What on Earth is Kiva?

Kiva.org is an incredible non profit that takes a unique approach to combat poverty.  Kiva allows people like you and me to search for people to loan to on the Kiva website.  Kiva then sends that money to the microfinance institution where the individual or group has applied for a loan.  Then the people who receive the loans are able to use your money to build a better life for themselves and their families through hard work. Loans can be education loans (a year of school or books), farming loans (seeds or a cow), and business loans (thread, soap, a roof for a store).  Microloans are cheaper and more accessible to local borrowers than other forms of capital.  This also allows people to keep their dignity through work and through creating their own opportunities.

What is a Kiva Fellow?

A Kiva Fellow is an unpaid volunteer who works for Kiva for at least 4 months.  Kiva Fellows are extremely important to making Kiva work because they are the link between the microfinance institution and Kiva's headquarters.  The Kiva Fellows' program has allowed Kiva to work in 58 different countries!

Read more about the Fellows here.

Why are you doing this?

I have been volunteering at Kiva because I'd like to leave this world a better place.  Im not sure whether this stems from girl scouts (always leave a place better off than you found it), or church (lots of service trips and projects connecting with people in need) or Wellesley (non ministrari sed ministrare, not to be served but to serve); but that is what I would like to do with my life.  My parents always reinforced the idea that no matter how difficult things were in this life, I would always have a place with them.  I would like other people to build that same sense of security and hope for their families. 

READ MORE HERE