Kiva Loans

[ElizaBeth]

What if I told you that you could change a complete stranger’s life with $25?

About three years ago I first heard of microlending and I was really interested in it. Microlending is essentially providing small loans to those in poverty to help them start or grow a business and stimulate their struggling economies. Microloans traditionally go to those who are overlooked by large, traditional lenders like the poor, women, people without collateral, and entrepreneurs who are stepping into a new field. I discovered Kiva.org,
the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world, and immediately fell in love with the idea.

Kiva partners with existing microfinance institutions around the world. These organizations that have expertise in microfinance and a mission to alleviate poverty facilitate Kiva loans on the ground. These organizations know their local area and clients and do all the leg work required to get Kiva loans to the entrepreneurs posted on
Kiva.org.

You can make loans as small as $25 to the entrepreneurs on Kiva. I enjoy reading the stories of the entrepreneurs and finding people with businesses that I would like to support. I have made 8 loans so far and
every time my loans are paid back, I make another. I love being able to help people achieve their dreams.

Microlending isn’t flawless and there are a lot of shady organizations that participate in it. I definitely encourage you to educate yourself on the topic before deciding if it’s something that you’d like to support. Kiva has a wealth of information about microlending and what they do at http://www.kiva.org/about.

I definitely suggest making a loan if you have $25 to spare. Like I said before, you could possibly change a complete stranger’s life with what it costs you to go to the movies.

Kiva loans do change lives.

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