Kiva Australia Market Stall at Marrickville a Fantastic Success!!!
Polly, Dali and Hedy at the Australia Team Kiva Information stall at the Marrickville Markets
Our Kiva Australia Team Information and Promotions Table
Robert waiting for Kiva converts
Reports(3)
The Market Report by Hedy: Sydney Kiva Market 12 February 2011
On a day that threatened thunder and rain but showered us instead with sun and warmth, a small group of us reminded the market crowd intent on consumption of sensory experiences - of luscious cakes and the creamiest of cheese - that the world extended beyond our small selves. That through small acts of generosity we could play our abundance forward. We could shift from the I to the WE of connectedness.
Perhaps more importantly, it allowed us to connect with ourselves: with
those innate gifts that we possess that need exposure and practice. We
need to soul-craft ourselves. As a culture and part of this human
experiment, we need to know that we are more than mass consumers. And so, although the majority passed us by, those that chose to engage
were intrigued by the gift Kiva offered - to have a grander
interpretation of themselves as givers: to extend their human yearning
and capacity for connectedness. By serving them we served ourselves. Thank you Dali for taking the initiative and the burdening of getting a
project together. You were the instrument - we the followers. Our day
and those we spoke to was made better by your gesture. Sydney,
Australia grew and the world got just that bit brighter.
Dali’s Report In the early hours Selena arrived at Marrickville with the gazebo and
not long after that Polly with her car full of essential equipment for
the stall. After several days of rain the 5am Sunday sky was starry bright and the right omen for a perfect day.
The market
organisers gave us a superb spot under the shade of trees and near the
food outlets. A place where human traffic flow was high.
It seemed the perfect demographic. Organic markets seem to attract more aware, evolved, worldly and humanity conscious people.
We set out the 3 card
tables, covered them with a tablecloth of ample proportions and set
out flyers, cards, posters, bookmarks and balloons. By 10am the number
of visitors increased and the market thoroughfares were alive with eager
marketeers. Reinforcements arrived mid morning in the form of Hedy and
later Robert .
We talked to many
people, pressed Kiva cards, flyers ,and brochures into people hands,
and offered chocolate brownies [thanks Polly] and cookies[thanks Hedy].
We also passed out little ribboned, rolled up parchments containing
inspirational messages made by Hedy and offered these to passer-byers.
Many people were
curious and receptive to our stall. Some came to tell use that they
already loan to Kiva but didn’t know about the Australia Team. We
quickly implored them to join us so we could rise among the world Kiva
rankings.Others hadn’t heard of us and we informed them about the joy of
lending and the empowerment it gives to others less fortunate.
It was a joyous
opportunity to meet fellow Kivans in the flesh instead of engaging in
impersonal cyberspace exchanges on the Kiva forum page. Polly, Hedy and
Robert were great ambassadors for the team engaging the surging throng
passing our stall and spreading the message of microfinance and Kiva. It
was an absolute pleasure working with them.
The afternoon came
too soon and Polly and I packed up about 2.40pm as in the far west storm
clouds were starting to develop. The gazebo was returned to Selena’s
shop in Parramatta Rd and we headed home.
I
figure that there were about 30 people in total that the team spoke to
that showed some real and genuine interest in being a member of Kiva.
Even at 33.3% conversion rate that represents 10 new members which
translates to something like a potential 80 future new loans in the next
few years for impoverished 3rd world entrepreneurs [based on Kiva
lenders average no.of loans=7.9]. 80 new loans will effect 300-400
people who are connected to the lender such as family and relatives.
We will never accurately know, but one thing I know is that we made a difference today. It was a very successful day and hopefully we planted a seed in the mind of all we met-a seed that will germinate and flourish.
Robert's Report
I was to blame for suggesting the markets at the Addison Road centre (http://www.addisonrdcentre.com.au/)
in Marrickville as the site for this table - the place still looks
like the military barracks it once was; but since being turned into a
general community centre in 1976, it's become a major inner city asset,
with Sidetrack Theatre, a couple of art galleries, community gardens
& a large reverse garbage centre amongst its most prominent
features.
I knew it well from my time in Earlwood; & figured that
the management of the centre & the people who attended the markets
would be supportive of Kiva. I was right on both calls.
The management
was cooperative & gave Dali a great location (we even had our own
shady tree); & many of the people we spoke to had at least a passing
familiarity with the name Kiva if not a deep understanding of the
concept. That helps. So did the weather, which remained clear almost to
the end of the day. I could only able to be there for a couple of hours;
but i think i was able to communicate my enthusiasm for micro-finance
lending while i was there.
Dali did a great job organising this & i
hope that more can be arranged in the future (two other markets which
may be worth targetting would be Paddington & Glebe, though these
are larger & more commercial than Addison Rd). We'll see
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