at 6:45 PM on June 2, 2009
I know, you are right. Where I decided to place the match was tricky but it came down to the fact that givers in teams are often much more altruistic and I don't want anyone to think they have to resort to paying for our getting new members. We like to think metafilter is organic in the way that people cling to thing and are reverent in their remembrance.
posted by parmanparman at 6:45 PM on June 2, 2009
Joined and loaned! I've been meaning to do this for a while, so this thread was good incentive.
posted by tickingclock at 8:59 PM on June 2, 2009
posted by tickingclock at 8:59 PM on June 2, 2009
Joined the Mefite and Christian team, and loaned. Awesome idea, parmanparman, way to go.
posted by allkindsoftime at 1:33 AM on June 3, 2009
posted by allkindsoftime at 1:33 AM on June 3, 2009
Thank you, Rajbot, for starting the team :)
posted by parmanparman at 7:59 AM on June 3, 2009
posted by parmanparman at 7:59 AM on June 3, 2009
I joined and loaned twice. Somehow I messed up and the first didn't count towards the team.
But the second one definitely did.
posted by Brody's chum at 2:41 PM on June 3, 2009
But the second one definitely did.
posted by Brody's chum at 2:41 PM on June 3, 2009
Great idea - I just joined Team MeFi. It would be neat if kiva made it easier for lending teams to collectively sponsor groups, so we could say "this Romanian cockfighter (or cockblocker) sponsored by MeFi". Thanks for taking the initiative, parmanx2.
posted by antonymous at 3:01 PM on June 3, 2009
posted by antonymous at 3:01 PM on June 3, 2009
I've just joined the MeFi and Atheist teams. Just waiting for some loans to come back.
posted by fish tick at 6:47 PM on June 3, 2009
posted by fish tick at 6:47 PM on June 3, 2009
It would be neat if kiva made it easier for lending teams to collectively sponsor groups....
We might could look on the list of MeFi loans and help raise money for incomplete loans there.
posted by zennie at 8:03 PM on June 3, 2009
We might could look on the list of MeFi loans and help raise money for incomplete loans there.
posted by zennie at 8:03 PM on June 3, 2009
i signed up, joined the team (and the atheist team too!) and loaned but somehow managed to not make it count towards either team. oops!
posted by lia at 9:46 PM on June 3, 2009
posted by lia at 9:46 PM on June 3, 2009
When I joined and loaned, it didn't show up on the Metafilter team, either. Here's what I learned: First, join the Metafilter team. Then, select a loan. If you do it the other way around (first selecting a loan, then joining the team) it doesn't show as going toward the team.
But to fix it, I sent an email to Kiva explaining what I meant to do. Within 24 hours, they had responded and fixed it.
posted by Houstonian at 9:49 PM on June 3, 2009
But to fix it, I sent an email to Kiva explaining what I meant to do. Within 24 hours, they had responded and fixed it.
posted by Houstonian at 9:49 PM on June 3, 2009
thanks, houstonian! i just dropped them a line, hopefully they can make the fix for me too!
posted by lia at 10:02 PM on June 3, 2009
posted by lia at 10:02 PM on June 3, 2009
They took my money this time. Just for the record, my cock is a pacifist.
posted by biffa at 3:21 AM on June 4, 2009
posted by biffa at 3:21 AM on June 4, 2009
I just joined the team and made a loan. I think I first learned about Kiva here on the Filter, many moons ago.
posted by jaruwaan at 12:15 PM on June 5, 2009
posted by jaruwaan at 12:15 PM on June 5, 2009
Just joined and loaned! Ive been meaning to find a good microcredit option and now I have! Thank you Metafilter!
posted by Binliner at 2:21 PM on June 5, 2009
posted by Binliner at 2:21 PM on June 5, 2009
OK, so Kiva wants me to join their speaker's bureau. Who will be my co-captain for this if they ask to give a speech somewhere?
posted by parmanparman at 9:09 PM on June 10, 2009
posted by parmanparman at 9:09 PM on June 10, 2009
Did you mean someone local to you, parmanparman? If so I'm willing.
posted by zennie at 5:57 AM on June 11, 2009
posted by zennie at 5:57 AM on June 11, 2009
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posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:00 AM on June 2, 2009