Kiva

Back in 2015, as a birthday present, I got a Kiva gift card. It’s one of the best gifts I have ever received.

Kiva allows you to micro-loan people around the world that are at a financial disadvantage.

A family in Dushanbe, Tajikistan to help pay their daughter’s tuition.

A farmer in Kaduna, Nigeria to help them increase yields.

A group in Prey Veng, Cambodia to help buy a water filter to provide safe drinking water.

A shop owner in Sembabule, Uganda to buy more stock to sell.

I have to admit, at first I found it overwhelming and difficult to decide. There are so many people that could use whatever little help I could provide. How do I make a choice? What country? What cause? Who needs it the most?

I still don’t know how to answer this. I’d just tell you to pick one to get you started. Maybe you can relate to the person and their struggle. Maybe you want to tip the scale in gender inequality. Maybe you want to help people get out of poverty first. Maybe education is important to you.

I suggest you start with a short period loan (8 months or less) that with your contribution will be fulfilled. That way you will see the results of your micro-loan come to fruition sooner.

Regardless, you will no doubt help people in need and make the world a little bit better in the process.

It’s amazing how many people you can help over time starting with just a small fund that you relend. I started with $50 and over time I have built up the micro-fund to $150. With that amount of money I have been able to finance 21 loans at a total of $700 over the years.

Next time you have the chance to buy a birthday present to someone consider offering them a Kiva gift card instead. It can change their life and the life of others.

Greetings from Tanzania! Thank you for supporting Jackson, a hard working retailer at his own retailer shop with a loan. I’m pleased to inform you that he is doing extremely well and with the loan received, Jackson used the loan to buy food items, detergents, soft drinks, few stationary items, plastic bags, slippers, and utensils . He used the additional profit to pay his loan dues, school fees, covered household expenses such as water bills and electricity and reinvested for his business to grow. Jackson is very grateful for the loan and thankful to everyone who had supported him.

What is this website?

This is a personal website, at the outskirts of the web, away from social media and publishing platforms. This website surfaces social, racial, economic traits and explores human relationships. It highlights the conditions that contribute to one's personal success or downfall. It shares stories that act as a reminder that life is messy, complex, nuanced, diverse. It aims to bring the world closer together. It reaches out to those that feel lost, lonely, inadequate and outcasts. I am with you.

for historic purposes, 20th to 21st century