Kiva is now 4 years old and it is one of the greatest things in my life. What is Kiva? It's a microloan website that allows me to make small loans to people in other countries.
What is the best is that a loan is probably made from at least a dozen people...maybe more if the loan amount is larger. All these random people who don't know each other, read the loan need, decide to fund part of it, are combined with other people who felt the same way, and the loan is made.
I took a screenshot of a loan I made to a women in Peru who needed money to help her farm the land her folks had left to her. Bacilla needed money for fertilizer and seeds..promising to repay the loan within 8 months. True to her word, the entire loan amount was repaid within 7 months. I can't tell you how it makes me feel to help someone who has very little...hopefully making a difference.
Look at where the microloaners came from.
They came from all parts of the world. If I look at the Google Maps of my other loans it's the exact same story again and again. People like me who have only $20 or $30 to offer periodically can make a difference in the world.
I started adding to my Kiva accounts when I was frustrated that the world was in the dumper and I could do nothing. I'm not famous. I'm not rich. I'm incapable of going anywhere and doing anything. I don't trust large organizations to do what they say they will do. And then I found Kiva...they ask for donations whenever you make a loan to help pay their overhead expenses and the rest of the money you send goes directly to the person.
So far I have made 13 loans. I try to add $30 to my account as often as possible...once the loan is repaid I have that money to relend. My goal is to leave my children and future grandchildren as big of an account as I can so they will carry on my dream of helping others from around the world.
OK 13 loans isn't that many. But it is 13 more people than I had helped when I started 2 1/2 years ago. And that is what counts...I'm not powerless. I can make a difference and I am doing it.
How about you?
