Good evening, S!
It's Tuesday, October 28th and you're very far away right now.
IT IS ALSO SNOWING OUTSIDE! Ridiculous!
I'm not positive that you even still check to see if I've posted in this blog anymore, but I'm posting now, so hopefully you'll see it one day. As for the rest of you random people who mosey through my blog: this post is for you. You probably don't know this about me, but I am a nerdfighter.
I'm not going to get into what being a nerdfighter entails, however, I will put links below if you want to check it out (which I suggest you do)In the most basic terms, nerdfighters attempt to decrease worldsuck by doing awesome things. The vlogbrothers of youtube (links also below), created this concept back in 2007. One of their videos, entitled "How to be a micro-financier" (link!), talked a lot about an organisation called Kiva.
Kiva is a microfinancing website, that all of the paypal-slash-credit-card-community can contribute to. Basically, the site links you to various entrepreneurs all over the world who are seeking loans to alleviate their poverty and continue building their businesses. The trick is that whatever you loan out to these people, they will repay you that same amount in a set amount of time. You also aren't expected to give the full amount of a loan - only what you can afford at the time. For example, say you lent Ben of Cambodia $25.00 (of a $500.00 loan) through Kiva so that he could buy more chickens for his farming business. In 18 months, that twenty five dollars is returned to you to do with as you please - you can re-loan the money to someone else in need, or you can put it back onto your credit card. The choice is yours.
... If you don't understand my ridiculous explanation, dear readers (and S), allow the Kiva FAQ to enlighten you: "Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world...When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can re-lend to someone else in need."
Here is exactly how your money gets to the people you wish to donate to...
1) Lenders like you browse profiles of entrepreneurs in need, and choose someone to lend to. When they lend, using PayPal or their credit cards, Kiva collects the funds and then passes them along to one of our microfinance partners worldwide.
2) Kiva's microfinance partners distribute the loan funds to the selected entrepreneur. Often, our partners also provide training and other assistance to maximize the entrepreneur's chances of success.
3) Over time, the entrepreneur repays their loan. Repayment and other updates are posted on Kiva and emailed to lenders who wish to receive them.
4) When lenders get their money back, they can re-lend to someone else in need, donate their funds to Kiva (to cover operational expenses), or withdraw their funds.
Unlike some organisations, which take a little of your dollar-a-day money for profit in order to keep the business running, Kiva gives all money directly to the organisation which put the asking entrepreneur's profile online, who in tern gives it directly to the entrepreneur! What an awesome and simple way to make a huge difference in the lives of others! Not only are you helping people, but you're guaranteed return of your money after the loan term ends!
I, myself have donated through Kiva, and will continue donating through Kiva for what I expect will be quite a while. I am a student, however, I find it fairly easy to put in $25.00 a month to someone who I think really deserves a chance at life, rather than go to the movies for an evening. It's amazing what this site is doing - allowing us to connect with people in need and really see them for more than a bunch of wide-eyed disease ridden hopeless people. They are people who are aware that their building a business will help them and also help their communities. They are educated, prepared and excited to work and have more than a poverty stricken life. I find that altogether an admirable quality in people. I wish I had drive like they do (although I'm thankful for what I have, and in no way am I saying that our situations are similar). I hope to have enlightened you today, and influenced you somehow to want to make a difference. :)
DFTBA, S!
I hope you're having fun at Parelli in Florida, while we're freezing our asses of here!
Can't wait for you to get my care package!!! XD
-xo
More about Nerdfighters/ Vlogbrothers:
www.nerdfighters.ning.com
www.brotherhood2.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brotherhood_2.0
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=brotherhood%202.0
www.sparksflyup.com (John Green's website)
www.ecogeek.org (Hank Green's website)
www.twitter.com/ecogeek (Follow Hank!)
www.kiva.org/lender/crystal3160 (my Kiva page!)
1 comment:
Dear C,
Your generosity is so impressive. I am either very selfish or as we discussed previously, am wasteful with my money. However my charity i want to donate to is the Humane Society, but the things your doing, for your age and situation are amazing. (I cannot figure out what to push to follow you... mine is butter-wouldnt-suit-the-works.blogspot.com and hten maybe you can explain to me what to do?
T
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