Support Kiva in Alleviating Global Poverty

Living in the third world, I do not have to go very far to witness poverty. Heck, for all I know, people in developed nations may just consider me impoverished although here in my country I belong to the middle class. Contrary to what some may assume, poor people are everywhere; they're not at all unique to developing nations although we sadly do get more than our share. I think it is safe to state that poverty is a global problem and it is one that needs to be addressed. Thankfully , there are organizations that aim to help alleviate poverty and Kiva is one of them. What I like about Kiva is that while charity works as a principle in its setup, it is not like other charity organizations that simply donate. Donations are good, but they sometimes breed parasitism and other bad habits. What Kiva aims to do is to provide a temporary prop for those who are attempting to make their way in this world and once they have gotten their start, they can return the prop, which can then be extended to others who need it. I'm not sure if that was a good metaphor for the system, but essentially Kiva is a lending institution. It is "the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe." It encourages independence and self-sufficiency by fostering the entrepreneurial spirit. Hopefully, these small entrepreneurs will then be channels from which blessings will flow toward the people in their area. By getting involved with Kiva, you can touch so many lives. You can find a step-by-step explanation of how Kiva works here.

I’m writing this post as an entry to UPrinting’s Kiva Blogathan Contest. Winners will receive a $100 gift in the form of Kiva Credit so that they can start lending to help others. Should I win, I’d love to lend to somebody from the Philippines, of course. One wishes to be able to help out, but one’s resources are usually very limited. Filipinos are very entrepreneurial. I’ve personally witnessed so many rags-to-riches stories elicited by entrepreneurial ventures. These tales of success are so inspiring and heartwarming. In my church alone, we have simple SAHMs who turned their crafting hobbies to profitable businesses and entrepreneurs who grew their small sari-sari stores into minimarts. Most of the time, all they needed was an amount (relatively small though it might have been) that they could devote to their entrepreneurial endeavor. I know so many out there have great ideas and just need a little capital to realize them. It would truly be a privilege to have a hand in other people’s journey to their dreams. It would definitely be a pleasure to know that Filipinos are somehow moving towards a higher standard of living and a better way of life. Then again, after what happened in Haiti, I would also be glad to lend to somebody from there. So many of them would be rebuilding their lives that they need all the boost that they can get.

I fully disclose that this post is an entry in the UPrinting Kiva Blogathan. UPrinting.com is a leading online printing company that provides high quality printing at the most affordable prices. It has a blog sponsorship program which you can learn more about here.