microfinance as birthday present

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microfinance as birthday present

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Started 1 year ago by HelofaMess
Latest reply from Zora
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HelofaMess
Member

Hi All, for my birthday next month I'm thinking about asking for microfinance vouchers. I have everything, and more, than I need and most of my friends aren't ok with me just saying "please, nothing at all."

I remember a while ago people suggested Kiva... I just want to know what fellow unclutterers thought of Kiva or whether they would suggest another microfinance group. I ask because I've read recently about a lot of scams in the very popular microfinance world.

I also want to know if you thought this was acceptable as a birthday "gift." I know many of you struggle with gift giving friends and relatives - would they be offended if this is what you asked for?

Posted 1 year ago #
bandicoot
Member

i ADORE kiva and will be giving more gifts of kiva this year....thanks for the reminder.
kiva is established, reputable and straight up....and they really do make a huge difference in people's lives.

if you join up, please consider joining the "friend's of bob harris" team!
we are a small team but we are making a humongous impact....bob travels to these places and reports back....independently....and it is so amazing to hear how people's lives are being improved, just USD$25 at a time.

my kiva portfolio is rolling over at such a delicious rate nowadays, that i am getting a small repayment almost daily.
which means that i am constantly re-loaning.
which is what money should be doing, in my opinion....going ROUND!!

none of my friends or family would be offended by me asking for a kiva gift or by receiving a kiva gift from me.
there is nothing offensive about the notion at all, as far as i can see.
more power to ya!

Posted 1 year ago #
chacha1
Member

I am looking forward to being out of debt so I too can begin working with kiva. If someone asked me to "give" kiva instead of a traditional present, I would be delighted.

Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, and - especially now - Nature Conservancy are also great "gifts."

Posted 1 year ago #
Rosa
Member

I love Kiva. I give Kiva gift certificates all the time. For my one clutter-overwhelmed friend, I give a Kiva gift certificate and then, if I notice (the site lets you check) it hasnt' been redeemed, I can remind her to do it and give her the code again if she's lost it.

For me, the best part was that after about 6 months of "giving" the same amount every month, the paybacks started equaling what I had been putting in, and I could move that amount to a different charity and still be doing kiva every month.

The one downside to Kiva that I've noticed is, after big holidays (like Christmas) they get so many donors there are days when you go to redeem your gift certificates and nobody needs a loan!

Posted 1 year ago #
Zora
Member

My brother gave me a Kiva certificate as a Christmas present, several years ago, and I've certainly enjoyed the present. I check into the site occasionally to track "my" people.

Kiva doesn't work as advertised in one way: the local partners disburse the money in loans and THEN approach Kiva to fund the loans. Kiva funds the loans and THEN advertises them. I am sure that the rest of it, the reports on the success of the project and the repayment of the loans, those are legit.

It's OK by me that the loan money goes out before the loans are advertised. This means that people who get Kiva gift certificates but never activate them aren't in fact impeding anything. The money is still being used for good ends.

Posted 1 year ago #

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