BrigitteSmith.com

I just had to share with you this wonderful initiative to empower entrepreneurs in developing countries to succeed with their endeavours.  This obviously has flow on effects for their families and ultimately their communities.  Although I do donate freely to many charities, to me the www.Kiva.org initiative has the potential to be at least as beneficial as charitable donations, and is based on a far better principle whereby people are actually working for themselves (rather than relying on handouts), bettering themselves, being role models for their children and their communities.

The fact that the monies I give are actually a loan that will be repaid to me is of little importance, other than it is beneficial to the person receiving the funds to feel that they are receiving a loan rather than a handout.

What a great initiative.  I just can’t say enough about how fabulous I think this is.  Helping people to help themselves.  Whether you follow the precepts of one of the world’s great religions whose teachings include that sentiment, or not, I’m sure you agree that helping people to help themselves is a really worthwhile thing to do.

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 request 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 will also receive updates from time to time, letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.
  
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.  So you might want to think about lending a greater amount than you would give as a charitable donation, since you will ultimately receive the money back!

I just made several loans.  One was to a group of entrepreneurs named R.E.C Primary School, Bassa Town Group in Sierra Leone.  They still need another $2,700.00 to complete their loan request of $2,975.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!).  You can help me get this entrepreneur (or many others) off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to R.E.C Primary School, Bassa Town Group (or many other entrepreneurs involved in a diverse range of businesses):

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=97223

See how easy it is to actually do something about poverty – using Kiva to lend money to budding entrepreneurs who would never get loans if they relied on the banking industry in their own countries, I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they’re using it for. 

And I also know that I’m helping these people 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!

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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 Magazine