Looking for a novel Christmas gift? Maybe a pig farm in Bolivia? A grocery store in the Philippines? Doors for a house in El Salvador? This is how it works: you buy a gift certificate for as little as $25 from www.Kiva.org. The person you give it to goes to that site to choose a recipient for his microloan. That money, combined with other microloans, will start or expand a small business in a developing country, allowing people there to earn a living, educate their children, and generally improve their families’ lives. Kiva loans don’t earn interest, but 99% of the loans have been repaid (including all the ones I’ve made). Other poverty-targeted microloan organizations have differing investment amounts, pay-backs, and structures. I mention Kiva because of my personal experience with it. And they offer gift cards which you can give to, say, a grandchild. Then you can go online with him to set up the account in his name. Together you can watch a small investment change people’s lives in a big way, and the grandchild can boast, “I helped rebuild a house in Peru!”
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Do You Kiva or PayPal?
You know what PayPal is, but how about Kiva? It’s an organization that gives micro-loans to people all over the world, loans that educate children, start or grow small businesses, advance health–all sorts of things. But all loans contribute to the well being of families and whole towns or villages. You choose which of the hundreds of people to use your money for a little while.
Yes, you get your money back! This is a real loan.
Right now, for a limited time, your $25 loan to Kiva, paid through PayPal, gives you an additional $25 to invest in another person or family. PayPay kicks in $25 for every $25 you loan through Kiva.
Try it. Go to www.Kiva.org and lend. Then wait for notices from Kiva about the person or group you selected and watch as your money is repaid.
The Pleasure of Loaning Money
I love it when I receive another payment from a loan I made. My latest is from a family man in Kanese, Uganda. My big loan was $25. It’s to send his kids to school. He works hard at his job, plus farming on the side to add to his income. He dreams of a better future for his kids, and he knows that education, although costly, is their path to that future.
He’s one of a bunch of people I give micro loans to through KIVA. Some are people on the other side of the earth, some are in the good US of A. All are people that KIVA has vetted as having a true need and a determination to repay the loan. My $25 is added to similar loans to get to the needed amount. Over the months, I receive updates on how the person is doing. I get payments, too, until the loan is totally paid off. At that point, I can get my $25 back, or I can invest it in someone else. I’m sure you can guess which choice I always make.
I’ve even given a loan in someone else’s name, as a gift. (Christmas is coming….)
Find out more about this life-changing program by going to http://www.kiva.org.
This is Janakason, at a rare time when he isn’t working.
