Volunteer Spotlight: "Many of my friends were able to put bread on the table thanks to microloans"

May 29, 2022

At any given moment, Kiva’s website hosts thousands of borrower profiles and loan requests from all corners of the globe. As a result, many of these profiles require translation and editing before being made visible to the public. This is where the Review and Translation Program (RTP) steps in.

RTP comprises hundreds of volunteers who review, translate and edit loans daily to see them fundraise on the Kiva site. These individuals typically review about 16,000 loans per month. Their skills are so appreciated, and just last year, they contributed $141,536,950 in fully funded loans.

This month, we're spotlighting Emily, whose been an RTP Volunteer for 7 years. We are incredibly grateful for individuals like Emily who dedicate a large portion of their time to empowering borrowers and creating a more financially inclusive world. Without their contributions and the efforts of all RTP volunteers, Kiva wouldn’t have the same capacity to support borrowers.

---

Emily Griffith
Kiva Volunteer of the Month, May 2022

“Many of my friends were able to put bread on the table thanks to microloans.”

Location: Illinois
Language: Spanish
Team: Saliendo Adelante (Sp)
Time with Kiva: 7 years
Outstanding contributions to Kiva: Since she began volunteering, Emily has translated over 198,649 words.

Emily found out about Kiva when she was in high school through lenders from her local community service organizations. She first started translating while she was a Peace Corps volunteer living in Belize.

"I knew about microlending through Kiva, and I would see its effects through other microlending organizations. Many of my friends were able to put bread on the table thanks to microloans."

Today, in addition to volunteering, Emily works as an emergency medicine physician and continues to witness the importance of providing sustainable financial support to those who need it:

"As part of the healthcare safety net, I see every day how financial stability affects people’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Translating for Kiva gives me an opportunity to be a small part of that financial support for borrowers."

Want to be part of this amazing community of translators? Join us here.