KIVA: For The Love Of Kiva!

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 59 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,160 in Volunteering, #169,851 overall

I'm a LOANER! But why is that a good thing?

About an hour ago I was checking out the Philanthropy blog here on Squidoo and discovered a cool charity called Kiva. They match YOU (and your spare dollars) with people in poorer countries looking for loans to start businesses.

So I decided to lend some money to Filipe Marrengula. He owns a barber shop and wants to expand. Why don't you lend him some money too? He only needs $1150 in total. Why not send him $25 to get him on his way? He's even going to do his best to pay you back. Sounds amazing doesn't it? Welcome to the world of Kiva!

100% of ad profits from this page goes to Kiva.org 

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter"

To check out their website, go to www.Kiva.org

Who are Kiva? 

Kiva.org is a cool charity with a brilliant idea.

With Kiva you get the chance to lend some money to pre-screened hard-working entreprenuers in the developing world who hope to create proper incomes by starting their own businesses.

All they need is a small loan from YOU.

So make sure there's exactly $25 in your Paypal account right now, and read on.

How it works 

You set up your loan on Kiva.org. anything from $25 to $000's. Kiva then gets the money to the person you have lent to. Then, 12 - 15 months later, Kiva will collect the money back in small installments from the now successful business of the person you have lent to, and Kiva will pay you back!

And congratulations! You've just changed someone's life forever. Maybe rescued someone from oblivion. Maybe helped a parent provide for their children.

You can then lend the money out again to someone else.

Kiva is not just about you giving to charity. It's so much more. It's about lending to someone, then lending the same money again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again...

Make a REAL ONGOING DIFFERENCE. Get Kiva!

"Loaning through Kiva is a terrific way to grant people dignity..."

My first loan: 

Filipe Marrengula!

Filipe Marrengula outside his barber shop

Location: Boane, Maputo, Mozambique
Activity: Barber Shop
Loan Amount: $1150.00
Loan Use: Buying salon products
Loan Repayment Term Range: 12-15 months
Status: Raising funds
Partner Rep: Bernardo Luis Tembe
Partner: Hluvuku-Adsema

"Life is a challenge but also full of opportunities." - Filipe

This is Filipe as I know him:

Filipe is a 26 year old husband with 2 children. He started work when he was 8 years old, and he learned like an entrepreneur!

He saved enough money from his income to buy a mini-store and start his own business. He now owns a barber shop, and wants to expand. He managed to save even more money along the way and has managed to buy some land which he plans to build a house on for his family.

He is currently living in a room loaned to him, but he plans to expand his business and build a house so he and his family can live in dignity.

Help applaud his fantastic efforts and skills by contributing to his fund now!

Go to www.kiva.org and make your own loan to someone else now!

So how is Filipe doing? 

Filipe has now 100% repaid his loan, and his business is now more successful.

I have now loaned the money back out to another entrepreneur, and they too have repaid their loan... and I have loaned the money out AGAIN.

Cool or what!

Are YOU on Kiva yet? 

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Some of the latest Loan Requests: 

Who are you going to lend to?

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OR you can donate direct to Kiva! 

Kiva makes all this loaning possible, so make sure you remember to drop some dollars their way too!

Kiva is the world's first online lending platform connecting online lenders to entrepreneurs across the globe. Make a loan to an entrepreneur in the developing world for as little as $25.

We at Squidoo passionately believe in creating new ways to support good causes online. By making a donation to KIVA from this page, you are sending money directly to that organization, in whatever amount you want. We don't touch it. We don't even see it. The author of this page doesn't either. And if you made it this far, thanks for caring.

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Feedback, feedback, feedback! 

Is Kiva the coolest thing you've heard of this week? Are you going to take a look at their website? Are you thinking of becoming a Kiva Loaner?

Tell us what you're thinking. Be my guest...

submit
  • Reply
    Paroshep Paroshep Jun 29, 2009 @ 3:39 am
    Hi, I first saw your lens in Jan 07 when it was featured on Lens of the Day.
    Today I joined Kiva and made a few loans. A combination of procrastination over come and cleaning out old emails.
    Thanks for making me aware of Kiva.

