the poverty cycle

Kiva.org - microfinance and microcredit - Help someone today!
From my friend Elisa, who has spent the last few months in India learning about microfinance and microcredit. Now there is an easy way to help with Kiva.org.

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Hi everyone, I don't normally spam-mail, but as you know, I've been
spending some time out here in India learning about the microfinance
sector and I've been seeing lots of great things being done in the
world of microfinance and microcredit. Some of you have already asked
me what can be done to help, so I've decided to send this mass mail
out to you.

While I've only just begun my journey into discovering how I can
sustainably help the sector long term, there are easier ways for all
of us to get involved TODAY to support the elimination of poverty
around the world once and for all. I know all of you will take the
time to read this, and I hope this might spur some of you to maybe
even get involved:
(note that they even have easy-to-paste template texts!)

I want to let you all know about a cool non-profit that is doing great
things: Kiva.org

Kiva.org allows individuals to make $25 loans to low-income
entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so,
individuals like you provide affordable working capital for the poor
(money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to
earn their way out of poverty.

It's a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty, and
the way I see it, I get a higher return on $25 helping someone build a
future than the interest my checking account pays. Also, If you've
already been active in donating to NGOs like the UNICEF or Red Cross,
consider this a more transparent and regenerative way to "donate" your
money as well.

I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using their easy
to use website, all in just 5 minutes.

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing
world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats,
selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture
of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan
to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent -
and you get updates letting you know how the business is going. The
best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your
money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions
on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can
trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Julieta Gutierrez in
Bolivia. They still need another $150.00 to complete their loan
request of $200.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get
this business off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a
loan to Julieta Gutierrez too:

http://kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14406&referralId=

It's finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva
I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it
for. And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build a sustainable
business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate
their family long after my loan is paid back.

Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.

Thanks for reading!
Looking forward to catching up with all of you and relating my
experiences at some point.

Elisa


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What others are saying about www.Kiva.org:

'Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with
small entrepreneurs in developing countries.'
-- BBC

'If you've got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you've now got the
wherewithal to be an international financier.'
-- CNN Money

'Smaller investors can make loans of as little as $25 to specific
individual entrepreneurs through a service launched last fall by
Kiva.org.'
-- The Wall Street Journal

'An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity...All loaned funds go
directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.'
-- Entrepreneur Magazine

source

the only question to ask is "why not?"