Today is Blog Action Day 2008 and this is the day when thousands of bloggers will unite to discuss a single issue - poverty. The aim is to raise awareness, initiate action and to shake the web!
And of course, all of you, my friends, know that I will talk about Kiva.
Kiva.org is the easiest way I know to make your small dollars (as little as $25) go a long way to helping someone and then come back to you to use again for the same purpose.
The Kiva website allows you to choose real people (entrepreneurs)in need somewhere in our world. Kiva allows you to lend money to via credit card or the PayPal system and PayPal actually donates all their fees so 100% of your money is actually sent. The money goes to a microfinance partner who in turn lends your money to the person or group you chose. These partners specialize in lending to the poorest of the poor and in many cases have other programs in place to help with health education or business skills etc that can help to maximize the entrepreneur’s success. Each partner has websites where you can see first-hand what their company policies and goals are.
Over time, the loan is paid back and all deposits, updates and information about the business is displayed on the Kiva website for you to keep an eye on your money.
Diane, a friend of mine on KivaFriends.org talks about the saying... "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime?" Well, Kiva borrowers already know how to fish. They just need a loan to buy a net.
This world is full of people whose lives would be so different if they just had a net! And all it would take for you to help them is to lend them the price of a couple of pizzas.
later man, jan
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