You Got Jobs!

Greetings from somewhere in Southeast Asia!

After 21 months of semi-wayward wandering and immense and intense submersion into a dozen different and distinct countries and cultures, we've now decided to - Stop.

For the past few months we've spent countless hours researching and propositioning various NGO's whose work we felt inspired about in the the hopes of giving of our time and dedication. This search has proven MUCH more difficult and frustrating than we could have ever expected. I can't even TELL you how many aid org's actually want YOU to pay to work for FREE! Crazy, I know, but true. Finally, and thankfully, our search is over. We've just been accepted as "Fellows" for a San Francisco based non-profit, Kiva, that channels microfinancing from lenders, like you or me, in the U.S. to the disadvantaged in the developing world. The money is primarily used to start or expand small businesses and generate income, a more sustainable approach to development. (Photo: Biking through Angkor Wat ruins)

Our jobs will entail working with a local microfinance institute and going out on visits to people that have been lent money through Kiva to check the status of their loan and enquire about the impact it's had on their lives and business. And, to photograph + blog about it. Seems right up our alley, doesn't it! Here's a link to the the borrowers page for the local microfinance institute, Maxima, we'll be working with.

We'll be based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for the next 3 months. A very cool + interesting country, if you've never been. A little on the lawless side, with nice beaches + killer ruins. The Khmers are super-sweet, charming people too. You can be guaranteed of an interesting time if you decide to come. Here's a little taste, quite literally so, of what awaits you - Cambodia made it twice.

After that, time will tell, but there's a distinct possibility that we'll be making a slow, homeward journey via India and getting home sometime next summer. Stay tuned for updates as you just never know how our plans may change...

That's the new news for now.

(Photo: Above - Cyclo Driver, Below - Tonle Sap delta)




Hope to see you somewhere in the near future...