With a little inspiration from Predictably Irrational (a very basic book about behavioral economics) I decided I want to trick myself into following through on saving for a long term goal.

I want to participate in the Kiva Fellows Program.

What is this?

Kiva is a website by which anyone with a credit card can help provide microfinancing entrepreneurs around the world.  

Kiva partners with local microfinancing institutions to find entrepreneurs seeking capital and then matches those entrepreneurs with financing through the website.  These institutions are the ones that do all the actual work on the ground, and the Kiva fellows program is a way to for Kiva to help channel quality volunteers directly to the institutions.

In the world of giving and supporting those that have less, Kiva is the one that makes the most sense to me.  Also, given the criteria that they post for a Kiva Fellow, I’d make a a damn good fit!

Successful Kiva fellows tend to have the following:

- overseas experience (check, check, check)
- high enthusiasm for kiva (check)
- familiarity with web apps and technology (check)
- background in economics (check)
- fluency in french and spanish (hablo espanol y francais)
- ability to finance your trip (thats what this post is for!!) 

To address this last criteria, I set up a Smartypig account, and a goal to raise the money (rough estimate) needed to go:

I set this up less to solicit contributions, and more to challange myself to keep saving for this goal.

My writing is definitely the weakest link, but I know this, and its one of the driving factors behind me writing this blog.  I knew I wanted to do the Kiva Fellows program over a year ago, so its definitely something I’m going to work towards in the long term.  I’m not sure when it will happen, but even if its 2, 3, or 4 years off, I need to go!