www.kiva.org

If anyone watched Oprah yesterday (it was a rerun, so maybe some of you already knew about this), you heard Oprah and Bill Clinton talk about this Kiva site.

From the website: "Kiva.org is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website. By enabling people to connect with and make personal loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world, Kiva.org is revolutionizing the fight against global poverty. You can make a direct loan of as little as $25 to an entrepreneur to purchase business-related items such as sewing machines or livestock. This can dramatically improve the life of an entrepreneur and his/her family, empowering them to earn their way out of poverty."

What appeals to me is that it allows someone like me who can't get out to do great things to still help make a difference in someone else's life.

I spent about an hour last night and again this morning looking it over and finally chose to help a woman in Bolivia and a man in Cambodia. It's so easy, and exciting - and like Oprah and Clinton said yesterday, somewhat addictive too - and in this case, that's a good thing.

What was really awesome was that last night in the hour or two that I was browsing through the list of people in need, the loan requests were being filled faster than the website could handle - the organizers had to work fast and hard to keep loading in new loan requests to meet the demand for more! That was so exciting to watch - honestly, I couldn't tear myself away, because it looked like a miracle-in-motion. In the time it took me to browse through five pages and pick one, almost every request was already filled!

What a wonderful idea. I shall take sometime to visit there myself this afternoon. Thanks for the heads up, Eagle.

Wow what a terrific idea! Thanks for posting this Eagle. It’s especially interesting for us ladies abroad, since we don’t get American TV.
I’m checking out the site right now! When I donate, I only donate to organization that help those who help themselves. This looks like that kind of place.
Hannelore

Now if only we could do this within our own country or North America as a whole. People struggle to rebuild their lives everyday. There are a lot of struggling entrepreneurs in good business who cannot afford or get the credit with huge interest rates to start over and make better. Maybe there will be (or I can, for that matter) create a website for such.

That's a great idea, LadyJane! I was thinking about that while browsing through the list of requests last night. There must be so many people in North America who need that break too. All it takes is someone to dream it and then make it real. Maybe you could contact the Kiva people and see what they would suggest by way of getting started - I'm sure it could be done!

Thanks for the encouragement, Eagleheart (have I told you lately how lovely you are?) I feel this because I AM one of those strugglers...you wouldn't believe how much! I might be the first one asking! How wonderful it would be to see others benefit....others that are being true to their hearts in what they're doing to make life better...rebuild or whatever their case may be. North America is full of those hearty souls who just need some real help and are honest people. What a great place to start. Guess I'll have to contact Kiva! Thanks so much for the info!

It is an awesome idea. I had the link to it on my blog for a while. I had just stumbled upon it months ago. What could be better than helping people who just need a hand up so that they can help themselves. It's really incredible.

What an interesting idea...

There will be a free teleseminar about Kiva tomorrow morning. Alex Mandossian is discussing how to use telefundraising for project such as this one.

Connie Ragen Green
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