20 March 2007 - First Day of Spring

KIVATHON called a screaming success!  TalkShoe (http://www.talkshoe.com) - our premiere podcasting relationship (and the place where you can find our archived radio shows) - staged a 24-hour KIVATHON from March 18th thru March 19th, Noon to Noon.  The Your Home-Your Money radio Mortgage Guys - Bill and Art - hosted one of the hours and had a blast.  The interactive podcast talkathon - the first of its kind - raised money and awareness for http://www.kiva.org/, the world leader in online microlending.

Microlending consists of giving small loans to (very) small businesses and entrepeneurs in developing nations, ones where the economy and regular banking do not allow the "little guy" to make it.  The loans range from $250 to $1300 and will be paid back in 6 to 18 months.  At KIVA.org the lender - you or me - invests in $25 increments and we choose the individuals, who are pre-screened, WE want to sponsor.  (Don't have $25 right now? TalkShoe can handle smaller investments at their website - Look for the KIVA banner.)

It's fun and rewarding to see a business grow from nothing, especially in areas where women are little more than property and bank interest rates can be as high as 1000% (and you though YOUR interest rate was high!)  Each lender gets a "home page" and the people you sponsor - along with their other lenders - are interlinked throughout.  There are bargraphs depicting fundraising efforts and reporting the amount of money paid back as a percentage.  That's right - lenders get PAID BACK - it IS a loan, you remember.  We can then take our money out (we don't get interest) or reinvest in another business.  Simple.

You can go to http://www.kiva.org/ to see how it all works. 

You can also subscribe to our KIVA blog at http://activerain.com/groups/KIVA and stay in the loop. 

Bill and I have our lender page at http://www.kiva.org/lender/YHYM, where you will see our two (so far) entrepreneurs at work.  As of the writing of this blog, both Asia (Bulgaria) and Dilorom (Tajikistan) are now fully funded and working their businesses.  Booyah!

This is an incredibly worthwhile venture.  We urge you to get involved - or to find someone or something you want to help learn and grow and make a better life.  Thanks for all you do.

Best wishes.

Art Blanchet

Bill Quigley