Be the change with just $25
One of our favorite quotes at the Luxe Report is
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world” – Gandhi
Kiva.org offers you that opportunity for only a $25 investment. Kiva partners with microlending institutions throughout the world to gain access to entrepreneurs in need of small business loans to start or grow their business. Sign up for an account, browse the available giving opportunities and click donate and your contribution of $25 is added to their loan account.
What we love most about Kiva is the updates from the field – written accounts of how your money is working, what your entrepreneur has used it for and how it has changed their life. Seeing a photo of the person you have helped really hits home that you have passed on an opportunity. When your entrepreneur has repaid their loan you are able to reinvest that $25 again and again!
Here is an example of one of our entrepreneurs –
Srey’s third loan from Maxima, in the amount of $600, is being repaid on schedule as of April, 2008.
She used the loan to purchase silk for weaving. The white silk she purchased, she then died purple and pink so intricate designs could be woven into her fabric. She says the fabric she purchased will last her 3 months, and she will be able to save enough from her production to continually restock her supply.
Srey chose to borrow from Maxima after her health became poor. When she ran into health problems, she has to stop weaving and use her money to purchase medicines. Her husband and daughter took over the weaving when she was sick and finished the loom she was working on. Her loan has enabled her to take up her business again and prepare a new loom for silk production.
She says her income is increasing everyday- she can now afford to buy more rice and has enough money to play tontin (a Khmer ‘game’ where money is invested in group savings).
Kiva is a great gift for others too – they offer gift certificates so you can spread the word to family and friends.
