Day 143: Made A Kiva Loan

The other day, I received an email from a woman named Jessica who had a couple of random act suggestions for me.  I was super appreciative and I will be sure to get around to them, but one really jumped out at me due to the fact that I hadn't heard it before.  Jessica sent me an invitation to a website for the organtization Kiva.  Kiva is a non-profit organization that works with microfinance institution in countries all over the world to help fund loans for people who do not have access to traditional banking systems.  It gives people who are struggling the means to get up and running or back on their feet, and then once they get back going, they repay you and you can use the money to fund other loans.  It is a tremendous giving circle that is really helping people out.  Since 2005, over 760,000 Kiva lenders have lent over $313 million dollars.  98.4% of that $313 million dollars has already been paid back by the borrowers!

The invite that Jessica sent me came with a free $25 that I could use to help fund one of the loans.  I chose to help a man named Reynaldo from the Philippines.  Reynaldo "is a father who is very determined to improve his family's living status to give them a better life. He is 43 years old and has four school-aged children. They live happily in a village, planting and harvesting rice and vegetables for sale. Due to the high cost of commodities and school fees, he engages in a hog-raising business to earn additional income to support his children's education. He is asking for additional capital of PHP (Philippine Pesos) 50,000 to buy feed, vitamins and vaccines needed for hog-raising. He mentioned that his loan will enable him to improve his business and hopes that he will be successful in the future."

Here is one of the exciting part about making the loans.  Now that I have enrolled, I have the opportunity to invite people to make free $25 (or more of their own money) Kiva loans of their own.  So if you would like to participate, please email me at 366RandomActs@gmail.com.