KIVA Loan Program

What’s up people?

Every now and then I watch and listen to the nightly news as economist debate and forecast their trepid accounts of both the United States and global economy. The outcome typically goes from optimism to gloom all in a 25 minute segment, especially if you let Ali Velshi of CNN tell it. I am not a financial expert nor do I play one on television but I can tell you for sure that the Money Crunch is very REAL. Gone are the days when people actually had the ability to save money for investments, plan for retirement or considered diversifying their portfolio. Today’s economic world is SUR-VI-VAL noni.

Ok people; Let me get focused...

The International Monetary Fund generates these reports every quarter called the World Economic Outlook. Well the first report published in January 2012 states that the global recovery remains threatened and intensifies due to financial conditions deteriorating, growth prospects continue to dim and the need to reform financial or banking systems in all major advanced economies. Not a good look at all people.

So I recently connected with a small Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in San Francisco, California doing its part to help keep dreams alive for entrepreneurs worldwide. There name KIVA; and its mission is to connect people through lending in hopes of fighting poverty. The program operates through the use of the internet and a global network of microfinance institutions, where people lend amounts as small as $25 to help generate business interest and hope into the careers of fledging entrepreneurs globally. A Swahili term, KIVA means “Agreement or Unity” and every successful business that I know of has this in its ethos.  

Founded in 2005 by a couple Jessica and Matt Flannery; its premise of creating a lending platform that enables people in the developed world to loan to small business people in developing countries remains in tact and its as strong as ever. KIVA remains primarily funded through the support of lenders making donations and also generates funding through grants, corporate sponsors and foundations. 100% of money lend to KIVA goes directly towards funding loans. Its broad range of support from diverse set of corporations and foundations consist of giants such as Chevron, Visa, American Express, Ernest & Young, The Rockefeller Foundation, Facebook, Google, Yahoo and etc.

Unlike other entities, KIVA tackles global poverty in a personal and sustainable way by empowering and connecting directly with aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide. KIVA wants to make it known and clear that a loan through their enterprise is not a “Hand-out”. It is a source of strength for both the giver and the recipient. KIVA users are not donors, they are lenders in a “peer-to-peer” community. Lenders on the other hand see who their money goes to, what the recipients are doing with it and how it is making a difference.

So get involved today by doing one of the following; make a loan, purchase a KIVA card, share KIVA with family and friends, participate as a volunteer.

For more information on KIVA please visit www.kiva.org.

KIVA – Loans that Change Lives