It may take as little as 20 dollars to start a business in 'developing' countries. But getting thse twenty dollars has been close to impossible until microcredit programs have - only recently - appeared and lifted millions out of extreme poverty. The breakthrough has been achieved by Grameen Bank, 'a bank for the poor', founded by Muhammad Yunus. You can listen to his amazing story here. Worldwide, institutions and organisations are developing microcredit support networks. But - the world is large, and they are not everywhere.
That's why - Here comes You!
Kiva adds an additional, precious dimension to the world of microcredit: individual People2People loans from private citizens connected through the internet!
This is particularly useful for people in countries that do not yet have large scale programs. You are the change! But there's more to it. There is no need to take any interest rate.
Further, this kind of personal international co-laboration is a great emotional experience and expands the awareness for Fair Global Citizenship.
On top of it, - this is a unique opportunity to get involved as young people! As individuals, groups and schools. What a great Global Learning experience with an impact! Imagine the empowerment felt by students!
It is not difficult to get started. Kiva's website offers all the information and the contacts you need to get started in experiencing yourself in a role of both priviledge and generosity like never before. Enjoy!
From Kiva's website:
"The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
Kiva partners with existing expert microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.
Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Child sponsorship has always been a high overhead business. Kiva creates a similar interpersonal connection at much lower costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery. The individuals featured on our website are real people who need a loan and are waiting for socially-minded individuals like you to lend them money."
EACH-ONE-DO-ONE:
Here's you once again: Share this Change Tool with educators interested in social, environmental, humanitarian and global causes!
You may cause a major multiplying effect that touches many people's lives!
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