Kiva is a lending organization that partners with microfinance institutions around the world to provide loans to entrepreneurs in poverty-stricken areas. (The longer explanation is here.) You can go to their website and browse hundreds of individuals and groups from around the globe who need just a handful of dollars to help greatly change their way of life. It costs you a whopping $25 bucks.
This is Otara. She lives in Samoa. (I had to look it up...its down near New Zealand!) I had the privilege of funding a piece of her loan.
She is 39 years of age and married with six children. She owns and operates a business planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables for sale. Otara has 2 years of experience in this business. She needs a loan to purchase harvesting equipment such as wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, baskets, and knives. She plans to use the profit from her business to improve/expand the business. (info from Kiva.org)
Frankly, I am so very grateful that I do not have to farm for a living. Or have six children! I am so impressed for these people, especially the women, who have taken the initiative to try and better their lives and the lives of their families. We have so much...and when we think we are broke-it means no new shoes this month, not no food to put on the table.
The neatest part of using my 'shoe money' to invest in this woman's life is that when she repays the loan, the credit goes back into my Kiva account...to either be liquidated or to be re-invested to help someone else. What a wonderful cycle of giving.
No comments:
Post a Comment