Any " DU group" Kiva members here???

[dixiegrrrrl]

Wanted to mention a great idea.

A Du member shared a KIVA donation card with me, which I used to make a loan to a woman
in the BP ravished area of the Gulf Coast down here.

don't know if there are any current DU KIVA members, the group has a start date of 2008 and I just left a message on the page: http://www.kiva.org/lend/250353

Last year I sent emails to my Christmas card list stating I was making KIVA donations instead of sending gifts.
This year, I think sending a KIVA donation gift card would be even better.

thanks to the DU member who shared the card AND the idea !

[kiva]

1. Hey dixiegrrrl I just posted this today:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9597016&mesg_id=9597016

There are donors who will almost match - $10 for $15 - loan amounts.

[Oceansaway]

2. i'm here & just made another loan

thank you for the reminder !

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. I get the feeling that Kiva's DU "team" might be ..defunct.

But good to hear that there are DU donors to Kiva!!

[jannyk]

8. Not 'defunct' all. I add new loans to the DU Kiva group every month

...usually around the 15th, which is when my Kiva credit is paid back. Added 9 this month. There are a few others still funding regularly too.

[Warpy]

3. I love Kiva

and it really is one of the best ways to help the world's poorest people improve their businesses and eventually their lives. The loans are short term and small, which means they're not debt slaves forever. Having felt the great sense of achievement when I've paid any debts, I know that simply allowing them to improve their businesses isn't the only benefit.

Some of the businesses have been ingenious. I'm always astonished by the creativity of people who are trying to find a way out.

Heifer International used to be a good one for people who were too poor to afford to start businesses, but their administrative expenses have risen along with compensation to their people, so I can't recommend them any more. I hate it when that happens.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. What I did not realize until today was some Kiva loans are "pre-paid"

meaning the borrower already has the money ( as did the woman I just loaned to) and so my donation was to "backfill"
as they call it, the already granted loan.
Somehow that felt even better, knowing she got the money already.

[Warpy]

6. Yes, they've grown from a shoestring organization 4 years ago

to a fairly large worldwide bank. Donations you make pay their people in the field and allow them to grant loans quickly without waiting for donors, so I try to contribute when I can.

[jtrockville]

7. Yep, I've made 6 loans on the Kiva DU team.

Kiva's such a great organization.