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giving happiness global impact

Day 60:It’s Kiva Time!

If you haven’t heard of Kiva take the time to read this post. There has been some bad press about the microcredit loan system but this system is working and has been for a long time. I am proof that you too can invest in someone on the other side of the world, get your money back and choose to reinvest it into another person. These loans empower people out of poverty. It gives them a chance to stand on their own two feet and have pride in the work they are doing by feeding their families and put a roof over their heads.

Give 60 / Day 60

A few weeks ago I signed up with Kiva to give a microcredit loan to a person that needed a short term loan to either get them started on a business or improve on the one they already own. You can check out my last Kiva loan post by clicking here.

One of the advantages with Kiva is once your loan has started getting paid off, your account is credited and Kiva updates you on that credit, giving you the option to reinvest your money into another Kiva partner. Here is Kiva’s  mission:

“Kiva’s mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.”

People are by nature generous, and will help others if given the opportunity to do so in a transparent, accountable way.
The poor are highly motivated and can be very successful when given an opportunity.
By connecting people we can create relationships beyond financial transactions, and build a global community expressing support and encouragement of one another..

Corinia

I was given notice this week that $20 of my $125 loan had already been repaid. Full repayment is not due until February a date not set in stone. You need a minimum donation of $25 to make a loan. I was still a little short to reinvest but a great opportunity came to my attention this week. A site called Groupon is dedicated to providing remarkable deals to purchase online to people all over North America. They are able to make these unusually good value deals as everything is sold in bulk. I use the local Vancouver site for all kinds of deals from adventures to restaurant deals to personal care items and many other services.

This past week on the National Groupon site they had a special offer. A KIVA deal. For $15.00 I was able to purchase $25.00 KIVA loan to help someone else start up their own business. Between the $20 I had on my Kiva credit from my previous loan and the new one I just purchased on Groupon worth $25 I had $45.00 to loan.

The other component I really like about Kiva is I can go and choose exactly the person or group of people I would like to support. It gives me a personal relationship with the people I loan to. I can choose by gender, region and business sector. Off I went to choose the person / group I would help.

Today my loan of $45.00 is going to Corin in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Her life appealed to me as I could help a single mother keep and expand her growing business. I will look forward to hearing about Corin’s journey in the months to come.

Time Commitment: 10 minutes to choose the direction of my loan

Cost: $15 for a $45 loan a donation I will get back over the next few months to give again.

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)