-
A Meaningful Thanksgiving Gift
(10)Posted on November 22nd, 2007Lyman ReedUncategorized
Thanks to a gift from Dave Olsen, I was able to help fund a loan on Kiva.org today, and be a part of someone’s efforts to create a better life!
I’m pretty new to the whole micro loan concept, so I thought that I’d post the email they asked me to send to friends. They can explain it better than I could right now.
Hi!
I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using a revolutionary new website called Kiva.
You can go to Kiva’s website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the business is going. The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva’s loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.
I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Orfelina De Jesús Vela Rosales in Peru. They still need another $150.00 to complete their loan request of $450.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this business off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Orfelina De Jesús Vela Rosales too:
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=24448&_isc=
It’s finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they’re using it for. And most of all, I know that I’m helping them build a sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.
Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.
Thanks!
Lyman Reed
———————————————————
What others are saying about www.Kiva.org:‘Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.’
– BBC‘If you’ve got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you’ve now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.’
– CNN Money‘Smaller investors can make loans of as little as $25 to specific individual entrepreneurs through a service launched last fall by Kiva.org.’
– The Wall Street Journal‘An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity…All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.’
– Entrepreneur MagazineThanks again, Dave, for making this Thanksgiving one to remember.
I’d love it if you’d leave a comment, or join a discussion of this post at Personal Development Partners.Similar Posts:
- links for 2007-04-19
- The Million Dollar Project
- The Personal Development Carnival - July 16, 2006
- The Joy of Giving… Chickens!
- The Personal Development Carnival - June 3, 2007
10 Responses to “A Meaningful Thanksgiving Gift”
-
Re more P2P microloans see MicroPlace.
-
Kiva and similar organizations are a terrific development. They aren’t charities, but give people what they need to be self-sufficient - the resources to put their ideas into action.
-
Hey Lyman,
Glad I was able to brighten your day!
-
Thanks for the info on MicroPlace, Kare! I look forward to exploring it.
-
Rick - thanks for adding that… I had to keep editing the post so that I got the gift, which was from Dave to me, separate from the loan, which was from me (via Dave’s gift certificate) to Orfelina.
-
It really was great, Dave… thanks again!
-
Kiva and similar organizations can really help shape the future of many. Although the financial impact for loaners might not be too big, for the ones getting them can mean the difference between a life of success or, in many cases, poverty beyond repair.
If many would at least try to take a look at these organizations, I’m sure we’d all live in a better place. -
Thanks for your input, A. Marques… you are so right. I really like that it isn’t a handout - it’s a loan that’s expected to be paid back, but still a gift in the sense that no interest is paid to the original funder (at least on Kiva - I don’t know about similar organizations).
-
Wow, Lyman Kiva sounds really cool and what a wonderful reminder at this time of year!
I like the new look you have here! Looks like a new place but still with the same wonderful energy!!
-
Thanks, Karen… it’s a theme based on the old design of Copyblogger - and I really like it. Seems a lot cleaner than the last one I had. I think I’m going to keep it.
Recent Comments