Ready for Takeoff?

February 4, 2014

By: Aurora Lee

A snapshot of Kiva Fellow life during fellows training week:

Drink coffee, lots of it. Learn more than you brain can hold about the Kiva model. Bond with other fellows headed all over the world. Learn how to check on a borrower’s progress. Get really pumped about all the borrowers you'll get to meet! Quick tutorial on photography. Drink more coffee, you're only getting started…

Last week, Kiva’s 23rd class prepared to leave for their assignments by attending an intensive week-long training session at our headquarters. This class, KF23, is incredibly diverse with 10 nationalities represented among the 34 fellows who are headed to 19 different countries.

Since the Kiva Fellows Program launched in 2007, more than 500 fellows have worked with our field partners in 70 countries. The fellows have become a truly vital part of our mission. They provide support and expertise to our partners while also performing valuable verifications that ensure our borrowers are in good hands. The goal of alleviating poverty is at Kiva’s core and we want to be certain our borrowers’ best interests are always being served.

It’s a special time in the Kiva office when we get to meet our fellows - an inspiring group of people who are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Don’t miss our photos from fellows training week below!

P.S. Interested in becoming a Kiva Fellow? Applications are now open for KF25. The deadline to apply is May 18, 2014.

For more information on the application process or to see dates for future classes, please click here.

President Premal Shah addresses the new Kiva Fellows, who play an important role in shaping Kiva’s future.

Fellows break into regional groups to learn more about their upcoming assignments.

Kiva’s field support staff were in the office last week as well, they helped train the fellows that they’ll be working closely with over the next few months.