With the constriction of the money supply, I suspect the Kiva loans have become even more in demand. I need to review my finances, but I’d like to fund a Kiva loan this month. 4 years ago

but now I can officially say I have funded micro-loans (plural) through Kiva.org. This round of funding goes to a budding cattle-breeding collective in Cambodia. It’s long overdue, but it feels good to help. 4 years ago

but received word recently that our first Kiva loan has been repaid in full. Woo hoo! Time to roll that money over into a new loan, and fund another loan to boot. 4 years ago

...I am changing goals to post along with other 43ers who have the goal to Fund 43 microloans through Kiva.org.
You can find me there. 5 years ago

And my colleagues gave me a gift certificate for a kiva loan (like I asked them).
can’t wait to pick a business to invest in.
I also got a colleague make a double take on my gift certificate, as most people get something for themselves, like a voucher for a bookstore or the likes.
So maybe I even got another person interested in lending with this? 5 years ago

...got her loan paid out.
I wish her all the best with her investment. 5 years ago

It’s official, I’m a kiva.org loaner.
I gave two loans of $25 and donated $5 to help run the site.
My first loan went to a lady called Mansouratou Lawani, mother of 5, who has a bakery in Cotonou, Benin.
My second loan was given to Nancy Yupa, a 25 year old mother of 4 children, who owns a little convenience store in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

This is so exciting! 5 years ago

tv last night about it. Very cool indeed. I don’t have alot of money but I can handle a small loan so I’ll add this to my list and give it a try. 5 years ago

...this will be my first “purchase”. A Kiva loan. I can’t wait.
I’ve also decided that my work birthday present will be a Kiva loan. We always ask the birthday person what they want in advance, so instead of getting a gift certificate for a book store etc., this year I will aks for a Kiva.org loan certificate. Weeeeeee! 5 years ago

Well, the good news is that I received notification that my second Kiva loan was disbursed to Rosa in Nicaragua GO ROSA GO!!

Unfortunately, I also received notification of desperation and tragedy regarding my first Kiva loan, to Jane in Kenya

On Monday Kiva forwarded a letter from the Ebony Foundation, a Kiva partner in Kenya. Here are a few depressing excerpts:

“The country is now battered almost to a pulp and blood spilt with vengeance, senseless killings and wanton destruction. Markets, food stores and shops have been looted. Hospitals are dysfunctional and health centers incapacitated by riots and barricades.

While peace is slowly returning to all affected parts of the Country, the impact of the riots has been devastating. Hundreds of people have been killed turning thousands of innocent children into helpless orphans and over one million people have been displaced, becoming internal refugees over night.

The impact of the riots is most felt in the micro and small business sector. Over 1 million small businesses were looted and or burnt down destroying the only source of income to millions of Kenyans. Most of the fighting and destruction occurred in slum areas in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kericho in Rift Valley. These regions are home to over 70% of Ebony Foundation’s clients and as you can imagine almost all of our clients in these regions have been affected by the riots.”

I cannot even imagine the conditions these people face. In the absence of being able to do anything useful to help, I thought at least I could invite all of you to pray for humanity with me, pray that we figure it out soon and forever. Amen. 5 years ago

Rosa Vallecillo lives in Chinandega, Nicaragua. She is a married woman, the mother of one school-aged son. She is hardworking and has dreams of success in both her personal life and her business. She started her business selling footwear five years ago, offering a variety of products, with a start-up capital of $900.00.

Rosa has worked with CEPRODEL for one year and is very happy with the support they have given her. Thanks to this support she has been able to expand her business, meet her clientèle’s needs and support her family. She has a history of four loans.

I was lucky enough to loan Rosa the last few dollars she needed, which somehow felt even more rewarding than my last loan! 5 years ago

Kiva loan today! See my “New and Fulfilling” goal for details. I’m psyched about this. I so wish we could cross-ref goals on 43T. This was a good portion of my 20 minutes, too. 5 years ago

Ms. Jane Wamwere in Nairobi, Kenya

Jane Wamwere is 28 years old and a single mother of two boys ages 6 and 9. Both children are in school in classes one and three respectively. Jane was brought up in a productive agricultural region; she therefore developed a keen interest in selling farm produce. After finishing her studies, she started selling produce with the little capital base she got from her savings and donations from family members.

Jane has been in the produce business for the last eight years, and that is how she has been eking her living. She has been experiencing growth and rise in demand for the produce that she sells despite the rise in prices of agricultural products due to varying climatic conditions. Due to demand she is now specializing in selling green peppers and watermelons. Jane has good business relations and good customer care skills. She is requesting a loan of US$1100: US$500 to increase her stock, US$300 to put a structure where she will be operating, US$200 to buy transportation facilities, and US$100 to renew her license. Jane is an active businesswoman and she is wholly committed to repaying the loan.5 years ago

Okay, so my 20 minutes yesterday was to register with Kiva. I would have loved to make my first loan, or at least to have beefed up my account so I’d be ready to make a loan, but unfortunately I have to wait until next payday because I’m already in overdraft. Doh! Still, adopting this goal and getting registered is a modest start. I’m that much closer to changing the world $25 and 20 minutes at a time. 5 years ago