    Cheers,
  • Reply
    kab kab Dec 18, 2008 @ 9:50 am
    I love that you are a kiva loaner! You are invited to join our new Kiva Lending Team, SquidKiva.
  • Reply
    solarstories solarstories Oct 24, 2008 @ 12:39 am
    I love the concept of Kiva and this lens as well. I think that with so many well-intentioned people and so many projects, we are close to making a very big difference. I think with more organization and teamwork we can do even more.
  • Reply
    The_Homeopath The_Homeopath Sep 12, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
    YAY! I'm a KIVA loaner too and I'm so happy that I can make lenses here on Squidoo which help them out as well.
  • Reply
    rose08 rose08 Jul 22, 2008 @ 10:02 pm
    Oh, very nice lens. While the world are facing the problem of the loans, some people may feel sick over this word, your suggestion are amazing:) Thank you for sharing this valuable information.Glad to learn something about Kiva. Yes, "Life is a challenge but also full of opportunities." Loans
    are ever some good things to us because they help improve the life quality by meaningful adjustment, hope it still can be a good friend to our lives, not night mare.
  • Reply
    kab kab May 10, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
    Looks like Felipe Marrengula has used his loan to better himself and his family and was able to pay it all back. Good for him!
  • Reply
    jacquelinestone jacquelinestone May 6, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
    I love this, Lewis! I think I'll do a featured lens module for this on my groups.
  • Reply
    SemperFidelis SemperFidelis Apr 7, 2008 @ 12:17 am
    Excellent Lewis! I've been here before, but now I can bless it! Keep up the good cause. ;)
  • Reply
    Mert Mert Feb 8, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
    I am also donating all my Squidoo income to Kiva. What a concept.
  • Reply
    asdas asdas Sep 13, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
    Hi,MrLewisSmile Great Lens  . I have also created a lens in the same niche.Hope u like it ………
    ClickHere!
  • Reply
    Reggie_Marigold Reggie_Marigold Sep 7, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
    Oh my goodness Lewis! I just noticed the difference. When you started this lens it was $1m and 13,000 lenders and it's now $11 m and 107,000 lenders. WOW! WOW! WOW!
  • Reply
    Reggie_Marigold Reggie_Marigold Sep 7, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
    You've got a lovely lens Lewis. I found out about Kiva when I logged into Yahoo! and then came here to support the cause.
  • Reply
    allysa allysa Sep 4, 2007 @ 5:50 am
    Brilliant lens! Keep up the good deeds. More power, Kudos!
  • Reply
    KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino Aug 24, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
    What an amazing idea! This really brightened my day. ~ Kim
  • Reply
    SemperFidelis SemperFidelis Jul 24, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
    Great lens. We donate most of our income to charity, so I relate to your cause. A 5 to you. Check our Richland Recycling lens out. All proceeds go to Save The Children. :o)
  • Reply
    Brent_S Brent_S Jul 23, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
    That's just plane cool. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!
  • Reply
    Comfortdoc Comfortdoc Jun 8, 2007 @ 8:55 am
    I've always been a bit of a loner when younger, now it looks like I can become a loaner now that I am

    Thank you for making the lens. What a great concept Kiva has in being able to make a difference in someone else's life, even in small amounts. I definitely will be looking into this one more.
  • Reply
    OnceUponaBid OnceUponaBid Jun 7, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
    Awesome, what a great idea! -Marty
  • Reply
    Forgiven Forgiven Jun 4, 2007 @ 11:13 pm
    Wow Lewis, great work again! You have a kind heart!
  • Reply
    myyeastinfectioncure myyeastinfectioncure May 29, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
    great stuff! totally impressed. FIVE STARS!
  • Reply
    Charles Fuchs Charles Fuchs May 24, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
    Nice Squidoo site... I am also a Loaner LOL! :-) Check out my Best Home Based Business Squidoo website and tell me what you think?!
  • Reply
    gods_grace_notes gods_grace_notes May 22, 2007 @ 7:30 am
    Awesome lens, Lewis...as per your usual great work! Count me in as a Kiva loaner! Terrific job, Connie
  • Reply
    Christopher_Scott Christopher_Scott May 15, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
    Nothing wrong with being a loaner.

