Thursday, August 14, 2008

Loans that Change Lives

What do you give the person who has everything? Why not give a loan to someone in a developing nation?

What am I rambling about?

Kiva is a person-to-person micro-lending website. A place where people like you and me, are able to act as a bank (except not a real bank- because you have integrity and are motivated by a desire to help) directly to entrepreneurs in the developing world.

The process is quite simple, according to KIVA, you can browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.

Sounds like a plan to me.

2 comments:

Jo said...

Love this idea. This is something I'll be getting involved in soon for sure.

Jay said...

I'll consider this.

I wonder if there is away to use this as a challenge to family and friends - rather than making a personal gift of it?