Kiva.org “loans that save lives”
Thursday, October 16th, 2008
I’ve heard of Kiva before, but never really took the time to look into specifics of this lending website. Essentially, the site provides a platform to connect and loan to entrepreneurs in developing countries. I think i’m going to try it out, and will report specific details as they develop. In the meantime, here is information from the site regarding “what is kiva”:
We let you loan to the working poor. Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs’ profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
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Scott Templar is a digital media, marketing, and commerce consultant and can be reached at info@scotttemplar.com
