You know damn well that you have $25 to spare!

If you’re like me you don’t believe in free handouts. I don’t think giving someone free money or food solves anything. It’s that whole cliche, “you can give a man a fish and he eats for a day, or you can teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” So I much prefer to give in ways that empower people to be able to solve their own problems. That’s where todays post comes in. Don’t leave, I swear this is pretty cool. Their “invite a friend” email text say it best,

I want to let you all know about a cool non-profit that is doing great things: Kiva.org

Kiva.org allows individuals to make $25 loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so, individuals like you provide affordable working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to earn their way out of poverty.

It’s a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty, and the way I see it, I get a higher return on $25 helping someone build a future than the interest my checking account pays.

Anyways, if you have a minute, please check out the site: http://kiva.org. If you need more “reputable” validation than my recommendation :), know that they have received great press in publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to NPR to BusinessWeek.

At least check out the site. They’ve made it very painless to make an account and toss $25 in. Even use paypal if you want. Maybe pass it along to someone you think would be interested? I’m invested in a Cambodian families grocery store and some artist in Chad.

- shawn

[source: kiva]