"Women hold up half the sky"

I just started reading an excellent book entitled, Half the Sky. The book (recommended by Eileen on her blog, http://eisparklz.blogspot.com/) has powerfully moving stories about women facing human rights challenges in many parts of our world. This book suggests that micro-lending is one way we can help others rise above their otherwise bad circumstances. 

I received a Gift Certificate from a friend for Christmas this year and this made it possible for me to make a loan to someone in Nigeria using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone across the globe who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks.  Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.
       
The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Modinot Daramola in Nigeria.  They still need another $375.00 to complete their loan request of $675.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!).  Help me get this entrepreneur off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Modinot Daramola too:

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=162817

Join with me and others in changing the world - one loan at a time.

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What others are saying about www.Kiva.org:

'Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.'
-- BBC

'If you've got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you've now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.'
-- CNN Money

'Smaller investors can make loans of as little as $25 to specific individual entrepreneurs through a service launched last fall by Kiva.org.'
-- The Wall Street Journal

'An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity...All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.'
-- Entrepreneur Magazine   

Comments

[Darren Briggs]

Kiva update on your loan to Modinot Daramola in Nigeria
January 2, 2010 1:25:31 PM PST.

Thanks to you and 25 other Kiva Lenders, the $675.00 loan requested by
Modinot Daramola in Nigeria has been 100% funded. The loan will be used
for the purpose of: To purchase clothing materials and sarongs to sell..
Over the months of this loan, Kiva’s Field Partner in Nigeria, Lift
Above Poverty Organization (LAPO), will be collecting repayments from
this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Thanks for lending to the world's working poor on Kiva!

Best Wishes, Kiva Staff