ABOUT allDAY

allDAY is the official TODAY blog, your virtual window to Studio 1A and the people who make America's favorite morning show come alive. Whether it's exchanging views with the anchors and contributors or going behind the scenes with the producers, editors, camera people and more, we'll bring you the buzz here at 30 Rock, and we hope you will make this a regular part of your online routine. We want this to be a conversation, so please respond with your comments and questions directly to the blog, and we'll do our best to post what you have to say.



Loans to Change Lives

Posted: Monday, September 03, 2007 7:30 AM by Dan Fleschner
Filed Under:

This morning, correspondent John Larson profiled the Web site Kiva.org, which allows everyday people to make small loans ("microloans") to entrepreneurs in developing countries. WATCH VIDEO

Billl Clinton touts citizen activism in his new book, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World, which hits shelves Sept. 4.
Susan Walsh/AP
Bill Clinton will appear on TODAY on Wednesday to
discuss his new book, Giving: How Each of Us Can
Change the World, which hits bookshelves on Sept. 4.

I was first compelled to visit Kiva last weekend, while reading President Clinton's new book, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World (he's going to be on TODAY on Wednesday, so I was preparing to produce the segment). I was struck by the simplicity of Kiva but also its potential to impact lives in a meaningful way.

It's pretty simple. You go to kiva.org, look through a list of prescreened entrepreneurs who explain what their business is, how much money they need in loans and how they intend to use that money. If you decide you want to contribute to a particular business, you fill out a form to loan the entrepreneur a minimum of $25 and pay by credit card.

Kiva then takes over. They tranfer your money to a local partner near your chosen business. The partner then gets the money to the entrepreneur, who invests it in their business (often to buy stock, buy supplies or expand). Over the course of the next 12 months or so, the entrepreneur pays off the loan, and you get your money back.

After reading about Kiva in President Clinton's book, I went to the site and picked a few small businesses to support, including two medical clinics in Kenya, a blacksmith in Ecuador, a flower store in Cameroon, a grocery in Ivory Coast, and a grocery in Paraguay (five of the six entrepreneurs are women). Within 24 hours, I had already received a note that the grocer in Paraguay had received the loan.

If you're at all skeptical about whether small loans like this can make a difference, I suggest you read about Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, and read his story. He won the Nobel Peace Prize last year and has helped revolutionize the use of credit in the developing world.

Thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever for us to help people in parts of the world we never dreamed we'd touch. All we have to do is take the time to do it.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

This is great but what about helping our own people in our own country first.

lorri (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 7:56 AM)

this idea sounds wonderful and i want to contribute but it has been a bit frustrating trying to connect.  I hope others are finding it easier than I have but I intend to persvere and contribute.  The idea is wonderful!

audrey aronow, Woodbridge, NJ (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 8:49 AM)

I'm so sorry I didn't know about this prior to today.  I hope you can repeat the piece on a non-holiday.

While so many men are engaged in global slaughter, how easy it is to have ladies help ladies.

Joanna McClelland Glass, Naperville, IL (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 9:02 AM)

I tried to get on the link to do a loan from your site but it wasn't up yet.  I emailed the video link to many of my email contacts.  Great story.  By the way the person who complained about helping people in our own country,  Well what is stopping her?

Mary (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 10:50 AM)

I, agree with Lorri, we have women in America trying to start their own business and no where can help this easy be found. I saw this on the Today show this morning and it really really angers me!!!!!!!

Louise Hiram, Georgia (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 11:02 AM)

There are organizations in America that help Women start small businesses. Seek them out. If you want something similar to Kiva in the US, try www.prosper.com I don't see how anyone could be upset about sending some poor women overseas (literally making about 2 dollars a DAY, if THAT) a couple hundred dollars to buy and sell coal. Come on now. I'm not filthy rich myself, and would love to get loans to start/expand a business. But I have a job and do ok like most Americans. Stop, take a minute to look at everything you have around you and compare it to some of these women on Kiva that are literally operating out of a shack or a little corner stand, again, literally making scraps a day. It really puts things in perspective. If you want to stop them from getting $25 bucks, something lots of Americans spend on trivial things weekly, even daily, then you have no compassion.

J (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 12:38 PM)

This sounds like an excellent way in which to help undo the negative opinion so many have of Americans thanks to the current administration.  Besides, anything that Bill is for, I am for as well

Bob, Riverside, CA (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 2:11 PM)

I am very interested in becoming involved in this great idea.  I already help support a similar organi-
zation called FINCA (I can't think right now what the letters stand for)and I would like to see if I can help KIVA.  However, I found no info in KIVA's website as to how to become involved.  BJ

BJ, Napa, CA (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 2:32 PM)

I would like to help but can find no info on Kiva. Please let me know how I can help.
NB

NAN BALDWIN (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 2:53 PM)

Hi Nan - The link to Kiva in my post should work, but if you're having trouble with it, you can go directly to kiva.org.

DF

Dan Fleschner (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 2:56 PM)

What a fantastic gift to give!  It's not charity by any stretch of the imagination, it's a way of 'paying it forward' and thanking all the great mentors I've had in my life.
I'll be thrilled to sign up as soon as I can get to the site!!
This is true Girl Power..Hear us roar!

