Pay It Forward - I helped finance another small business person on Kiva.org this week!
I just lent out another $25 of micro financing this week.
About 2 years ago, I became a member of www.kiva.org
KIVA is an AMAZING online micro-financing organization that helps finance small business people in impoverished countries.
It is SO cool.
You lend money to people in the different countries, and they pay the money back in installments. Once the money is paid back, you can lend it out again to another person in need to help them start their small business.
You can only lend out a maximum of $25 per recipient, and the total amount of the micro-loan is comprised of however many individuals lending the $25 each.
To date, I've lent out at least a dozen or more micro-loans of $25, and they have all been paid back in full. I then was able to re-lend that money out again and again.
YOU REALLY NEED TO CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE.
It is such an empowering sight to both you as a micro-finance lender and to the small business receipient.
All of the lending/financing is supervised and audited by large, reputable financial organizations in each country.
I tend to try and help women in underdeveloped countries because alot of times they do not have the kind of liberties as men in their countries. And from those I try not to finance any ventures that have anything to do with the mistreatment or slaughtering of animals. And I also try and finance those that are helping to bring nourishing food or clothing to their people. I'm just saying that's my own outlook, and not advocating what anyone else feels is the right thing to do.
This particular micro-loan that I helped finance this week with my $25 is serviced by Juhudi Kilimo (JK).
My micro-loan this week went to the following recipient, Robina Ondieki:
Robina has a mixed farm on the outskirts of Kisii town in western Kenya. She has been in the farming business for fifteen years now. Her mixed farm produces sugarcane, maize, beans and milk which are all sold locally. She also owns a retail textile business in the same location. She is pictured here outside her retail shop. Robina is 34 years old. She is married and has six children who are between the ages of 10 and 22. Three of the children are currently attending school. She has requested this loan of 50,000 KES through Juhudi Kilimo to start a cereals business. She says that this venture will help her realize more income which will help her pay school fees for her children and improve the livelihood of her family. She says that her biggest challenge in farming has been unpredictable weather conditions like drought and hailstones which affect her crop production and income. In the future, she would like to acquire more loans that will help her expand her farming and textile businesses.
About Juhudi Kilimo (JK):
Juhudi Kilimo is an innovative, for-profit social enterprise working with smallholder farmers in Kenya. Juhudi directly finances dairy cows, chickens, agricultural equipment, and other assets that are specifically chosen to create immediate cash flow. Many of the assets are insured to prevent devastating business losses, and targeted technical assistance is provided to farmers, from agricultural training to basic bookkeeping and local market research. For its clients and their families, Juhudi also offers access to low-cost life insurance and medical aid. Through all these services, Juhudi is creating sustainable growth and employment in rural communities across Kenya.
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