kiva.org
while looking through a financial magazine i noticed that there was a non-profit that was helping others around the world to invest in themselves and their small start up companies. 'Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.'
in other words you are not donating money, (well you can if you want) but you can loan money to people in other countries who are trying to raise money to expand their small businesses.
for example i loaned $25.00 to khanlar rustamov who is a 27-year-old farmer with two cows who sells dairy products to traders who, in turn, sell them in a nearby bazaar. 'He lives in the southern Azerbaijani region of Bilasuvar, where he relocated after fleeing Nagorniy Karabakh during Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict in 1993', khanlar wants a loan to buy one milk cow and two calves.
you don't have to loan $500.00!!! you can loan as little or as much as you want (with $25 being about the average).
i think this is a great way to help the people of the world take what little they have and instead of looking for a handout they have sought out a loan to make something of themselves. they have initiative and are not asking for a donation, but a chance to make a living and support their families. if you don't get involved in kiva, get involved somewhere.
-esteban
in other words you are not donating money, (well you can if you want) but you can loan money to people in other countries who are trying to raise money to expand their small businesses.
for example i loaned $25.00 to khanlar rustamov who is a 27-year-old farmer with two cows who sells dairy products to traders who, in turn, sell them in a nearby bazaar. 'He lives in the southern Azerbaijani region of Bilasuvar, where he relocated after fleeing Nagorniy Karabakh during Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict in 1993', khanlar wants a loan to buy one milk cow and two calves.
you don't have to loan $500.00!!! you can loan as little or as much as you want (with $25 being about the average).
i think this is a great way to help the people of the world take what little they have and instead of looking for a handout they have sought out a loan to make something of themselves. they have initiative and are not asking for a donation, but a chance to make a living and support their families. if you don't get involved in kiva, get involved somewhere.
-esteban
Comments
as soon as i've got some money to spare, i'll be taking advantage of this great opportunity
gracias
keep it up.
you are such an inspiration to me!
your outlook on life, your focus on God, your philsophical quotes, everything.
thank you so much for posting this blog- you truly are my hero.
-adrienne
P.S. I don't know if this specifically fits your post, but here's a quote I just read the other day I thought you might enjoy:
"The mark of a man is how he treats a person who can be of no possible use to him."
Anonymous
this last summer when i spent some time in ghana, we got a lot of requests for loans like this.
it's incredible what these people can do with such small amounts.
they can start running a business with as little as like $25...it's amazing. we were able to help quite a few single mothers, and others in need.
it's really awesome to hear the stories of how their business was able to grow and stuff, all because of the little (to us) help we can provide.
it's such an insignificant amount of money to us...but makes such a huge differences in their lives.
i think there is some ancient chinese proverb that says something like "give a mean a fish and he is fed for a day, but teach a man to fish and he is fed for a lifetime' and this is a perfect example of that.
we are helping them to become self-sufficient and successful.
thanks again for giving this site some publicity.
I'm becoming a man of few words on this site. *laugh*
TrinaLynn
My class studied an organization thats like that they give micro credit loans to people so they can start their own small business and earn money then eventually pay off the loan. We made small businesses and with our money we eart we gave it to 'TEAR Australia' and you buy things for people in developing countries.
Jpxxx
Also, I know you're a literature guy, I just read a pretty good little book this weekend for one of my classes. (Christian University in Omaha, NE) It's called Persepolis, and I also bought the follow up, Persepolis II. They are childrens books, so anybody no matter what age you are that reads this website would understand. I felt the book was really good, and seemed to get a lot of praise from other sources (not that what other people say make a book good...).
Thanks stephen, you're amazing.
-Joe