Last spring, Jonathon Stalls graduated from Metro State College with a degree in design and entrepreneurship. It was in one of his classes that he learned about micro-finance and an organization called Kiva.
Kiva is an Internet based organization that has created a way for people to sign up and become a lender to an entrepreneur, but not just any entrepreneur. These people are all around the world, working with whatever it is they have in order to try and get their own ideas and businesses up and running.
Through Kiva, they can ask for everyday people to lend them money, even amounts like $25 to help get their business on track, and then they pay back their lenders, who again are every day people, in full.
Kiva has a 98 percent repayment rate and many times the lenders will use their money they get back to lend to another entrepreneur in need.
Tuesday, Jonathan Stalls was in Las Animas, but not for long; he is walking across the United States in order to raise awareness for the things that Kiva does, while also taking time for personal enjoyment.
Stalls left Lewes, Del. on March 1 and has traveled approximately 1,650 miles to get to where he is now. His final destination is San Francisco, Calif. and he is traveling mostly along the American Discovery Trail, though he takes his own route every once in awhile.
Stalls is not alone on this journey; his dog Kanoa is traveling every mile along with his owner.
“For me, it’s also about the attraction to the simplicity of having everything you need in a backpack,” Stalls said, “it really helps a person to better understand the history, economy and experience small town America.”
Stalls said that he enjoys Kiva because “It gives entrepreneurs a sense that someone has confidence in them, that someone can see that they have the tools to be successful. It feeds them confidence and helps them to get on their feet.”
There are currently 272 members who are a part of the Kiva lending team who have raised over $189,000 in funds to lend.
“The trip is all about raising awareness while enjoying my time all along,” he said.
Stalls will leave La Junta on Friday and will travel to Rocky Ford, then on to Fowler and possibly Avondale. He stays with willing host families along his route and would appreciate any help he can get. Visit his website, www.kivawalk.com to follow his journey and the Kiva website, www.kiva.org to get more information on micro-finance lending.
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Last spring, Jonathon Stalls graduated from Metro State College with a degree in design and entrepreneurship. It was in one of his classes that he learned about micro-finance and an organization called Kiva.
Kiva is an Internet based organization that has created a way for people to sign up and become a lender to an entrepreneur, but not just any entrepreneur. These people are all around the world, working with whatever it is they have in order to try and get their own ideas and businesses up and running.
Through Kiva, they can ask for everyday people to lend them money, even amounts like $25 to help get their business on track, and then they pay back their lenders, who again are every day people, in full.
Kiva has a 98 percent repayment rate and many times the lenders will use their money they get back to lend to another entrepreneur in need.
Tuesday, Jonathan Stalls was in Las Animas, but not for long; he is walking across the United States in order to raise awareness for the things that Kiva does, while also taking time for personal enjoyment.
Stalls left Lewes, Del. on March 1 and has traveled approximately 1,650 miles to get to where he is now. His final destination is San Francisco, Calif. and he is traveling mostly along the American Discovery Trail, though he takes his own route every once in awhile.
Stalls is not alone on this journey; his dog Kanoa is traveling every mile along with his owner.
“For me, it’s also about the attraction to the simplicity of having everything you need in a backpack,” Stalls said, “it really helps a person to better understand the history, economy and experience small town America.”
Stalls said that he enjoys Kiva because “It gives entrepreneurs a sense that someone has confidence in them, that someone can see that they have the tools to be successful. It feeds them confidence and helps them to get on their feet.”
There are currently 272 members who are a part of the Kiva lending team who have raised over $189,000 in funds to lend.
“The trip is all about raising awareness while enjoying my time all along,” he said.
Stalls will leave La Junta on Friday and will travel to Rocky Ford, then on to Fowler and possibly Avondale. He stays with willing host families along his route and would appreciate any help he can get. Visit his website, www.kivawalk.com to follow his journey and the Kiva website, www.kiva.org to get more information on micro-finance lending.
