It’s been an exciting winter at Vittana and we wanted to share our accomplishments and what’s on the horizon: Spring brings new growth, and renewed hope for the future with each passing year. This week, we find ourselves shaken by the cowardly acts in Boston. Yet we are reminded that even in the darkest [...]
“And this is where it jumped onto the road,” said Don Erasmo, pointing into the darkness. “It was hairy, had a long nose, about the size of a seven-year-old child. It stopped in front of my car for a second, waved its long, pointy fingers at me and then disappeared into the darkness.” It is eight [...]
“We like to start our new hires in the field” – Sanjaya Punyasena, Vittana’s Director of Programs I’m sitting in Nairobi airport waiting for a late night flight back to the UK. Two-and-a-half weeks ago, I’d never set foot in Africa or the Middle East. As of today, I’ve been to Jordan, Ghana, South [...]
Reflecting on my time spent in the Philippines is bittersweet. I have learned more in my short time here than I could have ever possibly hoped for. I applied this fellowship to help fulfill my internship requirement for my degree. When I was accepted, I was elated that I would be able to work for [...]
Wow! They gave me a five dollar tip! As someone who works at a coffee shop on weekends, (I prefer the term ‘bro-ista’) I find myself surprised every time I’m given a much larger tip. I must’ve made an excellent latte or brightened someone’s day. Maybe a few of my customers are fortunate to be [...]
As I settle into my new home and job with one of Vittana’s partners in the Philippines, ASKI, I am slowly learning my way around. It’s a complex organization, and business is conducted mostly in Tagalog, making the going a bit slower than I might wish. So it makes sense that I am just now [...]
Mabuhay! I’m Bridgette, and I just arrived in the Philippines to complete a 15-week fellowship. During my time here I’ll be working in Cabanatuan City with one of Vittana’s outstanding partner organizations, ASKI. I’ve been here only a week and already I have met many remarkable people and taken in some amazing Filipino culture. Most [...]
I‘ve always found the concept of “the lottery of birth” to be insightfully motivational. With a nod to the fortune of being born into our initial circumstances, we should dispel the notion that everything we have is “deserved.” In the US, we like to attribute our successes to our hard work, but in fact, before [...]
A Student Loan: The First Milestone I know a photographer back home who stumbled across an old portrait on a hard drive filled with his first professional pictures: “Never forget the milestones that shaped you…” He said. “…and always make sure the new ones are twice as far,” responded a friend. A few short years [...]
Saludos Vittana community! My name is Maritza Trejo. I am your new fellow, based out of the Enlace offices in sunny El Salvador. Maritza with Enlace staff at Enlace offices. Over the last few months I have been working with our El Salvadorian field partner Servicios Financieros Enlace on the development of their student loan [...]
