‘Tis the Season Day 25: My gift to YOU
Instead of baking or crafting much this year, we went a different route. We gave out cards to family and friends describing KIVA, the non-profit we chose to financially support this year. “Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.” We get to pick who we loan our money to. It might be a baker in Afghanistan, a goat herder in Uganda, a farmer in Peru, a restaurateur in Cambodia, or a tailor in Iraq – and as they repay their loan, we get our money back, which we’ll reinvest in someone else. It’s a powerful and sustainable way to empower someone right now to lift themselves out of poverty.
Tom, Abby and I are committing to making 4 loans through Kiva as our gift to all of YOU, my dear bloggy and real life friends and family. Once we pick who we’re loaning to, I’ll link to their profiles here on the blog. And, when we get paid back, we’ll share where we reinvest our loan money. I’m really excited about this, as it’s such a tangible way to help individuals help themselves. So, Happy Merry everyone. I’m sharing 2 videos today, a long one on Kiva.org, so you can learn more if you want and the classic Band-Aid song, “Do They Know it’s Christmas.” Have a beautiful day!
Merry Christmas Carrie.
First off, I LOVE BAND-AID and Do They Know It’s Christmas. One of my favourites from my youth.
Secondly, I love Kiva. We just discovered them a few months ago and are going to be doing some loaning as well. I think the idea of helping someone out in this way is so beneficial…to them…and to our innate need to give. I also like how we can share this with our children so that they can also learn what it means to help others help themselves. I think once I get organized and make our loans I will post about it too. It’s an important organization to let people know about.
I hope you and your family had a great Christmas and may 2010 bring you all the things that make you happiest.
Many blessings,
Debbie
Love it… Awesome idea
Thanks for the Kiva-card and donation. I’d been hoping for Band-aid to show up here. Tommy and I always bust that out this time of year. I think I still have the single somewhere. “Here’s to you raise a glass for everyone – here’s to them underneath their burning sun”
Thanks also for the month of great songs. I’m gathering up our Christmas books and thinking of doing your advent-book thing next year.
Happy 2010! And keep those clever, crafty and creative thoughts coming our way.