Krystyna Garcia, San Diego, California (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 3:35 PM)

I joined Kiva and lent to 6 people. Within a few hours all of them had met their loan goal. Dan and John, thank you so much for putting this out there so we can help if we chose to.

Lorri and Louise - helping there or helping here is all the same - it's helping. I'd suspect that the people lending money through Kiva are also doing their part for 'our' country. And just in case you have forgotten, we're all on the same small planet. If you believe this is a problem perhaps you can start an organization like Kiva that lends to entire planet. I'd donate to that one too.

Peace.

kathy smith, carmel valley, ca (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 6:03 PM)

The people who get the loans DO have to go through an application process with the partner in their country.  The borrower pays interest to the partner, so it isn't a free ride.  In America, $2000 would not even start most legal businesses.  

I consider this a way of helping peace.  When a group of people have nothing to lose, war is less scary an option than slow starvation.  I consider this another option than emigration, too.  If some people find a way to keep their family together and have a good livlihood, then it is less pressure on other countries.  

Pat, Sacramento (Sent Monday, September 03, 2007 7:24 PM)

I am a Kiva Lender.  To address the comments, why not here in the US first, well, I do that also on a very local level.  Kiva is just one of the organizations I participate in.  With all the press coverage Kiva will be getting over the next few days, their site will be flooded with new members and that may make it difficult to log on immediately.  I can only ask that you be patient or better yet, come visit kivafriends.org to get more information.

Jackie Burlington NJ (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 7:51 AM)

Thank you so much for the information, it is a wonderful thing and I want to get involved, please let me know what to do first.

cecile Roosa lenoxdale mass. 01242 (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 9:50 AM)

I think this is a great cause and can empathize whith these women, but (and a big but), what about the women here in the US struggeling?? How many people here have no homes (2 year waiting list for section 8), with children and no place to go? I know I was in a very hard time a few years back (singel mom of 3)and I was told no one could help, and I couldn't even get section 8 because I didn't make enough. That I still don't even understand. I'm to poor to even live in the projects??? Where is the help here?

Denise-Marietta Goergia (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 10:29 AM)

Thinking about it has got to give everyone goose bumps of excitement: No government involvement; Private sector driven; recepient held to be responsible; 100% of funds arrive with receipient.  

This translates into: Empowering recepients to help themselves; freedom; peace; prosperity.  One family at the time; direct and fast; no borders; no religious barriers....  WOW - it's awesome! something that has the potential to revolutionize the world politically and economically and every other way imaginable.  

Stefan Schauffele, San Diego California (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 1:33 PM)

Kiva focuses overseas is because micro-lending works where there is little or no access to capital.  If someone wants a 100 dollar loan and they live in one the poorest parts of the world they would either A. not be able to get a loan, or B. pay 100 per cent interest or more to some local money lender for access to scarce capital.  In the U.S. capital is significantly more accessible, even to low income Americans.  You need only think of the millions of credit cards  mailed unsolicited to people everyday, many to people who can't qualify for more  traditional loans to realize that there is some access to money here.

John Larson NBC Correspondent Los Angeles (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 2:48 PM)

I think this is a wonderful idea and the person who said we all live in one small world is right, why worry about whether you are helping people in the third world or America?  I think you people in America do just fine and if you really need help you can get it, most of you have far more than we here in Europe have, we work hard for much less.  I'm not complaining, we eat less than you Americans but that's a good thing!! I'm all for helping anybody in the world who is in need anyway as long as if they are fit and healthy they are willing to help themselves and not just take without making an effort.
Angel

angela France (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:22 PM)

Why don't you people just appoint Hillary to the presidency.  You have a piece on her almost every other day.  Today we got a peice on her then Bill tlaking about her.  Give the other people a chance..

bob valenti (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 9:49 AM)

I think this is a perfect opportunity to introduce my daughter to the world around her and to show her how one person can make a difference in someone's life.  

D' Ann (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:22 PM)

I've been a Kiva lender since May and, I've got to tell you, it is addictive. I am so glad to see the organization get good press like this!

Wendy Nix, Charlottesville, Virginia (Sent Thursday, September 06, 2007 1:32 AM)

i dont have a lot of money ---i am 81 in dec. but i would like to invest in this after hearing pres. clinton . How do i do it? Renee Rudd

renee rudd lenexa ks. (Sent Sunday, September 30, 2007 7:11 PM)

I am excited about this website! I was going to do several Kiva loans over a period of time, but have decided to do 1 loan for now, tell everyone I can about it, and give gift certificates on the Kiva website to people I know as often as I can so they can really experience it for the 1st time without having to anything more than give their time. I am hoping after their 1st experience they will be as excited as I am about this idea and find a way to tell others and do additional loans themselves.

Lisa- Katy, Texas (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 9:43 AM)

I gave friends and family Kiva gift certificates for Christmas. They all appreciated the gift and have made additional loans themselves.

Karen, Canon City, Co. (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 12:45 AM)



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.): 

 Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private)

More allDAY

Recent Posts:

Archives:

Categories

Syndicate This Site

Add allDAY to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google

MSNBC Weblogs

More Links