money can buy you love

Long-time readers of the blog may remember my dalliance into the world of international finance through Kiva. My first project was to support a young, single cattle breeder in Azerbaijan named Natik.

It's been a while since I wrote about Natik but I got an update today and things are progressing well. The loan was for $800 and Natik has repaid 75% of the loan and appears to be ahead of schedule on his loan repayment. However things are looking up for Natik generally.

I recieved the following journal update by email today:

This young man before was single. He is very thankful to Kiva for the loan. He improved his business. Before he raised the calves but now he raises the sheep. Now he has a lot of sheep. Having improved his business he married. He is very happy and is very thankful for all his success to Kiva.

Yes Natik has gotten married now that his business has improved - it appears money can buy you love, in Azerbaijan at least. I'm sure this is just the result of translation or poor English, but all kidding aside, I'm quite proud of Natik. I'm not sure what happened to the cows, but he now has a thriving sheep business and the start of a family. It all started with a group of people donating $25 online, it's pretty amazing.

Here's the most recent photo from his operation:

high finance

My new role of international financier is off to an excellent start. In just two days, Natik has gone from 31% of his loan funded to 100% funded.

I should soon be recieving updates on how his business is progressing and repayment should occur in roughly 12 months or so.

I wasn't expecting the money to be raised so quickly and over the several weeks will be going back to the web site in search of a new loanee. In the meantime you can continue to follow Natik's progress on their site and here on the blog.

Also, over the next little while, I'll be adding some more links to the "do some good" sidebar here on the blog.

i'm an international financier

I may not be able to balance my chequebook, but I have entered the fast-paced and glamorous world of international finance. I am officially a money lender.

I just made a $25 loan to Natik Asadov a young man in Azerbaijan looking to expand his farm business by purchasing three cattle. The whole deal was done in less than five minutes online.

Kiva.org allows individuals to make $25 loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so, you can provide affordable working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to earn their way out of poverty.

It's a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty, and for only a small amount of money you can help someone build a future.

If you have a minute, please check out the the site. Also, you can follow the progress of Natik Asadov's loan on the banner on the right side of my blog.

one's a heifer

The first thing that I thought of today when I received an update on my journey into the glamourous world of international finance and cattle breeding was Sinclair Ross' story "one's a heifer". I think I read that story in grade nine, but it's always stayed with me.

In the update I recieved, I was told that the microfinance loan I gave through kiva.org has been disbursed to Natik Asadov, a cattle breeder in Azerbaijan. The site maintains a journal where I will receive updates on the progress of Natik's business and the repayment of the loan. The loan is going to be used to expand his business by buying three more cattle. Although I don't know for sure, I'm sure at least one of the three will be a heifer.

and the money kept rolling in

Well, my first loan through Kiva has been repaid. Although Natik, the cattle turned sheep breeder in Azerbaijan has received most of the attention, it was in fact the fuel seller in Afghanistan who was the first to repay his loan fully. Although I wasn't getting updates on how the business was doing, payments were being made regularly.

Once a loan is paid, you can withdraw it, donate it to Kiva to help cover operating expenses or reinvest, so it's back into the world of high finance for me. I'm switching continents this time, and heading to Africa, specifically Nigeria. I know the online scams usually start in Nigeria, but so far Kiva and their partners have been dead on, so I'm giving it a shot.

This is Gbemisola Adeshkor:


Gbemisola Adeshokor is 48 years old, married, and has 6 children. She hails from Ibgolerin, in Lagos State, Nigera. Gbemisola sells foods in her local market to support her family, and has been doing so since 1992. Gbemisola would like a loan of $400 to purchase a wider variety of foods to sell.

As of the time I write this blog, Gbemisola is only 56% funded for her $400 so there's still time to jump in if you want to give Kiva a try.

the international bank of glen

Yes my ever increasing role in international finance has brought me a wealth of new riches and attention. First off, I've received blog visitors form Ghana and Austria through the international bank of glen. I'm expecting loan requests from them soon. I'm still waiting for the visitors from Switzerland or the Cayman Islands to show up and ask me to join their club, but that may still be a way.

So why all the excitement and trumpeting? Remember Natik, the cattle breeder. Well, he has started repaying his loan. This week, I received the first payment on my loan, $4.19 That's almost a 1/5th of the loan paid off, disbursed among the various lenders. With the loan he was able to double the number of cattle he has from three to six.

A full list of stories on my new career as an international financier can be found here.

heading towards a flock

I've been writing about my microlending experience for some time, and jut wanted to provide a further update. As my first loan has now paid off, I can reinvest it. My original $50 investment in Kiva is now the equivalent of $100 of loans.

Since Natik had some success with sheep, I've decided to stick with that theme while reinvesting the money I originally loaned to him.


This is Maarif Aliyev. He also lives in Azerbaijan. The following is the Kiva writeup for his loan:

Maarif Aliyev lives in Beylagan, a small town in Azerbaijan. He is 55 years old, married, and has three children. He is engaged in animal sales. He has ten years' experience at this business. Maarif purchases animals from the livestock market of Beylagan, raises them for some months, and then sells them again. (He is pictured at the livestock market.) Now he needs $400, with which sum he plans to buy some sheep to add to his flock.

Maarif's loan has been filled and paid out. Repayments should begin in March. I've been thrilled by the whole experience with Kiva so far and hope to continue to have the loans repaid and then reinvested. It's an easy and simple way to make a difference in someone's life and I highly recommend it.

pay day

Well, my very first foray into international finance has finally come to an end. Natik, the cattle/sheep farmer in Azerbaijan has repaid his $800 loan. For the full details of the international bank of glen, click here.

As with the loan to the fuel seller in Afghanistan, the $25 I loaned is repaid into my account where I can reloan it to another business.

Kiva works great. My original $50 investment continues to get reloaned each time it is paid back, so it will now be the equivalent of $100 having gone to help people in developing countries!

If you haven't yet, check Kiva out, and consider getting involved.