My two newest business partners in Mexico and Ecuador

[sabrinamari]

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=12707

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=11988

These are links to the kiva.org web pages of Georgina Putan and Juana Garcia Hernandez, whose businesses/efforts I am helping to fund through KIVA. They look like women who can do plenty with just a little support.

KIVA lists a host of men and women who could build better lives for themselves with a starter loan of as little as $25.

Take a look if you are curious as to what micro-loaning entails and what kinds of things it can make possible.

Comments

[evilbunny.livejournal.com]

You might also be interested in one of our speakers, Maria Otero, and her organization, Accion International.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

You know, I probably would. Now that the net is back up at our house, I'll look it up. Thanks, hon.

[rio-luna.livejournal.com]

this project has been in queue with me & Aaron for a while. we just got wind of several hefty expenses coming our way soon, but I am committed to getting into this.

My immediate interested is lending to women in Africa and SEAsia working in food rrelated businesses--i feel that is the best way to attack famine and AIDS in africa and trafficking in children in SEAsia.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

I think that's a great idea! And I also think it's wise to wait until you are on a strong financial foundation at home before microlending. you can't (and shouldn't) give to others what you can't give to yourself first.

A lesson i've been trying to learn for ages!

[daurdabla.livejournal.com]

Do these loans pay interest, or are they just repaid dollar-for-dollar? I'm interested either way, but am also curious; not so much in the interests of making money from these people, but more in the line of would there be interest that would then be re-loanable to new people?

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Hi dear---by the way, I received your letter and it is lovely!

there is no interest to either the loaner or KIVA paid on these loans. the organizations that arrange the loans and monitor them do receive interest, so that they can survive. Monitering 3rd world loans often means trekking into rural areas, helping people write and translate requests and other labor-intensive tasks. If the workers who do this can't get paid, the whole thing collapses.

but we, the lenders, don't make interest. When our percent of the loan is paid off, we have the option of re-loaning the same amount (through our PayPal accounts) or withdrawing to use for another purpose.

The interest we make is more in terms of feeling wonderful. I'm Ok with that, as long as I am firm financial footing at home and have a decent interest-bearing retirement and savings portfolio. And in what other way can I give productive charity that does not actually require me to lose access to the eventual use of my charitable contribution?

So I'm Ok with the lack of interest.