Re: Off-topic - on the subject of giving love at Christmas to those who have very little.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the wonderful idea Chris. What a nice thought! Merry Christmas

and all the best in the New Year!

Emma

On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 6:17 AM, <cadlard@...> wrote:

> Hi group,

>

> I wanted to do something this Christmas for people in need.

>

> I just made some micro-loans ($25) to people in the developing world using

> a new website called

> Kiva (www.kiva.org).

>

> You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world

> who needs a loan for

> their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making

> bricks. Each loan has a

> picture of the person, a description of their business and how they plan to

> use the loan so you

> know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting

> you know how they are

> going.

>

> When they pay back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans

> are managed by

> microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing

> this.

>

> It's easy to do something about poverty this way - using Kiva I know

> exactly who my money is

> loaned to and what they're using it for. And I know that I'm helping them

> build a

> sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and

> educate their family long

> after my loan is paid back.

>

> I hope some of you will join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.

> My first loans were

> repaid within six months so I have now reloaned the money to others at

> Kiva.

>

> Thanks - and I hope you and your families have a blessed Christmas and New

> Year.

> Chris.

>

>