In support of Blog Action Day 08, I wanted to shed some light on a altruistic organization that connects people through lending. Kiva.org lends money that changes lives. The best part is that you can be a lender and actually KNOW that you are making a REAL difference. You can literally change one person’s life in an extraordinary way with a small amount. I know we are in tough times but giving back to others will always come back as a bigger gift to you. :)
The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals in need of funding – not marketing material. When you 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.
And here is her story:
Sharipova Husnigul is 45 years old. She is married and has 3 adorable children. Eleven years ago Husnigul, opened a small shoe store in the central market of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. With the assistance of loans through IMON, Husnigul successfully expanded her business. A skilled businesswoman, Husnigul is known throughout the market for her reasonable prices, reliable home delivery, and individualized customer service.
Husnigul requests a loan of 3000 Somoni ($900) to purchase additional inventory of children’s shoes for the upcoming season. With the additional profit, she plans to continue developing her business so she can support her children’s education at university. Husnigul and her children sincerely thank you for your support.
Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
You can help others succeed to and help fight poverty by lending money and changing lives.
What do you think? Can this make a real difference?
Entry Filed under: Elsewhere
5 Comments
1. BG… | October 15th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Sounds like a wonderful idea as long as it is handled properly!! Would like to know more. Great that you are Helping !! Hugs BG
2. Blog Action Day 08 |… | October 15th, 2008 at 11:23 am
[...] Larissa Meek [...]
3. Blog Action Day: Poverty … | October 15th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
[...] Brian over at CopyBlogger has a great thing going: for every pledge of a $10 donation to Save The Children, Brian will donate $25. I’ve already donated my $10 and I’m currently looking at Kiva.org to continue helping out. Larissa Meek has a nice write-up of Kiva.org and what she did in the fight against poverty. [...]
4. GlenB… | October 15th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
It sounds like a great idea. To give micro loans to help people gain an opportunity to better their lives.
I saw this on a TV show called the “Penny Revolution” where people are given small loans to start a business. I will keep the organization in mind when I get a chance to help out.
5. James… | October 17th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Hi Larissa,
Thanks for highlighting this charity. I made a loan on their site a while ago. It’s great to get regular reports as the individual makes repayments. Giving people a hand up rather than a hand out is what charity should really be about. Micro-financing on this level should be how government aid packages work as well so that the funds from our taxes don’t wind up in the pockets of politicians and war lords. It also means that donor countries get intimately involved rather than giving aid then closing their (political) eyes and hoping it gets where it should.
Cheers
James