Loans to Change Lives

lorri — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 11:56:45 GMT

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

Loans to Change Lives

audrey aronow, Woodbridge, NJ — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:49:20 GMT

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!

Loans to Change Lives

Joanna McClelland Glass, Naperville, IL — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:02:04 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

Mary — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:50:16 GMT

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?

Loans to Change Lives

Louise Hiram, Georgia — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:02:21 GMT

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!!!!!!!

Loans to Change Lives

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:38:33 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

Bob, Riverside, CA — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:11:39 GMT

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

Loans to Change Lives

BJ, Napa, CA — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:32:27 GMT

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

Loans to Change Lives

NAN BALDWIN — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:53:56 GMT

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

Loans to Change Lives

Dan Fleschner — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:56:42 GMT

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

Loans to Change Lives

Krystyna Garcia, San Diego, California — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:35:50 GMT

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!

Loans to Change Lives

kathy smith, carmel valley, ca — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:03:26 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

Pat, Sacramento — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:24:11 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

Jackie Burlington NJ — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:51:44 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

cecile Roosa lenoxdale mass. 01242 — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:50:13 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

Denise-Marietta Goergia — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:29:19 GMT

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?

Loans to Change Lives

Stefan Schauffele, San Diego California — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:33:24 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

John Larson NBC Correspondent Los Angeles — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:48:38 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

angela France — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:22:22 GMT

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

Loans to Change Lives

bob valenti — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:49:54 GMT

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..

Loans to Change Lives

D' Ann — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:22:59 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

Wendy Nix, Charlottesville, Virginia — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:32:48 GMT

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!

Loans to Change Lives

renee rudd lenexa ks. — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 23:11:53 GMT

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

Loans to Change Lives

Lisa- Katy, Texas — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:43:49 GMT

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.

Loans to Change Lives

Karen, Canon City, Co. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:45:45 GMT

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