    As long as you are raising money for your cause. :)

    A Day of Hope
  • Reply
    taxattorney taxattorney May 13, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
    Amazing Lens! KIVA is a very interesting concept. Thanks for all the work creating this lens. Great resource. www.4taxhero.com | Tax Attorney
  • Reply
    TheresaMarkham TheresaMarkham May 11, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
    Way to go! I'm definitely forwarding this lens to my friends
  • Reply
    Sally Sally May 9, 2007 @ 9:50 am
    Wow you did a wonderful job! I' really impressed!
    I'm trying also to help change the world for the better one person at a time.

    Please visit Saving Friends to help, or just to lend your support.
    http://savingfriends.blogspot.com/
  • Reply
    steve steve Apr 20, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
    thanks for this wonderful information. I had never heard of kiva. I'll forward this lens to some friends who would be interested. Steve from Acne Medicine Review
  • Reply
    donna_m donna_m Apr 5, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
    Kiva is brilliant. i have 3 or 4 loans with Kiva and I talked the people at work into contributing $25 dollars jointly to start another 'company' loan. I post updates about our loanee on the lunch room bulletin board and they love seeing our loanee progressing in her business. Great blog.
  • Reply
    BookMama BookMama Mar 29, 2007 @ 9:36 am
    Well I voted for this as lens of the year, because someone's signature line on the forums told me to! I had just heard of Kiva from hubby who heard from a friend a few days before I discovered Squidoo. Your lens was one of the most popular when I logged on, which meant I chose Kiva as a charity.
  • Reply
    What-I-Found What-I-Found Mar 25, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
    Hello,
    So glad to see you on Squidoo! I love Kiva!
    Tina
    What-I-Found
    What-I-Found -Sewing Patterns! My Squidoo Lens!
  • Reply
    verycherryvintage verycherryvintage Mar 24, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
    What a great idea! I gave you 5 stars and added you to my lensroll. I need to get your link added too. Stop by and leave me a blurb about Kiva.
  • Reply
    yojspew yojspew Jan 18, 2007 @ 10:03 am
    Hi..congratulations...you did a wonderful job..hope you'll get to help more people in the future...God bless you..
  • Reply
    Believer Believer Jan 17, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
    Great lens, Lewis! I have Kiva listed on mine, too. http://www.squidoo.com/Believer/.Let's see, if I give $25.00 once a month and the loans usually run for a year, next year I can flip them over to another 12 people for nothing. What a concept! :-)
  • Reply
    Tim Berry MD Tim Berry MD Jan 17, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
    Lewis, this is exactly what my wife and I have been looking for in 2007. We have been looking for causes that would inspire us. Kiva is definitely a concept i can feel passionate about. Thanks!!!
  • Reply
    Margaret_Schaut Margaret_Schaut Jan 11, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
    Ok, so I donated!!! Wonderful lens. I worked with groups based on the Grameen Bank and its a terrific way to grant people dignity. Great lens! Thanks! Another tough act to follow... you squidizens are amazing!
  • Reply
    mikeyarmo mikeyarmo Dec 8, 2006 @ 8:25 pm
    Awesome stuff! Thanks for sharing!
  • Reply
    treehuggerz treehuggerz Dec 3, 2006 @ 6:07 am
    Wonderful idea! 5 stars and you're lensrolled. I'll definitely spread the word.
  • Reply
    MeganCasey MeganCasey Nov 29, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
    3 cheers for Kiva! And for Lewis!
  • Reply
    AngelaHarms AngelaHarms Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:52 am
    Great idea, Lewis. (LOO POO??!)
  • Reply
    Dani Dani Nov 23, 2006 @ 3:17 pm
    What an amazing idea! Definately the coolest thing I've heard all week :)

by MrLewisSmile

I'm a loaner!
But that's a good thing. Because I'm a Kiva Loaner!

And I am very pleased to meet you : )

If you want to be a Kiva loaner too, just... (more)

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