kiva - loans that change lives
for a number of years, i have sponsored a little family in kap verde through bornefonden. i pay a monthly fixed amount and a number of money gifts. in return, i get an annual report on how the family is doing, and thank you letters for each extra gift. the thank you letters include a complete list of what was bought, typically a sack of rice, a gallon of oil, a pair of shorts and a pack of crackers and similar extremely modest purchases… no wiis and whatnot there. this concept has a very good educational/ moral aspect to it, as in addition to helping someone in need, it puts my own purchases in heavy contrast. however… this is mainly done for me, which makes me wonder if the resources couldn’t have been spent better. isn’t there a way to achieve transparency and a sense of a personal relation, without wasting resources on the feel-good-factor? of course there is. thanks to good people and the wonderful web:
kiva.org is the answer… its a person-to-person micro-lending website that allows you to support a lot of different types of entrepreneurs in the developing world. Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. i have just made my first donation (help me to upgrade this 26 year old father of 2 who works with mobile phones in tajikistan now!). all are worthy causes! and i hear from others - and can see on the website - that you may very well get your money back… it is a loan, and in principle not a donation. not much to think about is there..? only who/ how many and how much. don’t be cheap… it does not become you.
this is what the world needs.tags:feelgood, kiva, micro lending, sustainability, working ideas
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