The Rewards of Giving to www.kiva.org
by Susan Ellis of Keylifejourneys
In two previous posts I wrote about my involvement with www.kiva.org
Kiva is a not for profit agency which funnels charitable donations in $25 blocks to entrepreneurs in third world countries. The small business owners pledge to pay back in a given length of time. These people need so little to turn their life of poverty around. Most have the desire to educate their children with their income to provide a better life for the next generation.
Here are some Kiva Fast Facts
46 months in operation
$85,384,785 raised
98% repayment rate
208,767 entrepreneurs funded
537,573 Kiva users
182 countries represented
I got involved, making my first donation, in December 2008 and have to date contributed to making dreams reality for 10 different groups or individuals in seven different countries - Honduras. Bolivia, Peru. Benin, Senegal, Nicaragua and Cambodia.
Two of these loans have been fully repaid and two more are over the 50% repayment mark. Since I last wrote the repayment rate has gone up from 97% to 98%. This is amazing. What drives such success in the face of such great odds against? Is it that individuals are more realistic about what they can achieve? Do they look to their own skills and not to the material success of others when setting their goals? Is it the knowledge that one way out of poverty is to rely on oneself?
I read the stories of each of the entrepreneurs and what it is they hope to achieve by creating income from the loan. I read statements like -
"Her dream is to provide a safe and peaceful home for her children."
"Her dreams are for her children to be professionals and have a bigger booth."(selling spices and prepared food)
"Recently, the family's living conditions have not been comfortable because their house is surrounded by pollutants, which is harmful to their health. Therefore she [requests] a loan to purchase another piece of land. With the other half of the loan she will build a restroom for her family's sanitation."
"She wants to buy pigs, raise them, and re-sell them. Her income will allow her to contribute to improving living conditions for her family."
My loans have, amongst other things, helped to buy pigs, corn, land, silk, fertilizer, a deep fryer, wool and groceries.
I experience great joy when I learn of the success of their enterprises and it keeps reminding me that with a little focus and realism we can all fulfill our dreams.
In two previous posts I wrote about my involvement with www.kiva.org
Kiva is a not for profit agency which funnels charitable donations in $25 blocks to entrepreneurs in third world countries. The small business owners pledge to pay back in a given length of time. These people need so little to turn their life of poverty around. Most have the desire to educate their children with their income to provide a better life for the next generation.
Here are some Kiva Fast Facts
46 months in operation
$85,384,785 raised
98% repayment rate
208,767 entrepreneurs funded
537,573 Kiva users
182 countries represented
I got involved, making my first donation, in December 2008 and have to date contributed to making dreams reality for 10 different groups or individuals in seven different countries - Honduras. Bolivia, Peru. Benin, Senegal, Nicaragua and Cambodia.
Two of these loans have been fully repaid and two more are over the 50% repayment mark. Since I last wrote the repayment rate has gone up from 97% to 98%. This is amazing. What drives such success in the face of such great odds against? Is it that individuals are more realistic about what they can achieve? Do they look to their own skills and not to the material success of others when setting their goals? Is it the knowledge that one way out of poverty is to rely on oneself?
I read the stories of each of the entrepreneurs and what it is they hope to achieve by creating income from the loan. I read statements like -
"Her dream is to provide a safe and peaceful home for her children."
"Her dreams are for her children to be professionals and have a bigger booth."(selling spices and prepared food)
"Recently, the family's living conditions have not been comfortable because their house is surrounded by pollutants, which is harmful to their health. Therefore she [requests] a loan to purchase another piece of land. With the other half of the loan she will build a restroom for her family's sanitation."
"She wants to buy pigs, raise them, and re-sell them. Her income will allow her to contribute to improving living conditions for her family."
My loans have, amongst other things, helped to buy pigs, corn, land, silk, fertilizer, a deep fryer, wool and groceries.
I experience great joy when I learn of the success of their enterprises and it keeps reminding me that with a little focus and realism we can all fulfill our dreams.
Posted by Key Life Journey's Blog at 8/8/2009 9:02 PM 
Categories: opinions and thoughts
Tags: kiva.org charitable donations
Categories: opinions and thoughts
Tags: kiva.org charitable donations
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