Lend $25 – Change a Life – Get the $25 Back!
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…Lend $25 again, change someone else’s life; rise and repeat for as long as you want to.
It’s rare that I tell people that they absolutely need to do something. Sure I’ve recommended a lot of stuff in the past that I think are great products that I thought could help you make money, but I don’t think I’ve ever said flat out that this is something that you need to do right now. But this is something that you need to do – right now. And it’s not for you, it’s for someone else. By investing as little as $25, you will help change someone’s life forever. And the best part? You will even get the $25 back. So why wouldn’t you do it?
What I’m talking about is kiva.org, a non-profit site that helps get money for microfinance loans into the hands of the people in developing countries who really need – entrepreneurs who will use the loan to buy business related items like livestock or machinery that will enable them to support themselves and work their way out of poverty. These small loans will not only literally change these people’s lives, but will also positively affect their whole community.
Here’s how it works:
1) Go to http://www.kiva.org; select an entrepreneur that you want to loan money to. It could be anybody, almost anywhere in the world, and the amount can be anything from $25 to the full amount of the loan requested. It could be a dairy farmer in Kenya or a tailor in Bulgaria. Just click on the ‘Lend’ button on the main page and you can browse through all the applicants and choose the one you want.
2) Kiva then transfers the funds abroad to a microfinance partner who administers the loan locally.
3) Watch what your money can do; you then get to watch your entrepreneurs small business grow through email updates.
4) Get you money back. You’ll get your money repaid within months. Then it’s up to you to decide whether you want to withdraw your money through PayPal, lend it out again, or just donate it outright to Kiva.
Like I said above, I urge everybody who reads this to go to http://www.kiva.org and lend what they can. How often do you get the chance to really make a difference in someone’s life? And if you need it, you will get the money back. If you don’t, just keep lending it out to more people. Over time, think about how many people you could help with just $25.
And the great part about Kiva is that you get to see the results you loan has had – you see that you were directly responsible for helping someone get the means they need to get out of poverty and become financially independent. And all you need to do is lend someone $25. Do it now!
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Great post and a wonderful initiative. It’s rare when someone tries to help others in need.
Ya, i was impressed when i first read about it, then i used it and i get regular updates from the people i lent money too.
It’s look like we lend money to someone then him/his using the money to do something that can grow the money? Same as we make an invest. Micro-investment..
Great find Jason!
I have heard of charity organizations taking monies that people donate and using it to fund peoples start ups, but this is the first I have seen of a place where the general public can go and actually see these different business ideas and people. I think it is a great idea! I think in many of these 3rd world countries these people have better work ethics than many of us soft Canadians and American’s, they just don’t have many options. How much $25US can affect a families ability to sustain themselves, if they have ‘a plan’. This is a lot of money in many places, but to us, it doesn’t even cover the cable bill. Imagine being able to help a family get on their feet, be able to send their children to school, provide healthy food, and medicine….It is truly amazing, the internet has dropped so many boundaries.
Thanks Jason,
Jeromy
ps – I thought you were retiring this domain? Hope you will let us know when your at your new domain.
Little delayed on the domain retiring, mainly cause everything else going on… very busy summer business wise.
I was involved very heavily in Kiva last year. I felt it was a privilege to help out people in third world countries that face horrific living conditions. However, last July, Kiva also started facilitating loans to people in the US, in places like wealthy Marin County of California. Most of the American loans seemed to go to companies that had poor business plans.
I’m not saying that no one should loan to Kiva, just be aware that their standards for poverty in America could be different than yours.
This is a great organization, and congrats on putting a post out on it. I also promote it on my Rocket Rider blog. I first heard of this a couple of years ago when Oprah showcased it, & remember the traffic she created totally crashed the KIVA website, & for months after there was just a page where you could leave your info so they could contact you when it was up again. I’ve re-cycled my loan many times since, & get a real”feel good” feeling each time it get’s re-paid & I know I’ve done my little contribution to help someone better themselves.
Cool!
Wow! This is a great service that Kiva is providing. A lot of people think just giving money to their local red cross is a solution. But I think this is a far better solution. Help the money earners of a country so they can build up that countries economy and you will be helping more than just 1 person…You will be helping a whole nation of people.
I will look into kiva, it sounds like a great idea and that is less money than my partner will spend on something with beads when we walk round Camden Market on a Sunday!
Initiative like Kiva is really splendid. It really help people with small or no means from different parts of the world. Just came to know about this opportunity. I have to make it known to my friends and relatives as well. All the best for the kind efforts.
Hi Jason,
Thank you for sharing this program with us, it is always a great reality check to see just how tough other people around the world are doing it, and also how such a small amount of assistance can make a great deal of a difference to those people.
Cheers
Steve
Hi Jason,
Thanks for your sharing this article and really i am impressed this article. This is one of the great idea in the less than money spend on something.
Thank u
Hi John,
Excellent post. I truly agree with this. Helping someone will also help us in the long run. I found their service really great.
Regards,
Gary
Yesterday I have joined kiva but did not understand what should I do in the entire site.After reading this post just lend $25 in Kiva for kenyan woman farmer.