9 to go!
How to fund 43 microloans through Kiva.org
How I did it: www.kiva.org is a non-profit organisation that allows you to lend as little as $25 to a specific low-income entrepreneur across the globe.
You choose who to lend to - whether a baker in Afghanistan, a goat herder in Uganda, a farmer in Peru, a restaurateur in Cambodia, or a tailor in Iraq - and as they repay their loan, you get your money back.
They say give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, give a man a fish pole an he’ll eat for a lifetime!
In my opinion lending someone money to start a business is kind of like giving someone a fish pole. That is, it's a powerful and sustainable way to empower someone right now to lift themselves out of poverty.
Lessons & tips: What I loved about Kiva is the diversification of the entrepreneus - My loan went to 30 different countries and funded so many different activities, among others farming, growing flowers, beauty salon, electronics repair, photography, textiles, transportation and restaurants.
Entries
... for a total of 6 so far. The first loans are in repayment, so I reinvested in new entrepreneurs from Mexico (yeah!) and Lebanon.
singsingsing is sleeping
have now joined the 43T team
and added another sml loan to boot :)
Bob1623 Be the Fountain, not the Drain.
I’m sitting around my house waiting for the Trick or Treaters. It is also a full moon so I figure it is a good time to give another Kiva loan.
This one goes to Chimedregzen Nergui in Mongolia. Chimedregzen operates a retail clothing business in a rented stall in his town’s central market. He is requesting a 3,800,000 tugrug (~3670 USD) loan to purchase new types of clothing for his business so that he can expand his customer base.
This loan is also a birthday present to my friend BB, who spent time in Mongolia with the Peace Corps.
energy is sadest ever.
I’m finding more money in my basket each time I log in. Today I re-invested into my 9th loan. It’s for a gentleman in Peru to buy a motorcycle taxi.
LifeRenewed is taking the first steps...
Loaned to:
Fausat Olatunji: She sells food items at retail, to her clients within her community in Lagos state, Nigeria. She purchases food items from the market to sell in her stall at home. She has been in this business for a long time and through hard work, has been able to grow her business. She is 44 years old and married with five children. She says thank you to all Kiva lenders.
Gladys Milagros Zegarra Ramirez, Gladys is 39 years old and married with two sons who are minors. She is part of the “El Mirador de Carabayllo” group, which consists of 10 active members.
Ten years ago when her husband lost his job, she realized that they were lacking many basic necessities such as food, clothing, and education for their children, and she took the initiative to start a business which would provide her with income each day and at the same time leave her with time to take care of her small children after they came home from school.
So, she began to work selling orange juice on a major road, starting her business with a small loan that she was able to secure and with which she acquired the necessary tools, which in this case were an orange peeler, a juicer, a few small tables, glasses, oranges, and sugar.
With her work, she has been able to support her husband and cover household expenses, purchase some furniture for her home, and move her children to a private school.
Today, they have acquired two cars to use as taxis, and in the near future she would like to formally open a taxi service business.
The loan requested is intended for the purchase of tires for one of the cars so that it can pass inspection, an absolute requirement to provide taxi service in Lima.
Benon Korusherera: Benon Korusherura is 45 years old and married with eight children, ranging in age from 20 years to 5 years. All of his kids are enrolled in school. Benon has been a fisherman for over 20 years and has recently opened up a grocery store to sell his catch and other food products. He would like to use the loan to expand his fishing operation. He hopes that with his continued hard work he will one day be able educate all of his children to the university level.
singsingsing is sleeping
today I’ve started out, and feels great.
Diana A – Farming, Costa Rica only needed $25US to go before reaching required amount of loan she needs, so it felt v personal LOL
Antonia is the coordinator of her group, Ayudanos Señor (Help us, God), and her story is representative of her group. and of Esperanza’s Haitian and Dominican clients, many of whom recently emigrated from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. Her group is based in areas surrounding La Romana, an area where the economy focuses on sugar cane, where running water is not potable, and electricity is unreliable at best. Here she makes her home with her three dependents and her husband.
Antonia is excited to have successfully repaid her first loan without incident, and Esperanza is excited to extend her another one and see her continue to expand her food business. While she focuses primarily on fried foods and empanadas, with this new loan, she plans to expand into ice cream and sweets. She sees a market for these items and believes the increased profits will help her pay to transport for her children to school and to continue to expand her business. She thanks you all for your support.
tknight is t'done t'day
I have received a round of paybacks from Kiva loans outstanding so I am doing the right thing and paying it forward in the form of another loan…
Once again it for transportation, and once again to someone who is in need HERE.
From the unemployment line to the entrepreneur…

This one’s for you!
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Ask for advice: Get help from people who've accomplished this goal
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Amsterdam
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redbandita asks,
“Have you noticed that many women (in Pakistan, for example) will give the money to their husbands? Does that concern you when you loan? Do you choose your fund recipients by gender?””
— 21 months ago |
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Burlington
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Lou is putting down roots asks,
“Poll: How many loans do you have open at one time? Do you wait for one loan to be paid back first before making another?”
— 2 years ago |
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