A visit from Kiva

KIVA is an organization that connects potential lenders with people around the world needing small personal loans to help alleviate poverty.  Using an internet based platform, KIVA is able to provide a profile and explanation of the person seeking the loan.  People from around the world can see the posting and provide the funding needed.  A $400 loan may have 16 different people provide $25 each.

A potential borrower meets with a KIVA partner to request the loan.  The partner will upload the request to KIVA, which publishes it on their website.  KIVA lenders then fund the request and the funds are forwarded by the partner to the borrower.  The borrower pays the loan back, usually over a six to nine month period and the funds are returned to the lender.  The lender may then take their money back, donate it or lend it to another requested borrower.  The KIVA loans are paid back in 99% of cases.

Poverty is a lack of opportunity.  An example was given of a butcher shop in a small village that was located in a back street location.  The KIVA loan allowed the butcher to move her business to a visible location and the increase in business  not only allowed her to repay the loan, she was able to hire an 

employee, adding to the local economy.

Everyone was challenged to reach out and create an opportunity for someone wishing to help themselves.