This is a quick story about a journey through three countries or ‘a gift that kept on giving’.
I read about Kiva from another blogger a little over a year ago. Kiva is a non profit organization that connects small business owners in developing countries with people around the world willing to help with as little as a $25 loan. Some of these business owners grow and sell crops, prepare and sell food, make bricks etc. Occasionally the loan recipients will post a note to their online journal where lenders are free to respond if they like. I really liked the idea when I first heard about it and got involved right away. What follows is a little bit about three lives that were changed with a single $25 loan.
On April 24, 2006 Hak Sophan of Phnom Penh, Cambodia borrowed $700 from Kiva to repair her house. $25 of that $700 came from me. She had been cooking and selling food at the local factory from out of her home and it was in need of some repairs. Her day starts at 1am when she goes to buy some fish at the market and she is still working at 3pm the next afternoon when she back at the factory selling food to the workers. I have to admire anyone willing to get up at 1am to do anything much less start their work day. The loan period was to be 10-14 months. The loan was repaid in 7.
On Nov 15th 2006 the same $25 was loaned to Dieudonne Mawuena Afozi of Togo in an $850 loan to purchase wood working tools, wood and transportation for his carpentry business. He has 7 children and plans to get into wood selling in addition to his carpentry. The loan period was for 12 months. The loan was repaid in 6.
Today, that same $25 was loaned to Dadashova Esmira of Beylagan, Azerbaijan to buy 10 sheep for her sheep breeding business. She is trying to raise $600 in all and still has $375 left to raise as of right now but more than likely that will only take a few days. This loan period is 14 months.
This single loan has helped three different families in three different countries. When Dadashova repays the loan I have the option of asking for my money back from Kiva or re-loaning it. The only interest I earn will be in knowing I helped make a difference in the lives of people trying to improve their lives. I don’t know about you but that is worth much much more than the few pennies I would get back on $25. If you are curious or would like more info, click on the Kiva banner at the right side of the page.
Thanks for sharing this. I had a look at the site Kiva and was really impressed. We are all going to sign up (hubby and 2 kids and I). I’m going to take a photo of the four of us. I like that not only the borrowers can have profiles but also the lenders. It feels like connections across the world and I’m happy for it to be personal for the borrowers like it’s personal for the lenders. I love the whole immediacy and personality of the choices. It makes it real. I was a bit worried that the staff of Kiva was so big though (I guess what’s big?) and didn’t spend long enough on the site to try and work out how the finances work, Who pays them? anyway, it feels real and good so I’ll do it. Thanks again for the post and the link.
Melissa,
What a great way to teach your kids about compassion. Like you I was drawn to the intimacy of it all. There are so many big problems in the world that we can’t solve individually but being able to make a positive impact on a family half way around the world is such an awesome feeling.
Kiva is a nonprofit and as I understand the business end of things, many of the Kiva staff are volunteers. The paid members are paid through donations to Kiva directly and not through the loans to the individual businesses. When you make a loan there is a part that comes up and asks if you want to donate a couple of dollars to Kiva to help with the day to day expenses. They have also received some grants for business expenses. I am pretty sure all of this is on the site if you want more info. You could also email someone and get more specs if you want.
Hi. Just thought I’d let you know i finally, finally managed to set up a Kiva account. Funny the rods you make for yourself. It was the silly photo of all 4 of us that held me up. We aren’t too good with the camera timer and it wasnt until a friend recently sent us photos from our trip to Melbourne in October last year(!) that I had one of all four of us. In my blog entry I made reference to your site (hope that is OK) let me know if that doesn’t suit and I’ll delete the reference. http://dillydalleydoolittle.typepad.com/dilly_dalley_doolittle_g/2007/07/kiva—not-so-m.html
Thanks again for sharing your information about Kiva. We all really enjoyed doing it as a family project and my 9y-old son was very impressed tonight when I showed him that in week or so since we signed up all our people have got their loans!
Melissa,
That is awesome! I am so glad you decided to get involved with Kiva. I really think it is a great opportunity to help individuals make a better life for themselves. Also, what a great experience for your children. I like that you are doing it as a family and giving the little ones a chance to choose too. It will make it more personal for them.
The link is fine, I appreciate the traffic.