Help fight Global Poverty!!!

[Spartan]

I want to let you all know about a cool non-profit that is doing great things: Kiva.org

Kiva.org allows individuals to make $25 loans or more to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so, individuals like you provide affordable working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to earn their way out of poverty.

It's a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty, and the way I see it, I get a higher return on $25 helping someone build a future than the interest my checking account pays.

Anyways, if you have a minute, please check out the site: http://www.kiva.org/app.php.

If you need more "reputable" validation than my recommendation :hmm:, know that they have received great press in publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to NPR to BusinessWeek.

Thanks for reading!

[LuftWolf]

Interesting idea... we take for granted here the essential utility of basic machines actually changed the world when they came about in the last century.

Just like old roommates I used to have losing their jobs because they didn't have bus-fare... it's hard to make clothes for money if you don't have a sewing machine.

This is an idea so straighforward I'm not surprised no one has though of it before.

Cheers,
David

[Spartan]

Yeah it is a good thing. By the way the idea is not new at least for me because I wanted to do something similar in gad school about a decade ago but the necessary tech needed did not exist nor did I have proper support and financial connections. The entire project turned out to be an academic exercise. I am so glad to see others have had similar dreams and were able to make it happen.

[Onkel Neal]

hi Samurai,

good to hear from you again (Jake, right?). I like this kind of charity, thanks for posting. I will be checking into it myself, will make a donation.

cheers
Neal

[Skybird]

Isn't this founded by this guy offering micro-credits, who was awarded the peace Nobel prize for that? One of the rare occasions when I actually agreed with the committee.

[Spartan]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

hi Samurai,

good to hear from you again (Jake, right?). I like this kind of charity, thanks for posting. I will be checking into it myself, will make a donation.

cheers
Neal

Aloha!

Long time no chat Neal! Yep you got the right. I hope all is well for you and your family.

I may not post much but as I told you before I'm always around on patrol as it were. I just came out of the deep to kick a few cans over the patch issue.


So I figured while I was on radar I would share something that is near to my heart in the hope that the members of this fine community would hear the call and take it upon themselves to get involved.

The best thing about this charity is that it is the gift that keeps on giving over and over again and each time you know for sure your efforts have made a real difference in someone's life as well as their kin.

BTW: Something nice I found, a family got together and started to lend money last year. I must say I was blown away when I looked at the profile!! Here is a link to profile: http://www.kiva.org/lender/eric3440

I like to think maybe the SubSim/WPL community would do something like that. I remember back when we had fund raisers for sick members of the community -truly first class stuff to be sure.