Giving Back During the Holidays

Remember being a kid and going through magazines and catalogues to come up with the ultimate Christmas wish list? The list would get longer and longer and longer…

Nowdays, online wishlists have taken the place of the catalogues but the process remains the same. And now we do it year-round on our websites – showing the world what items we love and want to add to our collections or wardrobes.

This should make gift giving easy. Everyone wants or needs something – so just pick an item, add to basket and click to checkout. Ta-da! Done.

Today, I want to share with you all something that I’ve never seen on a wishlist – even my own – but that I’m sure your relatives or friends would be thrilled to receive.

Kiva.org

Kiva.org is a microloan program that helps entrepreneurs in developing countries

Kiva is an organization that coordinates micro-loans to small business owners in developing countries. Through local partners, entrepreneurs build a business case and profile and apply for loans in order to buy supplies or expand their activities.

Donors can select a recipient based on gender, industry and geography and donate towards their loan amount.

My first Kiva loan was to Chantal’s group in Benin. They borrowed funds to purchase cloth and sewing supplies from Benin’s largest market, Tokpa.
Photo credit Kiva.org

But Kiva loans are gifts that keep giving – because those loans are paid back, and can be re-directed to another small business. You can either make a donation yourself on behalf of someone and then manage it yourself as it’s repaid and re-allocated to a new entrepreneur. Or, you can give the gift of a Kiva card that the recipient can use to make their own selection.

You can either make a loan on behalf of someone and manage it yourself, or give the gift of a Kiva card – allowing the recipient to choose their own group to support.

I made a loan with Kiva over two years ago as a wedding gift to my friends. That same loan is now helping its fourth small business in Benin. It’s helped a group of women buy fabric for their clothing business. It’s helped a group of women buy corn and canned goods for their general store. And it’s helped me realize that giving by giving back not only feels good, but can have a positive impact on the lives of others.

My latest loan is to Enagnon’s group, and it’s helping them buy corn, rice and cassava flour at the larger Benin markets to resell in their local shop.
Photo credit Kiva.org