Making a Difference at Christmas
Since December 2010, instead of sending our clients traditional Christmas cards, we send electronic greetings cards and add the money saved to our Kiva account.
I first heard about Kiva at a philanthropy talk given by the Charities Aid Foundation who described Kiva as a new kind of Charitable Giving* or a new way for Philanthropists to use their money. Kiva enables individuals and companies to lend to people and small businesses in the Third World. This microfinance is used to help low-income individuals lift themselves out of poverty improving the lives of their family and boosting the community in which they live.
The Kiva model is very simple.
You select an applicant to lend to on the Kiva website. These loans are made possible by Kiva Partners who vet, administer and disburse each loan.
You receive updates on your loan and the person you have helped through emails and the Kiva website.
As the loan is repaid, the money becomes available in your Kiva account.
Once you have sufficient in your account, you can use it to fund another loan, donate it to Kiva, or withdraw it to spend on something else.
To date Bluecoat Wealth Management has made 128 loans, totaling $3,300 to people in Agriculture, Clothing, Food, Manufacturing, Retail, Services and Transportation sectors in 56 countries around the world.
This Christmas, instead of burdening your local postman we have lent to and helped;
Maira in Honduras buy a solar energy system for their home
Adozinda in Timor buy vegetable to sell in her store
Sadia in Pakistan to stock her shop for the winter season
Hector in Costa Rica to buy calves
Evgheni in Moldova buy a seeder for his tractor
Bautista in Bolivia set up bee hives and honey production
Yae Kyaw in Burma buy poultry
If you would like to help us alleviate poverty by making loans as small as $25, join our lending team so that we can work together to expand opportunity for borrowers worldwide. Click here http://bit.ly/VLmSOc
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and successful 2016.
*Kiva is a Not-For-Profit Organisation rather than a UK registered Charity. Lending to the working poor through Kiva involves risk of principal loss. Kiva does not guarantee repayment nor do they offer a financial return on your loan. Bluecoat Wealth Management regularly supports Kiva, although they are not connected with us.
