Making a difference at Christmas
Since December 2010, instead of sending our clients traditional Christmas cards, Bluecoat Wealth Management has sent electronic greetings cards and added 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 224 loans, totalling $5,700 to people in Agriculture, Clothing, Further Education, Food, Manufacturing, Retail, Services and Transportation sectors in 62 countries around the world. In addition to which a further 33 loans have been made by clients who we have invited to help us on Kiva.
This Christmas, instead of burdening your local postman we have lent to and helped;
Sameh, a farmer in Palestine, buy an irrigation system for his greenhouse
Lucila in Columbia buy supplies to weed crops and establish a bakery
Saleh in Lebanon, purchase an espresso machine and coffee grinder for his business
Abimel in Mexico pay for his higher education program
Las Perlitas Group of Women in Nicaragua, buy supplies for their catering business
Los Angeles Group of women in Peru buy rice cooking oil and vegetables for their catering business
Amelia in Tonga buy thread and fabric for her embroidery business
Gs Las Negociantes Group in Dominican Republic, buy stock for their shop
Salvacao Group in Brazil buy a new refrigerator for their business
Valerie in Cameroon stock her shop which is seeing an ever increasing demand
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and successful 2019.
I have shared this with you purely for information purposes and this does not constitute advice or a recommendation however further information on Kiva can be found here http://bit.ly/VLmSOc.
*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.
