Thursday, October 18, 2007

Kiva-Loans that change lives

My friend Megh posted an entry on her blog about an organization called Kiva. The Frontline video I watched on it was so inspiring that I decided to check it out.

There are entrepreneurs in third world countries trying to expand their businesses, but are unable to get loans because interest rates are over 100% in their country. That is where we come in, you can be the banker and loan as little as $25, called a micro-loan. Each lender puts in a small amount to make up the total loan amount. Most of the loans needed are less than $1000, but can make such a difference by increasing production and revenue.

As a female entrepreneur, I wanted to help a fellow woman.
I read through the bio's on a bunch of the women, but I was really drawn to Djeneba Soro. Here is her bio and picture:

Denedja Soro sells fresh, exotic juices and water in the Abobo market, a populated suburb in the north of Abidjan. Djeneba has been in this business for many years to take care of her family and her children. She started her business on a very small scale. She then acquired, last year, a second-hand refrigerator with a loan from AE&I. She has since then improved her productivity and revenue. Djeneba lives with her cohabitant and their children in Abobo. She has been in the AE&I microcredit program since November 2004 and has received several loans that she has reimbursed in a very good manner.



You can find out even more about this organization by watching this Frontline episode. Or, you can go to their website at Kiva.org. This organization has also been featured on Oprah and The New York Times.

2 comments:

m. said...

that is so great. i am so glad you tried it! that site makes the internet worth it..

Nora Mair said...

I saw this Frontline a year ago and loved the statistics of helping out the woman of a family. Almost 100% of her profits blessed her children and family. When they loan money to men rarely did profits trickle down to the wife and children. Way to go Marisa!

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