First day of “ranting” … at CIO.com

This is the start of my blogging endeavors here on CIO.com … I work for a global non-profit microfinance organization, whose mission is to provide financial services to the world’s lowest-income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets and improve their standard of living. We operate in the following 21 countries … • Africa … Congo, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda & Zambia • Latín America … Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haití, Honduras, México & Nicaragua • Eurasia … Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Russia & Tajikistan • Greater Middle East … Afganistán & Jordan Over the course of the past two and a half years I have had the privilege of visiting 17 of these countries. They are really rich in history, full of beauty (each in its own unique way), rife with poverty, and yet the people have the humanity that is infectious, heart warming and equally embarassing. Why embarassing? Trust me, it is embarassing for the likes of me and you from the so-called modern, progressive, capitalist world of the west for we have lost touch with one essential ingerdient, humanity, that these people so lovingly exude even when they have so little and they willingly share what little they have, and without any hesitation whatsoever. I am on the road more often then I am at home … and I hear about it from the home-front, and for good reason I might add. Fortunately for me my better-half and my kids put up with it for the cause is really worthwhile and compelling. I count my blessings every day.