Anyone who knows me knows that I believe strongly in community- building and working together. Whether it’s serving as an elected representative, volunteering at our local school or supporting one of our many fabulous service groups I feel that it is important to connect with others and help them to achieve success. A successful community is one where all its members are recognized and supported as the community’s greatest asset.
Ten years ago I discovered Kiva, an online micro-financing organization. Founded in 2005 Kiva is an international non-profit organization whose mission is to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. I was so inspired that I became a member and donated $25 to a young woman in Tajikistan to help her start up a small business. The loan was fully repaid within a year and since then I have lent that same $25 ten times over the last decade to help others all over the world.
Since their inception Kiva has facilitated $1.2 Billion in loans in 85 countries around the world. 96.9% of loans are repaid which means you can loan your money over and over again. Currently there are 2.9 million borrowers and 1.7 million lenders. 100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes to funding loans. Kiva believes that: “lending alongside thousands of others is one of the most powerful and sustainable ways to create economic and social good. Lending on Kiva creates a partnership of mutual dignity and makes it easy to touch more lives with the same dollar. Fund a loan, get repaid, fund another.”
I have shared links to Kiva on my Facebook profile (Carolyn Ball- Eels Lake Marina) and encouraged others to see it for themselves. One of my cottagers who saw my kiva post brought me several Kiva gift cards that I could use or give to my kids and family if I wanted. His company provides these gift cards through their stewardship program. While I was jumping for joy and thanking him profusely, my brain was spinning. I asked him how many he could get because I would love to donate a bunch to Apsley Public School. He showed up the following week with 48- $25 kiva gift cards! I reached out to the Apsley School Principal and the plan is to give every student in grades 6, 7 and 8 a gift certificate in September. Whether it is worked into their curriculum, becomes a special project or something they can take home and do on their own I am so thrilled to be able to share the Kiva experience with our kids.
It is my hope that giving our kids the opportunity to assist another person, family or community anywhere they choose will help them to understand how fortunate we are to call North Kawartha our home and will teach them about the power of lending and supporting others near and far. They might help someone go to school, access clean energy, or start a business. They will each get to choose who and where to make an impact and learn that by ‘lifting one, they can lift many’. Their loan can help another create an opportunity for themselves which leads to creating opportunities for others. That ripple effect can shape the future for a family or an entire community.
My sincere thanks to Steve Abel and the Ian Martin Group for their generous donation and to Principal Brohart for supporting this amazing opportunity for our kids. Kiva’s motto is Loans that change Lives. It’s not just the borrowers whose lives are changed, but the lenders as well. Anyone who has helped someone else achieve success knows what a powerful connection that is. For more information please check out www.kiva.org. Make a positive change your own life by positively affecting another!