Vittana

You know what they say: Failure is an orphan, but success has a million websites that look just like it.

The Kiva model has been adopted lock, stock, and leaf-bearing logo by an outfit called Vittana (hat-tip to TechCrunch).  It's exactly the same thing, except that instead of helping various categories of entrepreneur, it helps students.

It's actually kind of disorienting - you really need to concentrate to make sure you're on the site you think you're on.  Observe:

• Kiva has a green color scheme.  Vittana has a slightly darker green color scheme.
• Kiva has a branch and leaves cleverly arranged to make the K in its logo.  Vittana has a couple leaves somewhat less artfully dotting the I.
• They both have a one-word name that means something important in a foreign language.  Kiva is Swahili for "unity."  Vittana means "seed" (I don't know in what language - they say it's "Indian."  India's as big as the world, so that seems kind of vague).  If I ever start one of these things, I'm going to call it "Crapula."  It'll lend booze money to indigent college students.  Together we can really make a difference.
• The format and guarantees are the same.  $25 default loan amount, assurance that every dime goes to the recipient and not the organization, PayPal; the whole megillah.

It's probably a great idea, and the more the Kiva model catches on, the better.  It's easy to use and satisfying in a number of ways.  It would seem that the repayment timelines are a little more elongated out of necessity, but who doesn't like education?  Nobody, that's who.

So here goes twenty-five bucks to Jose Maria Muños Vera, a Paraguayan going to school in order to be a teacher.  Why this guy?  I like teachers and I like Paraguay, but that's got very little to do with it.  Check out that shirt!

 

Maryland Orioles! I love those guys!  Is this a bizarre knock-off of a major league shirt, or is Mr. Teacher Muños a fan of the Cal Ripken Sr. Summer Collegiate Baseball League?  Either way, that's right in my wheelhouse, so he gets the loan.

At the time of this writing, he still needs 230 clams, and Vittana is still pretty obscure, so these loans don't fill up real fast.  If you're fan of education and possibly imaginary baseball teams, think about helping him out.