Volunteer spotlight: “It’s amazing to understand the triumphs and challenges of people around the world”

At any given moment, Kiva’s website hosts thousands of borrower profiles and loan requests from all corners of the globe. As a result, many of these profiles require translation and editing before they can be made visible to the public. This is where the Review and Translation Program (RTP) steps in.

RTP is composed of about 420 volunteers that review, translate and edit loans on a daily basis in order to see them fundraise on the Kiva site. These individuals typically review at least 16,000 loans per month. Their skills are so appreciated and in 2020 alone, they contributed to $110,650,400 in fully funded loans.

This month, we want to shine the spotlight on three individual volunteers: Alix, Darlene and Marila.

We are so incredibly grateful for these volunteers who dedicate a large portion of their time to empowering borrowers and creating a financially inclusive world. Without their contributions, and the contributions of all RTP volunteers, Kiva’s capacity to support borrowers would be severely limited.

Alix F.
Kiva Volunteer of the Month, October 2020

“I have really enjoyed seeing how borrowers have adapted to COVID this year. It’s inspiring.”

Home country: Scotland
Language: Spanish
Team: Las Pirañas Kivanas
Time with Kiva: 4 years, 8 months
Outstanding contributions to Kiva: Alix, an animal lover (especially elephants and llamas), has reviewed over 912 loans since 2016.

Darlene G.
Kiva Volunteer of the Month, November 2020

“I really enjoy volunteering with Kiva. It’s flexible and I can do it on my own terms.”

Darlene, a volunteer from Canada.

City: Kelowna, B.C., Canada
Language: English
Team: Kiva Comma Squad
Time with Kiva: 2 years, 4 months
Outstanding contributions to Kiva: A freelance writer and editor, Darlene has reviewed 3,140 loans since 2018.

Marila A.
Kiva Volunteer of the Month, December 2020

“I really like what Kiva does. I feel like it’s a win-win situation.”

Marila, a volunteer from Mexico.

City: Monterrey, Mexico
Language: Spanish
Team: Mosaico
Time with Kiva: 8 years, 1 month
Outstanding contributions to Kiva: A Muay Thai enthusiast, Marila has reviewed 1,468 loans since 2013.

Want to be part of this amazing community of translators? Join us here.